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Lychee Martini – Vodka Recipe

Lychee Martini – Vodka Recipe

By What’s Baking

A silky, aromatic fusion of exotic lychee and premium vodka creates a subtly sweet, delicately balanced martini with an elegant finish.
Difficulty:
Beginner
Prep Time:
5 mins
Cook Time:
Serves:
1 cocktail
A frost-rimmed martini glass captured in dramatic low-key lighting with ice-blue highlights accentuating its crystalline curves. The translucent liquid shimmers with a delicate pearlescent hue, while drops of condensation form on the exterior. A skewer of fresh lychees rests across the rim, their white flesh contrasting with the glass. The cocktail sits on a black marble surface with ambient light reflecting off the glass, creating ethereal shadows that enhance the drink's sophisticated personality. A subtle splash moment is frozen in time as a drop of lychee syrup meets the surface, creating ripples across the pristine martini.

Ingredients

<ul class="ingredients-main-list"><li class="ingredients-single-item">60ml premium vodka</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">30ml lychee liqueur (such as Soho or Kwai Feh)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">15ml fresh lime juice</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">15ml lychee syrup (from canned lychees)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">2-3 lychees (fresh or canned)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">Ice cubes for shaking</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">Fresh lychee or lime twist for garnish</li></ul>

Equipment

<ul class="equipment-main-list"><li class="equipment-single-item">Cocktail shaker</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Fine mesh strainer</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Jigger or measuring tool</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Martini glass</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Cocktail pick or skewer</li></ul>
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Directions

<ol class="no-list-style"><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 1</h4>Chill your martini glass by filling it with ice water or placing it in the freezer for 5 minutes. A properly chilled glass is essential for maintaining the ideal temperature of your martini throughout the drinking experience.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 2</h4>Fill your cocktail shaker generously with ice. The ice should fill about ¾ of the shaker to ensure proper chilling and dilution.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 3</h4>Measure and add the vodka, lychee liqueur, fresh lime juice, and lychee syrup to the shaker. Precision is key here - the balance of these ingredients creates the signature flavor profile of this cocktail.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 4</h4>Seal your cocktail shaker tightly and shake vigorously for 12-15 seconds. This not only chills the cocktail perfectly but also creates the ideal dilution and silky texture that makes a martini so elegant. You'll know it's ready when the outside of the shaker becomes frosty.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 5</h4>Empty the ice from your chilled martini glass and double-strain the cocktail through a fine mesh strainer to ensure a smooth, ice-chip-free pour. This creates that signature silky texture that elevates your martini.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 6</h4>Garnish with a skewer of fresh or canned lychees placed across the rim of the glass, or a delicate lime twist. The garnish adds both visual appeal and releases aromatic oils that enhance the drinking experience.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 7</h4>Serve immediately while the cocktail is perfectly chilled. A lychee martini is best enjoyed fresh when the temperature and texture are at their peak.</li></ol>

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

🍽️ Serving Size: 1 hand pie
🔥 Calories: 425 calories
🥑 Fat: 26 g
🧈 Saturated Fat: 16 g
🍞 Carbohydrates: 38 g
🍭 Sugar: 2 g
🍗 Protein: 12 g
🫀 Cholesterol: 95 mg
🧂 Sodium: 580 mg

Chef’s Notes

A few helpful details for making this recipe.

What's the best vodka to use in a lychee martini?

Premium, smooth vodkas like Grey Goose, Belvedere, or Ketel One work beautifully in a lychee martini. These high-quality spirits provide a clean canvas that allows the delicate lychee flavours to shine without harsh alcohol notes that might overpower the fruit's subtle sweetness.

Can I make this exotic martini if I can't find lychee liqueur?

Absolutely! If lychee liqueur isn't available, increase the amount of lychee syrup to 30ml and add an extra 15ml of vodka. Alternatively, you can create a homemade infusion by steeping lychees in vodka for 3-5 days, then straining for a similar effect.

Is it possible to create a non-alcoholic version of this sophisticated cocktail?

Yes, craft a virgin lychee martini by combining 60ml lychee juice, 30ml coconut water, 15ml lime juice, and 15ml simple syrup. Shake with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. The result maintains the exotic flavour profile without alcohol.

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