Lychee Martini

A couple of my girlfriends and I celebrate our friendship with a weekly girls' night out. This week we met at my place and rather than make the traditional cosmopolitans, I made lychee martinis. This whimsical cocktail with its subtle tropical flavor was such a delightful surprise that it could become our new and delicious girls' night out tradition.

                                                            Lychee Martini
                                                               Courtesy of
                                                            Epicurious.com

Ingredients

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 cup drained canned lychees (15 to
   20, from a 16 to 20 oz. can)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
6 oz. vodka
1 1/2 oz. Cointreau
   or any other orange-flavored liqueur

Heat sugar and water in a 1-quart saucepan over high heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved, then pour into a heatproof set in a large bowl of ice and cold water. Let stand, stirring occasionally,  until syrup is cold, about 3 minutes.

Purée lychees with sugar syrup and lemon juice in a blender until smooth, then force through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing hard on solids and then discarding them. Fill cocktail shaker half way with ice cubes and lychee purée, vodka and Cointreau. Shake 15 seconds and strain into martini glasses.

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