Recently, I had a Lychee Sex on the Beach at a restaurant, and I really liked it. It was nice and sweet, without being overly so, and it had that nice lychee flavor. I was inspired to make some lychee cocktails at home, so I picked up a bottle of Soho Lychee Liqueur at BevMo. I’ve been putting it to use the past couple of weeks.
Lychee Martini
1.5 oz Soho lychee liqueur
1 oz vodka
0.5 oz lychee syrup
lychee
This was strong but pleasantly sweet at the same time. It’ll get you drunk (or at least it got me pretty buzzed), but it’s also sweet, unlike other martinis. Definitely a keeper. Although I probably couldn’t have more than one in one sitting.
Lychee Sex on the Beach
0.5 oz Soho lychee liqueur
0.5 oz Absolut Ruby Red
0.5 oz lychee syrup
2 oz grapefruit juice
2 oz cranberry juice
lychee
I attempted to recreate the Lychee Sex on the Beach I had at that restaurant, but this one wasn’t nearly as good. I basically just took a regular sex on the beach (vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice, cranberry juice) and replaced the peach schnapps with lychee liqueur and lychee syrup, and the orange juice with grapefruit juice. I wish I could remember what was in the restaurant’s drink, since this didn’t seem close. I think there was too much juice, I could hardly taste the lychee. Really easy to drink, though.
Lychee Cosmopolitan
1 oz Soho lychee liqueur
1 oz vodka
0.5 oz lychee syrup
0.5 oz lime juice
2 oz cranberry juice
lychee
I tried another classic drink with a lychee variation, this time the cosmopolitan. I think the lime overpowered the lychee flavor. I’d probably just leave out the lime juice next time.
Lychee Greyhound
1 oz Soho lychee liqueur
1 oz Absolut Ruby Red
0.5 oz lychee syrup
2 oz grapefruit juice
lychee
I took a regular greyhound, added some lychee liqueur and lychee syrup, and cut back on the grapefruit juice. Kind of strong, but the lychee and grapefruit were both good together. Probably more grapefruit juice next time.
I love the tropical flavor of lychee. More lychee cocktails to come!