This lychee martini is one of my favorite cocktails to make when I want something fruity but still feels a little elevated. It comes together in five minutes, and the combination of sweet lychee, floral elderflower, and fresh lime is genuinely hard to beat. You only need four ingredients. The hardest part is blending the lychees... so like... it couldn't be easier.
This post shows you how to make a lychee martini at home using just four ingredients: vodka, lychee puree, elderflower liqueur, and lime juice. It's written for home bartenders who want a simple, impressive cocktail that tastes like something you'd order at a restaurant. You'll find the full recipe, tips for making it ahead in a big batch, easy substitutions, and answers to the most common questions about this drink.
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You'll love this lychee martini
It's easy to make. A few simple ingredients, a blender, and a shaker are all you need.
It's so tropical and a little fancy. This is the kind of drink that sounds impressive but requires zero bartending experience.
You can make it into a batched cocktail. No sparkling ingredients means you can batch it ahead of time and refrigerate it. More on that below.
Ingredients
Lychee Puree. I blend whole canned lychees with the syrup they come in. The syrup adds natural sweetness and helps the puree come together. You can find canned lychees at most grocery stores, usually in the international foods aisle.
Vodka. I use plain vodka here so the lychee flavor can really shine. A neutral vodka like Tito's or Grey Goose works great.
Elderflower Liqueur. Lychees have a naturally floral flavor, so elderflower liqueur is a natural match. I use St-Germain. It adds a delicate floral note that makes this martini feel a little more special than a standard vodka-fruit drink.
Lime Juice. Fresh lime juice cuts through the sweetness of the lychee and the elderflower. Don't skip it.
How to make a lychee martini
- Set aside a lychee or two for garnish.
- Blend canned lychees with the syrup from the can until smooth.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine 1 ½ oz vodka, ½ oz elderflower liqueur, 1 ½ oz lychee puree, and ½ oz fresh lime juice.
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake hard for at least 30 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with a lychee fruit and serve.
What is a lychee?
A lychee is a small tropical fruit originally from Southeast Asia. Fresh lychees have a rough, bright red skin that peels away to reveal juicy white flesh with a large pit in the center. The flavor is sweet and floral, somewhere between a grape and a watermelon. If you haven't tried one before, look for them in the produce section at Asian grocery stores or specialty markets. For this recipe, canned lychees work perfectly and are much easier to find.
How to make a batched lychee martini
This recipe is ideal for batching because there are no sparkling or carbonated ingredients. Here's how to make 10 cocktails at once:
- In a large pitcher, combine 2.5 cups vodka, 2.5 cups lychee puree, 1.25 cups elderflower liqueur, and 5 oz fresh lime juice.
- Stir well, cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- To serve, pour 5 oz of the batch into an ice-filled shaker. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass.
TIP: You can make this up to 2 days in advance.
Substitutions and variations
Lychee Juice. If you can't find canned lychees, lychee juice works as a direct substitute. Use the same amount. The flavor will be slightly less intense but still delicious. Simply use 2 oz of lychee juice as a substitute for the lychee puree.
Elderflower Liqueur Substitute. If you don't have St-Germain or prefer something different, triple sec or any orange liqueur is a good swap. For a drier version, use dry vermouth. If you love lychee flavor, try a lychee liqueur. Passoa, a passion fruit liqueur, also works really well here.
Gin. Swap the vodka for a floral or citrusy gin, and you have a lychee gin martini. Avoid heavy juniper-forward gins, which can overwhelm the delicate lychee flavor.
Simple Syrup. If you like a sweeter cocktail, add a small pour of simple syrup. Taste as you go. I personally think this cocktail is plenty sweet, so I don't use simple syrup.
Sake Lychee Martini. Substitute sake for the vodka for a lighter, slightly more savory version of this drink.
Lychee Lady Cocktail. Use gin instead of vodka and add a splash of grenadine. It's an easy riff that looks beautiful in the glass.
Tips and tricks for making the best martini
Cold glasses. Put your martini glass in the freezer while you're making the drink. A cold glass keeps the cocktail colder longer. Even five minutes makes a difference.
Use fresh lime juice. Bottled lime juice just doesn't taste the same. Squeeze it fresh.
Shake hard. The lychee puree is thick, so you need a good shake to get everything fully combined and well-chilled.
FAQs
What does a Lychee Martini taste like?
A lychee martini tastes sweet and floral with a bright citrus finish. The lychee brings natural sweetness and a light tropical flavor. The elderflower adds a subtle floral note, and the lime balances everything out. It's refreshing without being too sugary.
Can I use lychee juice instead of lychee puree?
Yes. Lychee juice works as a direct substitute for lychee puree. The flavor will be a little lighter, but the cocktail will still taste great. Use the same amount called for in the recipe.
Can I make a lychee martini without elderflower liqueur?
Yes. Triple sec, orange liqueur, lychee liqueur, or dry vermouth all work as substitutes. Each one changes the flavor slightly. Triple sec keeps it fruity, dry vermouth makes it drier and more classic-martini style, and lychee liqueur doubles down on the lychee flavor.
Should I shake or stir a lychee martini?
Shake it. Because this recipe includes lychee puree and lime juice, shaking fully combines and chills the ingredients. Traditional spirit-forward martinis are stirred, but fruit martinis like this one benefit from the extra dilution and aeration from shaking.
Where can I find canned lychees?
Most grocery stores carry canned lychees in the international foods aisle. You can also find them at Asian grocery stores or online. Look for lychees packed in syrup, since you'll use the syrup in your puree.
How strong is a lychee martini?
A lychee martini is a moderately strong cocktail. With 1.5 oz of vodka and 0.5 oz of elderflower liqueur, it comes in around 18 to 22% ABV, depending on your pour sizes. It tastes light and fruity, which makes it easy to drink, so pace yourself.
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Other martini recipes to try
Lychee Martini
If you are looking for a fun summer fruity cocktail, you have to try this simple lychee martini recipe! It's the perfect balance of flavors to make one delicious cocktail, and not to mention it is SO easy to make!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz lychee juice
- 1 ½ oz vodka
- ½ oz elderflower liqueur
- ½ oz lime juice
Instructions
- Make your lychee puree by blending the canned lychees in the syrup they come in. Be sure to save a lychee or two for a garnish!
- In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 oz vodka, 1 oz elderflower liqueur, 2 oz of lychee puree, and ½ of a lime, juiced.
- Add ice and shake for at least a minute.
- Strain into a chilled martini glass, garnish with a lychee fruit, and cheers!
Notes
What is a lychee?
A lychee is an Asian fruit that is native to Southeast Asia. A fresh lychee fruit has a red bumpy skin that you peel to reveal a light blush-colored tropical fruit that is sweet with a slight floral flavor. You will have to remove the skin and the pit to eat the fruit, but next time you are at your local grocery store, keep an eye out for them!
How to make a batched lychee martini
This is such an easy martini recipe to make a big batch of for your next party! Here's how to make 10 cocktails.
- In a large pitcher, combine 2.5 cups of vodka, 2.5 cups of lychee puree, 1 ¼ cup of elderflower liqueur, and 5 oz of lime juice.
- Mix well and store in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
- To serve, add 5 oz per cocktail of the batched cocktail into a shaker filled with ice.
- Strain into your chilled martini glasses, garnish, and cheers!
Substitutions and variations
Lychee Juice. If you can't find canned lychees, you will most likely be able to find lychee juice. Simply use 2 oz of lychee juice as a substitute for the lychee puree.
Elderflower Liqueur Substitute. If you don't like the floral notes of elderflower liqueur, or you don't have it, you can use triple sec, or any orange liqueur, dry vermouth, or lychee liqueur. If you like a dry martini, I recommend substituting with dry vermouth! If you love the flavor of lychee, I recommend using a lychee liqueur. You can also use Passoa, a passion fruit liqueur, in place of the elderflower!
Simple Syrup. If this cocktail isn't sweet enough for you, you can always add a bit of simple syrup to this lychee vodka cocktail.
Sake Lychee Martini. If you like sake, you can totally substitute the vodka for sake!
Lychee Lady Cocktail. Use gin instead of vodka and add a splash of grenadine for an easy version of the lychee lady cocktail!
Tips and tricks for making the best martini
Cold glasses. I always recommend putting your martini glasses in the freezer while you are making your martinis. The colder the martini glasses, the better!
Cocktail glasses. I recommend using a classic martini glass for this cocktail, but you can use your favorite glassware!
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