A lychee and sake martini is a subtly sweet and mellow cocktail that’s fabulous on its own or as an accompaniment to Asian cuisine. When making this drink, I recommend using a floral-forward gin such as The Botanist or a mellower gin like Hendrick’s (which has notes of rose and cucumber) to enhance rather than overwhelm the delicate flavors of the sake and lychee. For a dryer and clearer cocktail, use a junmai ginjō-shu sake (純米吟醸酒); for a sweeter, cloudier cocktail, use a nigorizake (濁り酒), that is, a “raw” or unfiltered sake.
Ingredients
- 1½ fl oz. gin
- ¾ fl oz. lychee liqueur (Kwai Feh or SOHO)
- 2 fl oz. sake
Instructions
Combine in a cocktail shaker with ice and stir; pour into a chilled martini glass and serve. Garnish with peeled, seeded fresh or canned lychees, if desired.