Skip to main content

Lunar New Year’s Lychee Punch

Lychee Punch in a glass bowl being poured into different glassed
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Gerri Williams

During Lunar New Year lychees symbolize the promise of close family ties for bartender-mixologist William Tsui. And what better way to bring everyone together than with a festive punch? Here lychee combines with elderflower liqueur and citrus for a low-effort, high-reward big-batch cocktail. Lychee liqueur adds nuance to the lychees’ floral notes, but feel free to swap in an equal amount of extra lychee syrup. Garnish with lychees and sliced orange, lime or any other winter citrus for a celebratory look.

What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    15 minutes

  • Yield

    6–8 servings

Ingredients

2 cups chilled sparkling wine (such as Champagne or prosecco)
¾ cup fresh grapefruit juice
¾ cup lychee syrup (from one 20-oz. can of lychees in syrup)
½ cup lychee liqueur (such as Giffard)
¼ cup elderflower liqueur (such as St-Germain)
¼ cup fresh lime juice
¼ cup gin
Drained lychees and lime and orange wheels (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Gently stir 2 cups chilled sparkling wine, ¾ cup fresh grapefruit juice, ¾ cup lychee syrup (from one 20-oz. can of lychees in syrup), ½ cup lychee liqueur, ¼ cup elderflower liqueur, ¼ cup fresh lime juice, ¼ cup gin, and 4 cups ice in a medium punch bowl to combine. Garnish with drained lychees and lime and orange wheels.

    Step 2

    Ladle punch into glasses.

Read More
Using two entire lemons—pith, skin, and all—cranks up the citrus flavor in this classic dessert.
Use summer’s ripest offerings to make this Mexican party bev.
Extra vino? Simmer it into a spiced syrup and pour over ice cream for an elegant dessert.
Use the beer, not the can, for this citrusy take on a classic that nods to mojo criollo.
Muddled melon lends a hot pink hue. Call it the drink of the summer if you must!
A buttery white wine glaze makes these an ideal holiday side, but leftovers are just as good on a cheeseboard or sandwich.
SEO Dek: Seared and simmered in white wine and chicken broth, these buttery caramelized shallots are an ideal holiday side dish. Stack the leftovers on a sandwich.
With cottage cheese blended right in—yes—this smoothie will keep you full until lunch.
Slowly roasting purple sweet potatoes in a sticky-sweet mixture of brown sugar and spices gives them a glossy sheen that’s as stunning as it is flavorful.