The Late Night Lychee Margarita

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 04/22/21
The Late Night Lychee Margarita with lychee and jalapeño

The Spruce / Sauza Tequila

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Servings: 5 servings
Yield: 1 1/4 pints
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
243 Calories
0g Fat
33g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 5
Amount per serving
Calories 243
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 274mg 12%
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 30g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 39mg 194%
Calcium 15mg 1%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 149mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

A little spice, some sweet fruit, and a touch of tequila: that is what you'll find in the late night lychee margarita. Think of this drink recipe as an enhanced margarita that's served by the pitcher. It's perfect for a patio party and is sure to intrigue anyone's taste buds.

This recipe is courtesy of Sauza Tequila and designed for the brand's silver tequila flavored with the sweetness of a lychee-flavored syrup. A great contrast comes from adding a hefty amount of fresh cilantro and a few slices of jalapeno pepper. 

This pitcher-sized cocktail has a great kick, but it's not too spicy. You'll have enough for about five 4-ounce drinks. Invite a few friends over and surprise them with a unique cocktail or two.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Combine all of the ingredients in an ice-filled pitcher.

  3. Stir well.

  4. Pour over ice into salt-rimmed margarita glasses.

  5. Garnish each with lychee and cilantro. Enjoy.

What Is Lychee Syrup?

A lychee is a small tropical fruit that tastes like a cross between strawberries and watermelon. They're quite delicious and a fantastic way to make a tropical cocktail. 

When it comes to the syrup, you have the choice to buy or DIY. Syrup brands like Monin and Torani make a nice lychee syrup. If you can't find them at your local stores, they are available online.

The other option is to make your own lychee syrup, and it's just as easy as any other simple syrup. You simply need the white, fleshy fruits. You can often find these canned at Asian markets or sections in the grocery store, though sometimes you can even find whole, fresh lychee. You will have to remove the stone, and there are a few tricks that will help you out with that.

Don't Get Too Spicy

It can be easy to add too much spice to drinks that include hot peppers. Even if you enjoy all things hot and spicy, it's best to proceed with caution when adding jalapenos to this margarita. After all, you want to be able to taste the drink, and that's not possible if you burn your tongue.

Stick with the recommended number of pepper slices. The longer they sit in the pitcher, the more pepper flavor will be infused into the drink. To reduce the heat, remove as much of the white membrane as possible because this is where most of the pepper's capsaicin lies.

Also, be sure to remove the seeds as they can be quite annoying in a cocktail. They hold no spice and do little in the flavor department.

With careful attention to how you prep the pepper, The Late Night Lychee can be a well-balanced drink. Remember to wash your hands after handling jalapenos. Few things ruin a party faster than a little pepper burn.

Want to Make a Single Drink?

Transforming this recipe from a pitcher into a single serving could not be easier. Simply replace the word "cups" with "ounces" for the liquid ingredients, and you'll have a nice 3- to 4-ounce drink when the ice is factored in. Reduce the peppers to just one or two slices and the cilantro to one or two sprigs as well.

How Strong Is The Late Night Lychee?

This cocktail gets a considerable amount of dilution by the time you drink it. Not only does ice get stirred into the drink, but it's also used in each glass. That helps tame and marry the flavors and brings the alcohol content down a bit. 


Though it will vary, we can estimate that this drink weighs in somewhere around 18 percent ABV (36 proof). It's in line with other margaritas and is poured short, so your guests shouldn't get drunk off one pitcher.