Lychee Martini Recipe (Easy Vodka Cocktail with Canned Lychees)

This lychee martini is crisp, refreshing, and just a little bit floral. It's the kind of cocktail that feels like you ordered it at a fancy bar, but it’s actually super easy to shake up at home. You’ll muddle sweet lychees, add smooth vodka, lychee syrup, and a splash of fresh lime juice for a drink that’s perfectly balanced between sweet, tart, and silky. It’s the perfect lychee martini for date night, girls’ night, or any time you want a cocktail that feels a little extra without being fussy. And if you’ve tried my Pistachio Martini or Espresso Martini, you already know I don’t miss when it comes to cocktails — this lychee martini definitely won’t disappoint.

Why I Love This Lychee Martini Recipe

This lychee martini actually started as a girls’ night experiment. My wife was having a few friends over and wanted a fun, “something different” kind of drink. She’d seen a lychee martini on TikTok, and since she loves lychee, we used that as a starting point and then started tweaking. A little more muddled fruit here, a little more lime there, and after a couple test rounds, this version is the one that stuck.

What I love about this lychee martini is how balanced it is. Muddling real lychees gives you that juicy, fruity flavor instead of just a sugary syrup bomb. The lychee syrup adds the right amount of sweetness, the fresh lime juice cuts through with brightness, and a clean, smooth vodka keeps everything tasting light and refreshing while letting the lychee shine. It takes less than a minute to shake up, looks super pretty with the lychee garnish, and it always feels a little fancy without being complicated — which basically makes it my ideal cocktail. Tap through my Lychee Martini Web Story for a quick visual walkthrough of this recipe

Lychee Martini Ingredients

• 2 fresh lychees (or canned lychees)
• 2 oz Grey Goose vodka (or your favorite vodka)
• 1 oz lychee syrup (from the canned lychees or store-bought)
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• Lychee skewer for garnish

How To Make a Lychee Martini

Step 1: Muddle the Lychee

Add 2 canned lychees (without the pits) to a cocktail shaker. Use a muddler to gently mash them until they release their juices. This builds that strong lychee flavor in the drink.

Step 2: Add Liquids

Pour in the vodka, lychee syrup from the can, and fresh lime juice. The syrup sweetens the drink, and the lime balances everything so it doesn’t taste flat or too sugary.

Step 3: Shake

Fill the shaker with ice, seal it, and shake hard for 15–20 seconds. You want the shaker to feel very cold on the outside—that’s how you know the martini is chilled and properly diluted.

Step 4: Strain

Double strain (through the shaker’s strainer and a fine-mesh strainer if you have one) into a chilled martini glass to keep out any pulp or ice chips for a smooth, clean sip.

Step 5: Garnish

Skewer 1–2 lychees on a cocktail pick and rest it on the rim or across the top of the glass. Serve immediately while it's ice cold.

Expert Tips for The Best Lychee Martini

• Use canned lychees for convenience and consistency. Canned lychees are super reliable for cocktails because the flavor is consistent year-round, and you don’t have to fuss with peeling or pitting fresh fruit. Plus, the syrup in the can is basically built-in lychee simple syrup and works perfectly in the drink.
• Don’t skip the muddling step. Gently muddling the lychees (not smashing them into a paste) releases their juices and natural flavor into the cocktail. This gives you a much stronger lychee flavor than just using syrup alone, and it makes the drink taste more “fresh” and less artificial.
• Double strain for a smooth, elegant sip. Lychee pulp can make the drink cloudy and slightly thick. If you want that sleek, restaurant-style martini, strain through both your shaker strainer and a fine mesh strainer — it catches all the little bits so the drink pours crystal clear.
• Balance the sweetness to your taste. Different brands of canned lychees have different levels of sweetness. If your syrup is super sweet, add a little extra lime juice to brighten and balance it out. If you prefer a sweeter martini, bump the syrup up to about 1¼ ounces instead of 1 ounce and taste as you go.
• Choose a smooth, neutral vodka. This isn’t the recipe for a super peppery or heavily flavored vodka. A clean, smooth vodka lets the lychee and lime stand out. If your vodka has a strong flavor, it can easily overpower the delicate floral notes in the drink.
• Use plenty of ice and shake hard. A well-shaken martini should be ice-cold and slightly diluted — that’s what makes it so smooth. Fill the shaker at least halfway with ice and shake vigorously for 15–20 seconds until the outside feels very cold; this helps the flavors blend and rounds out the alcohol.
• Chill the glass before pouring. Pop your martini glass in the freezer for 10–15 minutes or fill it with ice water while you make the drink. A chilled glass keeps the cocktail colder for longer and makes the texture feel silkier and more luxurious.
• Upgrade the garnish. A simple lychee on a cocktail pick always looks great, but you can dress it up by stuffing the lychee with a raspberry for a pop of color and a little tartness. An edible flower or a thin strip of lime peel also makes the drink look bar-worthy with almost no effort.
• Adjust the strength if needed. If you want a lighter drink, cut the vodka slightly and add a splash of cold water or extra lime juice before shaking. For a stronger martini, keep the vodka amount the same but use just ¾ ounce of syrup so it tastes less sweet and more spirit-forward.
• Turn it into a spritz. For a lighter, more sippable version of this martini, strain the shaken cocktail into a glass filled with ice and top it with cold club soda or sparkling water. It turns the martini into a bubbly lychee spritz that’s perfect for warm weather or daytime sipping.
• Batch it for a crowd. If you’re making these for a party, you can multiply the recipe and stir everything together in a pitcher (without ice) and chill it in the fridge. When it’s time to serve, just shake each portion with ice before straining into glasses so every drink still has that freshly-shaken taste and texture.

Variations To Try

• Lychee Rose Martini: Add a few drops of rose water to the shaker before you add ice. It boosts the floral notes of the lychee and gives the drink a soft, perfume-y finish. Start with just 2–3 drops, shake, taste, and only add more if you want a stronger rose flavor—rose water can get overpowering fast.
• Lychee Coconut Martini: Add ½ ounce of coconut rum along with the vodka for a tropical twist. The coconut brings in a creamy, vacation-style flavor that pairs perfectly with the lychee. If you like a slightly sweeter drink, you can also bump the lychee syrup up by ¼ ounce to keep everything balanced.
• Spicy Lychee Martini: Add 1–2 thin slices of jalapeño to the shaker and muddle them lightly with the lychees before adding the rest of the ingredients. The jalapeño adds a gentle heat that plays really well with the sweet, floral lychee. For more spice, leave in a few seeds; for a milder version, remove the seeds first.
• Lychee Gin Martini: Swap the vodka for gin if you want more botanical depth. A gin with citrusy or floral notes works especially well and enhances the lychee instead of fighting it. Because gin has more flavor than vodka, you may want to taste and add an extra splash of lime juice or a touch more syrup to keep the drink balanced.
• Lychee Elderflower Martini: Replace ¼–½ ounce of the lychee syrup with elderflower liqueur (like St-Germain). It adds a honeyed, floral note that makes the drink taste extra complex and “craft cocktail” without any extra effort.
• Lychee Spritz Martini: Build the drink as usual, then strain it into a glass over ice and top with chilled prosecco or sparkling wine instead of club soda. It turns the martini into a bubbly, party-ready version that’s great for brunch or celebrations.

Lychee Martini FAQs

Can I use bottled lychee juice instead of lychee syrup?

Yes, you can use bottled lychee juice instead of the syrup from canned lychees, but you’ll probably need to tweak the sweetness. Bottled juice is usually less sweet and more diluted, so start by swapping it 1:1 for the syrup, then taste the shaken cocktail. If it isn’t sweet enough, add a little simple syrup (about ¼ ounce at a time) until the lychee flavor and sweetness taste balanced.

Can I batch this lychee martini for a party?

Definitely. To batch lychee martinis, multiply all the ingredients by the number of servings you want and stir everything together in a large pitcher without ice. Keep the pitcher chilled in the fridge for up to a few hours. When you’re ready to serve, pour one portion at a time into a shaker with ice, shake, and strain into chilled martini glasses so each drink still has that freshly-shaken texture and ice-cold finish.

Is it better to use fresh or canned lychee for a lychee martini?

Fresh lychee tastes amazing when it’s in season, and it gives the martini a bright, delicate flavor. The downside is that it’s harder to find and more work to peel and pit. Canned lychees, on the other hand, are super reliable, ready to use, and come packed in syrup that doubles as your sweetener. For most home bartenders, canned lychees are the easiest and most consistent option, but if you can get good fresh lychees, they’re a great upgrade.

How strong is this cocktail?
This lychee martini is similar in strength to a classic vodka martini. It’s a spirit-forward cocktail, but the lychee syrup and lime juice help smooth out the edges so it tastes lighter, softer, and slightly sweet instead of harsh. If you prefer a stronger drink, you can reduce the amount of syrup slightly; if you want it lighter, add a splash of extra lime juice or a little cold water before shaking to lower the alcohol bite.

Can I make a non-alcoholic lychee martini?

Yes, it’s easy to turn this into a mocktail. Skip the vodka and replace it with cold water, coconut water, or a zero-proof spirit. Muddle the lychees as usual, add the lychee syrup and lime juice, then shake with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. You still get the same floral, fruity lychee flavor and pretty presentation, just without the alcohol.

What alcohol is best for a lychee martini: vodka or gin?

Vodka is the most popular choice for a lychee martini because it’s clean and neutral, which lets the lychee flavor stand out. If you like a more complex, botanical profile, you can absolutely use gin instead. A gin with citrusy or floral notes pairs especially well with lychee. Just keep in mind that gin will make the drink taste a bit stronger and more aromatic, so you may want to adjust the lime or syrup slightly to keep everything balanced.

Drink Recipes To Try Next

• Bourbon cream
• Holiday punch
• Chocolate mudslide
• Vegas bomb
• Green tea shot