Lychee Martini

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 (3/4 cup) vodka (preferably Skyy)
• 1 1/2 oz (3 tablespoons) Cointreau or other orange-flavored liqueur
• a cocktail shaker

Steps

1. In a 1-quart saucepan over high heat, stir sugar and water until the sugar dissolves. Pour into a heatproof bowl sitting in a larger bowl of ice and cold water. Leave until the syrup is cold, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Blend lychees, sugar syrup and lemon juice into a smooth puree, then force through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing hard on the solids before discarding them. Half-fill the cocktail shaker with ice cubes and add lychee puree, vodka and Cointreau. Shake for 15 seconds, then strain into Martini glasses.