Enjoy a Lychee Martini With a DIY Lychee Liqueur

Step 1

Gather the ingredients. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck Peel and cut the lychee fruits in half. Add the pieces to a glass jar that has a capacity of at least 16 ounces. Add the zest of 1 lime, then fill the jar with the vodka. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck Seal the jar and give it a good shake. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck Store in a cool, dark place for four weeks, shaking it every couple of days. Give it a taste test after two weeks, then again a week later to see how the flavor is progressing. Four weeks will give it a good flavor, but it might take more to get to your ideal flavor. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck Once the vodka is flavored to your liking, heavily strain the fruit from the vodka through a cheesecloth or a very clean kitchen towel. Be sure to squeeze all of the liquid from the lychee. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck Strain again to ensure all of the liquid is removed from the fruit. During this final straining, you can filter it directly into the bottle that will store the liqueur: Use a funnel and place the cheesecloth inside. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck Add 1 cup of simple syrup to the bottle, tighten the lid, and shake vigorously. Store the finished liqueur in the refrigerator where it will keep for about three months. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Step 2

Gather the ingredients. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck Combine 1 cup each of sugar and water in a saucepan. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck Bring to a slow boil, stirring constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck Add the lychee fruit, reduce the heat, and cover. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck Simmer for about 10 minutes. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck Remove from the heat and allow to cool for about 30 minutes. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck Strain the fruit from the syrup and pour it into a glass bottle with a tight-sealing lid. It will keep in the refrigerator for two to three weeks. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Step 3

Gather the ingredients. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the vodka, lychee liqueur or syrup, and lime juice. Shake well. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck Drop a pitted lychee fruit into the glass for a garnish. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck Serve and enjoy. The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck