Witch’s Eye Martini

Prep Time	Cook Time	Total Time
10 min	0 min	10 min

Introduction

This Witch’s Eye Martini is a spooky, grown‑up twist on a fruity lychee martini, perfect for Halloween parties and movie nights.

Sweet lychee, tart lime, and floral elderflower liqueur blend into a smooth, easy‑sipping cocktail that feels fancy but fun.

Stuffed lychees with blueberries give each glass a creepy “eyeball” garnish that always gets a big laugh.

Ingredients (2 servings)

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Ingredients:

4 canned lychees in light syrup, drained
4 fresh blueberries
4 fl oz vodka
2 fl oz lychee syrup (reserved from the can)
1 fl oz St-Germain elderflower liqueur
1 fl oz freshly squeezed lime juice
ice

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How to Make Witch’s Eye Martini

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Chill the glasses and gather tools

Place two martini glasses in the freezer for at least 10 minutes so the cocktails stay frosty.
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice, and keep extra ice nearby for topping off if needed.
Build the lychee witch eyes

Pat the drained lychees dry with a paper towel so they are easier to handle and skewer.
Gently tuck one blueberry into the hollow center of each lychee, blossom side facing out to mimic a pupil.
Thread two stuffed lychees onto each cocktail pick so they sit snugly without splitting.

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Shake the martini mixture

To the ice-filled shaker, add the vodka, reserved lychee syrup, St-Germain, and fresh lime juice.
Seal the shaker and shake hard for 15 to 20 seconds, until the outside feels very cold and frosty.
Strain, garnish, and serve

Remove the chilled martini glasses from the freezer and strain the cocktail evenly into both glasses.
Rest a lychee eye skewer across the top of each glass so the eyes hover over the pale drink.
Serve right away while the cocktail is icy cold and the garnish looks bright and creepy.

Substitutions

Swap vodka with gin for a more botanical martini: Use a floral gin instead of vodka for a more aromatic, herbal version that still fits the witchy vibe. The gin highlights the elderflower and lychee notes and makes the drink taste a little more complex.
Replace St-Germain with elderflower syrup for a lighter drink: Skip the liqueur and use elderflower syrup plus a splash of water to keep sweetness and floral flavor without extra alcohol. The texture stays silky, and the drink becomes more sessionable for longer parties.
Turn it into a zero-proof potion with lychee juice: Replace the vodka and St-Germain with chilled lychee juice and a squeeze of extra lime, then top with sparkling water. You still get the spooky eyeball look, but the drink tastes light, refreshing, and kid-friendly.

Tips

Use very cold ingredients: Keep the vodka, lychee syrup, and St-Germain chilled in the fridge so the martini starts cold even before shaking. Colder ingredients dilute less, so the flavors stay brighter and more focused.
Adjust sweetness to your taste: Before straining, dip a clean spoon into the shaker, taste, then add a little more syrup or lime if needed. Lychees vary in sweetness, so this quick check keeps the balance just right.
Secure the eyeballs well: Push the cocktail pick through the blueberries as well as the lychees so the eyes do not spin or slip. This keeps the garnish facing up and makes the effect much more dramatic in photos.
Double strain for the smoothest texture: If you want a super clear martini, strain through a fine-mesh sieve to catch tiny ice shards and pulp. The drink looks cleaner in the glass and lets the eyeball garnish really stand out.
Batch for a party: Multiply the ingredients by four or six and mix everything in a pitcher without ice about one hour before guests arrive. Store it in the fridge and shake individual portions with ice so each martini still tastes freshly made.

Energy	266	kcal
Protein	1	g
Total Fat	1	g
Carbohydrates	29	g
Dietary Fiber	3	g

FAQ

How can I make the martini less strong without losing flavor?: Add one ounce of cold water or plain club soda per drink when shaking to lower the alcohol slightly. You can also pour over ice in a rocks glass instead of serving it straight up.
My lychees keep tearing when I stuff them; what am I doing wrong?: Make sure the lychees are well drained and patted dry so they are not slippery. Use smaller blueberries, and gently twist them in instead of pushing straight, which can split the fruit. If a lychee does tear, place that one at the back of the skewer where it shows less.
Can I use frozen lychees or canned lychee juice instead?: Frozen lychees work for the drink itself, but they thaw too soft for stuffing into realistic eyeballs. Canned lychee juice can replace the syrup, though you may need a touch of simple syrup for sweetness.
How far ahead can I assemble the lychee eyes?: You can stuff the lychees up to four hours ahead and store them covered in the fridge. Thread them onto picks right before serving so the blueberries do not bleed too much color.
What type of vodka works best in this recipe?: Use a clean, neutral vodka so the lychee and elderflower flavors stay in the spotlight. Avoid strongly flavored or heavily infused vodkas, which can clash with the delicate fruit notes.