Cocktails made with lychee liqueur add an exotic twist suitable for nearly any occasion. If you are looking for a unique mix that serves as a topic of conversation as well as a refreshing drink, using lychee liquor can add tropical flare to mixed drinks.
7 Cocktails Made With Lychee Liqueur
Lychee liqueur cocktails may be simple or complex. The relatively low alcohol content and smooth texture of lychee liqueur make it an excellent choice for adding unusual flavor without overwhelming the drink. The fruit's sweet taste balanced with crisp acidic undertones is naturally appealing without being too syrupy.
Lychee Sparkler
Lychee adds interest to a simple champagne cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Kwai Feh lychee liqueur, chilled
- 4 ounces sparkling wine, chilled
Instructions
Combine the ingredients in a Champagne flute and stir.
Lychee Mango Frozen Daiquiri
If you love frozen daiquiris, then this is a lovely combination. It's tropical and refreshing.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce lychee liqueur
- 1½ ounces rum
- ½ cup mango chunks
- 1 cup crushed ice
- Mango slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender, combine all ingredients.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into a cocktail glass and garnish with a mango slice.
Lychee Mojito
Mint and lychee is a refreshing combination in this twist on a classic.
Ingredients
- 10 mint sprigs
- ¾ ounce lychee liqueur
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1½ ounces rum
- Ice
- 3 ounces sparkling water or club soda
- Mint and a peeled lychee for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add the mint sprigs and lychee liqueur.
- Muddle.
- Add the lime juice, rum, and ice.
- Shake.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Add the sparkling water and stir.
- Garnish with additional mint sprigs and peeled lychee.
Cherry Lychee Rum Cocktail
Sweet and dark, you'll find this cocktail an intriguing combination of lychee and cherry.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1 ounce Lichido liqueur
- ½ ounce Luxardo cherry liqueur
- 1 ounce dark rum
- Ice
- 3 ounces club soda
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, simple syrup, lychee liqueur, cherry brandy, and dark rum.
- Add the ice and shake.
- Strain into a collins glass filled with ice. Add the club soda and stir.
- Garnish with a cherry.
Lychee Storm
In this intriguing cocktail, lychee adds a tropical hint to the dark flavors of the rum and the bite of ginger. It's spicy, sweet, and delicious.
Ingredients
- Ice
- ¾ ounce Lichido liqueur
- 1½ ounces dark rum
- 4 ounces ginger beer
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a collins glass with ice.
- Add the lychee liqueur, dark rum, and ginger beer. Stir.
- Serve garnished with a lime wedge.
Lychee Vodka Martini
No list of lychee cocktails would be complete without a lychee martini.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce lychee liqueur
- 3 ounces vodka
- Ice
- Peeled lychee for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass.
- In a mixing glass, combine the lychee liqueur and the vodka.
- Add ice and stir.
- Strain into the chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with a peeled lychee
Lychee-Coconut Cocktail
Lychee and coconut is the perfect marriage of two tropical flavors.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce lychee liqueur
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1½ ounces coconur rum
- 1 ounce dark rum
- Ice
- 3 ounces ginger ale
- Peeled lychee and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lychee liqueur, lime juice, Malibu rum, and dark rum.
- Add the ice and shake.
- Strain into a collins glass filled with ice.
- Add the ginger ale and stir.
- Garnish with the peeled lychee and a mint sprig.
What Is a Lychee?
A lychee is a small fruit that originated in South China and is grown commercially in warmer climates. The fruit is roughly two inches in size and may have a heart or oval shape. Sometimes referred to as a lychee nut, the fruit's exterior is bumpy and has a rich red hue. Beneath the skin, its translucent interior may be pink or white, and it has a texture that is similar to a grape's flesh.
The fruit is a great choice for adding unusual flavor to cocktails because it boasts a crisp taste that must be experienced to fully appreciate. The balance between acidity and sweetness, along with hints of rosy fragrance, is unique and makes the label "King of Fruits" applicable to the gem-like food.
Lychee Liquors
Liqueurs containing lychee generally have a relatively low percentage of alcohol, at roughly 21 percent, or 42 proof. Many people enjoy drinking the liquors neat because of their light taste, absence of alcohol burn, and well-balanced sweetness that doesn't overwhelm the palette.
Liqueurs available containing the exotic fruit include:
- Soho lychee liquer, a popular product from France
- Kwai Feh, a product made by De Kuyper that is light pink
- Lichido liqueur, a fascinating combination of cognac, vodka and exotic fruits including lychee, white peach and guava
Experiment With Lychee Liqueur
Experimenting with unusual flavors can be very rewarding. Lychee liqueur cocktails are interesting choices whether you're using fine vodka, rum or sparkling wine. There are basically endless possibilities to consider.
