You can never have too many Marg riffs, especially when they involve lychees.
Fruit just hits different when the sun is shining. Enjoying a bit of something juicy and sweet while sitting in the shade on a hot, sunny day? That’s our idea of a good time. And we’ve got a real thing for lychees, especially when they make their way into a cocktail.
Here, our cocktail experts have weaved those juicy, tropical lychees into the classic Margarita for a genius summer cocktail – or a taste of summer year-round. You get the earthy complexity of blanco tequila and the zesty brightness of fresh lime juice, plus the sweetness of agave syrup, lychee syrup and a whole lychee. Add a salt-dipped lychee garnish (as a nod to the classic Marg, naturally) and you’ve got a zippy, sweet, slightly salty cocktail that puts a tropical spin on the Marg. And don’t fret, Margarita purists – we’ve subbed out the classic triple sec here but, with a little agave syrup in its place, just like a Tommy’s Marg, there’s plenty of room for the lychee to shine. Just wait until you try it.
We love that this Lychee Margarita slots right in beside some other great Marg riffs we’re into lately – like the Italian Margarita and Coconut Limoncello Margarita. With just a couple of extra ingredients on hand, you can have yourself a Margarita party with enough options to keep everyone happy.
Ingredients
45mL blanco tequila 15mL agave syrup 15mL lychee syrup, from can 15mL lime juice 1 lychee Glass: rocks Garnish: 1 lychee, partly dipped in salt
Method
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice Shake until the outside of the tin is frosty Fine strain into a glass filled with fresh cubed ice Garnish with the salt-dipped lychee
Dan’s top tips
While lychee is doing its best to steal the limelight here, tequila is always the key to a great Margarita. So, which one should you go for? We reckon you’ll do fine with any quality blanco (AKA silver) tequila, but there’s room to move. If all you have is a reposado tequila – or if you just prefer that style’s extra richness and complexity – then go for it. When it comes to the lychees, you want the type that’s canned with syrup as it will come in handy as a secondary sweetener alongside the agave. Whole lychees in syrup are pretty common these days, so you should be able to find some at your local supermarket. Also, if you haven’t got a fine strainer in your arsenal, this cocktail is a great excuse to grab one. While you don’t technically need a fine strainer, they help bring a silky smooth texture to the final drink. Since you’ll be shaking the blazes out of a whole lychee, it’s good to catch any little pieces that could get into your glass – even if you have a shaker with its own strainer.
What’s the difference between a Lychee Margarita and a classic Margarita?
Our Lychee Margarita is different to the classic Margarita by substituting triple sec for agave syrup, and adding lychee syrup and a whole lychee to the recipe.
Can you use lychees from a can in the Lychee Margarita?
Yes, we recommend using lychees from a can in syrup for the Lychee Margarita.
- What’s the best tequila to use in the Lychee Margarita?
Any blanco tequila will work well here, so use your favourite. You could also use a reposado tequila here if you wanted for a bolder flavour.
