Lychee Martini Recipe

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

The Lychee Martini is an Asian-inspired cocktail with many different variations. Some versions are made with Gin, others with Vodka; some with Fresh Lychees, others with Lychee Juice or Soju. 

Whatever your preference may be, as Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador, explains, they all share one thing in common: “The Lychee Martini is a drink that encapsulates a time and place in history, which is the 2000s.”

How To Make a Lychee Martini

What You’ll Need

• Jigger or Measuring Instrument 
• Mixing Glass
• Martini Glass
• Bar Spoon
• Julep Strainer
• Cocktail Stick

How to Mix

1. Use a Jigger to measure and pour Absolut Vodka into a Mixing Glass.
2. Measure and pour Lychee Liqueur into the Mixing Glass.
3. Fill the Mixing Glass with Ice Cubes.
4. Stir the mixture with a Bar Spoon until it’s chilled and diluted to your liking.
5. Place a Julep Strainer over the Mixing Glass then pour the cocktail into a Martini Glass.
6. Place a single Lychee onto a Cocktail Stick and position it over the top of your Martini Glass. Or do what I like to do, place two on a toothpick and add them to the drink. 
7. Sip and enjoy!

Uncertain about any of the tools listed above? Check out our article on the essential home bartending tools.

The History of the Lychee Martini  

While the exact year, bartender, and establishment responsible for inventing the Lychee Martini remain unclear, New York City, USA, is undoubtedly its birthplace. 

Most accounts suggest it was first crafted in 2001 at a Korean restaurant in the city, while some sources claim it was originally created in 1993 at a New York bar and later popularized by the Korean restaurant.

In the early 2000s, the Lychee Martini was the must-have cocktail, appearing on menus everywhere. However, its popularity has since waned, and now, two and a half decades later, it is typically found only on the menus of Asian restaurants.

We think it’s time the Lychee Martini made a comeback, don’t you?

Tips for Making the Perfect Lychee Martini

• Chilled Martini Glass
  A chilled glass is a simple yet essential step in crafting the perfect Lychee Martini. Place a Martini Glass in the freezer at least 30 minutes before so that it’s perfectly chilled.

• Double Strain
  In the video above, you’ll see that Rico strains the cocktail using a Hawthorne Strainer together with a Fine Mesh Strainer before pouring the mixture into the Martini Glass. Learn more about double straining a cocktail.

 Variations of a Lychee Martini

• Shaken Version with Lychee Purée
  In the video on this page, Rico makes a classic stirred version and a shaken version of the Lychee Martini with Lychee Fruit Purée. The shaken version is sweet and balanced, not a stiff drink like the stirred version.

  “It’s more like a ‘sour‘ – a lot more approachable,” Rico says. If you’re like us and you can’t get enough of Lychees, you’ll also love Rico’s cocktail hack, where he shows you an easy way to make purée for your cocktails using a Blender and Canned Fruits.After emptying the canned Lychees into the Blender, Rico adds 15 ml / 0.50 oz (half a part) of Simple Syrup to add some extra body before blending.

  Once the Lychee Purée is ready, Rico adds 20 ml / 0.75 oz (¾ of a part) of freshly squeezed Lemon Juice into a Boston Shaker, followed by Absolut Vodka, the Lychee Purée, and Ice Cubes.

  He then shakes everything together and uses a Fine Mesh Strainer to pour the cocktail into a Martini Glass.

• Gin instead of Vodka
  You can use Gin instead of Vodka, which will add some nice Juniper notes and a lovely aromatic and floral flavor to the drink.

• Add Dry Vermouth
  True to an original Martini, some Lychee Martini recipes add 15 ml / 0.50 oz (half a part) Dry Vermouth, which adds a briny element to the drink. For more Martini variations, be sure to check out 10 of the best Martinis and variations.

• Lychee Syrup instead of Lychee Liqueur
  I made a version of the Lychee Martini where I used Lychee Syrup instead of Lychee Liqueur. You can use the syrup from a can of Lychees or buy a bottle of Lychee Syrup. The result is notably sweeter with some really strong floral notes, most similar to rose.

Serving and Garnish Ideas 

Being that’s it a Martini, we recommend serving it in a Martini Glass, of course.

To garnish, we recommend a whole Lychee on a cocktail stick, which can be then placed across the corner of the glass.

In the video, you’ll see Rico also likes to add Lemon Zest. Simply use a Peeler to peel a strip of Lemon Zest, then squeeze the oils over your drink before discarding the peel.