This easy lychee martini recipe makes one chilled vodka cocktail with a light fruit flavor. You need vodka, syrup from canned lychees, fresh lime juice, and ice. A whole lychee makes an easy garnish. No special liqueur is required.
The recipe below uses one clear set of measurements, with a less sweet option and a nonalcoholic version. It also explains how to avoid confusing canned fruit syrup with concentrated flavored syrup. Recipe references were checked October 30, 2026; this is an original home recipe, not a restaurant copycat.
The Recipe at a Glance
| Detail | Amount |
| Yield | 1 cocktail |
| Prep time | About 5 minutes |
| Cooking | None |
| Main flavor | Sweet lychee with tart lime |
| Glass | Chilled coupe or martini glass |
The fruit syrup comes from canned lychees packed in syrup. Do not replace it one-for-one with a concentrated bar syrup, which may taste much sweeter.
Ingredients for One Lychee Martini
| Ingredient | Amount |
| Vodka | 2 fl oz (60 mL) |
| Syrup from canned lychees | 1 fl oz (30 mL) |
| Fresh lime juice | 1/2 fl oz (15 mL) |
| Ice | Enough to fill a shaker halfway |
| Whole canned lychee | 1, for garnish |
This version skips vermouth and lychee liqueur. The balance is a starting point, not a claim that every lychee martini uses the same mix. A cocktail with a sharper finish can use a little more lime.
How to Make an Easy Lychee Martini
Chill the glass
Put a martini glass or coupe in the freezer while you measure the ingredients. A cold glass helps the drink stay cool after you strain it.
Shake the drink
Pour vodka, canned lychee syrup, and lime juice into a cocktail shaker. Fill halfway with ice, close tightly, and shake firmly for about 15 seconds.
Strain and garnish
Strain into the cold glass. Add one drained lychee on a cocktail pick. Serve right away, without ice in the glass.
No shaker? Use a clean jar with a leakproof lid, then pour through a fine strainer. Never shake hot liquids or carbonated mixers in a sealed jar.
What Lychee Syrup Should You Use?
Canned lychees are sold in juice or sweet syrup. This recipe uses the liquid from a can packed in syrup, which adds both fruit flavor and sweetness. Taste a drop first. If your can contains unsweetened juice, the drink may need a small amount of simple syrup.
Bottled lychee cocktail syrup is often more concentrated than canned fruit liquid. Start with 1/2 fl oz rather than 1 fl oz, then adjust a second batch to taste. A recipe from Torani uses its branded syrup in different proportions, so those amounts are not interchangeable without tasting. Reference: https://www.torani.com/lychee-martini.html
Easy Ways to Change the Drink
Make it less sweet
Use 3/4 fl oz of syrup from canned fruit instead of 1 fl oz. Keep the 1/2 fl oz lime juice. The result should taste brighter, though syrup sweetness varies by brand.
Try a vermouth version
For a more traditional martini note, replace 1/4 fl oz of the fruit syrup with 1/4 fl oz dry vermouth. Martha Stewart and Food Network have recipes using vermouth or lychee juice in different ratios. Reference: https://www.marthastewart.com/356652/lychee-martini
Make a lychee mocktail
Skip vodka. Stir 2 fl oz chilled lychee juice, 1/2 fl oz lime juice, and 2 fl oz cold sparkling water in a glass with ice. Garnish with a whole lychee. This is a separate alcohol-free drink, not a martini with identical taste.
Prepare Two Drinks or a Small Batch
For two drinks, use 4 fl oz vodka, 2 fl oz canned lychee syrup, and 1 fl oz lime juice. Shake in two batches if the shaker is small. Each serving still gets one lychee garnish.
For four drinks, combine 8 fl oz vodka, 4 fl oz canned lychee syrup, and 2 fl oz lime juice in a covered pitcher. Refrigerate until cold, then shake individual portions with ice just before pouring. Do not leave a batch with melting ice.
Tips That Prevent Common Mistakes
Use fresh lime juice for a clean sour note. Measure the fruit liquid rather than pouring it straight from the can. And keep the lychees drained so the garnish does not add surprise syrup to the glass.
A cloudy drink after shaking is normal. Shaking adds tiny air bubbles and dilutes the mixture with melting ice. Strain promptly for a colder, more consistent drink. The final strength depends on vodka proof and dilution, so no fixed alcohol percentage is claimed.
What to Serve with a Lychee Martini
Light salty dishes can balance the sweet fruit. Spring rolls, sushi, and crisp cucumber salad are simple pairing ideas. These are editorial suggestions, not tested pairings or restaurant endorsements.
Easy Lychee Martini Recipe FAQs
Can I use canned lychees?
Yes. Canned lychees packed in syrup make this recipe simple. Measure the liquid for mixing and save one whole fruit for garnish. Check whether the can contains sweet syrup or plain juice, since they taste different.
Can I make it without lychee liqueur?
Yes. This recipe needs no lychee liqueur. Canned fruit syrup brings lychee flavor, while vodka gives it the cocktail base. Lime keeps the sweetness in check.
Is lychee juice the same as lychee syrup?
No. Lychee juice can be less sweet than the syrup in a can of fruit. Concentrated cocktail syrup can be sweeter still. Start with the measured ingredient listed here, then adjust if substituting.
Can I use gin instead of vodka?
Yes. Gin adds herbal flavors that change the taste. Swap it for the same amount of vodka, and keep the fruit and lime measures at first.
Do I need dry vermouth?
No. This easy version leaves out vermouth. If you like a drier drink, replace a little syrup with dry vermouth rather than adding both in full amounts.
How do I make it less sweet?
Reduce the canned syrup to 3/4 fl oz and keep the lime juice at 1/2 fl oz. Lychee liquids differ by brand, so a second small adjustment may help.
Can I use fresh lychees?
Yes, fresh lychees work as garnish. For the liquid, you still need lychee juice or a sweetened fruit syrup. Fresh whole fruit alone will not supply the measured liquid.
Can I make it without a cocktail shaker?
Yes. A clean jar with a tight-fitting lid works for a cold, still mixture. Shake with ice, then strain carefully. Do not shake a carbonated drink in a sealed container.
Can I make it ahead of time?
You can combine the liquid ingredients and keep them covered in the refrigerator until serving time. Shake portions with fresh ice just before pouring. Do not add ice to a stored batch.
Does a lychee martini contain alcohol?
This recipe does because it uses vodka. The mocktail variation omits spirits. Ingredient labels are still worth checking if you use bottled mixers or substitutes.
Conclusion
An easy lychee martini recipe needs only vodka, canned lychee syrup, lime, and ice. Start with the measured mix, taste your syrup before shaking, and keep the drink well chilled. Exact nutrition and alcohol concentration are not supplied because brands and dilution vary.