TO-KILL-YA MARTINIS
WITH LEAKY LYCHEES
Tequila with Bloody Eyeballs
PREP TIME
5 minutes
ACTIVE TIME
15 minutes
TOTAL TIME
6 hours 30 minutes (includes freezing time)
EASY
¼ cup cranberries (about 24 total)
2 tablespoons grenadine, plus more for drizzling
12 canned lychees in syrup, drained
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup water
½ cup plus 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
12 ounces reposado tequila (1½ cups)
Ice
1. In a small saucepan, cook the cranberries and grenadine over medium heat, stirring gently and occasionally, until all the cranberries are soft and just starting to pop, 3 to 4 minutes (you don’t want them to turn mushy or break down—they should be soft but intact enough that they can be stuffed into a lychee). Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
2. Place the lychees in an ice cube tray (1 lychee per compartment) with the hole facing up. Stuff each lychee with 2 softened cranberries, spoon any liquid left in the saucepan over the lychees, and freeze until the lychees are completely frozen, at least 6 hours and up to overnight.
3. Make the simple syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, let cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until you are ready to make the drinks.
4. To make each martini, in a cocktail shaker, combine 1½ tablespoons (¾ ounce) each of the lemon juice and simple syrup and ¼ cup (2 ounces) of the tequila. Add ice, cover, and shake vigorously until cold, about 1 minute. Strain into a martini or coupe glass and add 1 to 2 frozen lychees. Drizzle with grenadine and serve. As the drink changes temperature, the lychees will leak, adding flavor, color, and horror!
Spoon grenadine on top of the “eyeballs” to really project the look of leaking blood. The bigger the martini glass, the better the effect.