This Green Lychee Gin Cocktail is the perfect way to celebrate Halloween. You can also make this Spooky Eye Cocktail into a mocktail so everyone can enjoy this spooky drink.
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Why I Love This Eyeball Cocktail Recipe
This Green Halloween Lychee Gin Cocktail is so fun and the perfect addition to any Halloween celebration just like my Ghost Cake Pops. Made with gin, fresh lime juice, lychee syrup, and elderflower liqueur, this cocktail tastes as unique as it looks. You can also make this drink into a mocktail so everyone can enjoy the fun similar to my Guava Passion Fruit Drink.
I paired this green Halloween drink with elderflower liqueur for added depth. I feel like the lychee fruit and syrup have a similar floral element to elderflower and they work really well together in this drink. All of that sweetness is balanced with the addition of fresh lime juice.
If you are looking for more fun Halloween cocktails, check out my list of Halloween Cocktail Recipes By Spirit and make my Black Vodka.
What is Lychee?
Lychee (litchi chinensis) is a tropical fruit that is native to China from the soapberry family. It grows in warm, sub-tropical climates like China, Hawaii, and Florida. Lychee fruit is round, has red bumpy skin, and a brown seed in the middle. The white flesh inside has a similar texture to a grape without the skin. Lychees are sweet, with a slight floral element.
While fresh lychee fruit is uncommon in most grocery stores, it can sometimes be found in Asian specialty stores. You can also find lychee in a can with syrup online.
How to Make a Green Halloween Drink
Place the gin, lychee syrup, elderflower liqueur, and lime juice into a cocktail shaker with fresh ice. Shake for 20 seconds until nice and cold. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with the lychee eyeball. Enjoy immediately.
How to Make a Lychee Eyeball Garnish
Take a lychee berry and place the blueberry in the middle. Using a toothpick, place some of the red gel food coloring in the cracks of the lychee to create a red-eyed look. Place a cocktail toothpick through the lychee and blueberry and set aside.
Lychee eyeballs can be made ahead of time and frozen. Just assemble the eyeballs as directed and place them on a small baking sheet or plate lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Freeze for 2-4 hours or overnight before serving.
How to Chill a Cocktail Glass
There are a few ways to chill a cocktail glass. One is to freeze it in the freezer. 30 minutes is best but at least 5 minutes will get it nice and cold.
Some people wrap the glass with a damp paper towel first, speeding up the process. Another way to chill a cocktail glass is to use crushed ice and soda water. The bubbles speed up the chilling process. But, if you don't have soda water, regular water will work, just not quite as well.
How to Make this Green Halloween Lychee Drink a Mocktail
To make a Green Lychee Mocktail, place 2 ounces lychee syrup, 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice, ½ elderflower syrup (you can also find Elderflower syrup at Ikea!), 2 ounces water, and a few drops of green food coloring into a cocktail shaker with fresh ice. Shake and strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a lychee eyeball. Add a splash of sparkling water if desired.
You can also make lychee limeade or lemonade if you are serving a crowd. Make a frozen can of limeade or lemonade and add the syrup from the can of lychee, elderflower syrup, and green food coloring until you get the color you like. You can serve this in a punch bowl with frozen lychee eyeballs for the perfect Halloween treat for all ages!
More Fun Halloween Recipes to Check Out
If you get a chance to make this Green Lychee Gin Halloween Cocktail, tag me on Instagram or Facebook and show me, or leave a review below! You can also follow me on Pinterest and sign up for my e-mail list to receive more fun and delicious recipes right in your inbox.
Green Halloween Lychee Gin Cocktail
Equipment
- toothpicks
Ingredients
Lychee Eyeball Garnish
- 1 lychee fruit (no skin or seed)
- 1 large blueberry
- red gel food coloring
Lychee Gin Cocktail
- 2 ounces gin
- ½ ounce elderflower liqueur (I used St-Germain)
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 ounce lychee syrup (from canned lychee)
- 4-5 drops green food coloring
Instructions
Lychee Eyeball Garnish
- Take a lychee berry and place the blueberry in the middle. Using a toothpick, place some of the red gel food coloring in the cracks of the lychee to create a red-eyed look. Place a cocktail toothpick through the lychee and blueberry and set aside.
Lychee Gin Cocktail
- Chill the cocktail glass with ice and bubbly water or in the freezer for 5 minutes before preparing the cocktail (see notes).
- Place all of the cocktail ingredients into a cocktail shaker with fresh ice. Shake for 10 seconds until nice and cold. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with the lychee eyeball. Enjoy immediately. Cheers!
Notes
- Lychee eyeballs can be made ahead of time and frozen. Just assemble the eyeball as directed and place them on a small baking sheet or plate lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Freeze for 2-4 hours or overnight before serving.
How to Chill a Cocktail Glass
- There are a few ways to chill a cocktail glass. One is to freeze it in the freezer. 30 minutes is best but at least 5 minutes will get it nice and cold. Some people wrap the glass with a damp paper towel first, speeding up the process.
- Another way to chill a cocktail glass is to use crushed ice and soda water. The bubbles speed up the chilling process. But, if you don't have soda water, regular water will work, just not quite as well.
Make this drink a mocktail!
- To make a Green Lychee Mocktail, place 2 ounces lychee syrup, 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice, ½ elderflower syrup (you can also find Elderflower syrup at Ikea!), 2 ounces water, and a few drops of green food coloring into a cocktail shaker with fresh ice. Shake and strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a lychee eyeball. Add a splash of sparkling water if desired.
- You can also make lychee limeade or lemonade if you are serving to a crowd. Make a frozen can of limeade or lemonade and add the syrup from the can of lychee, elderflower syrup, and the green food coloring until you get the color you like. You can serve this in a punch bowl with frozen lychee eyeballs for the perfect Halloween treat for all ages!
Nutrition
Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Jeri says
What a fun cocktail for Halloween!
Emily says
Thanks, Jeri!
Brianna says
Great flavor and just the right amount of spooky
Emily says
Thanks, Brianna, I'm so glad you liked it!
Alexandra says
The perfect cocktail for the festive season!
Marcellina says
Fab looking cocktail!
Mahy says
Cheers to a great weekend! It won't be hard with a drink like this 😉
Emily says
Yes, I totally agree. Cheers! 🥂
Cathleen says
Oh my goodness wow. This is so perfect for Halloween! I am definitely making this in the next few weeks. Thank you so much for the recipe 🙂
Emily says
You are so welcome. Happy Halloween!
Kristina says
Tasted great.
Lucy says
What a fantastic fun drink for Halloween! I love how it can be made non alcoholic to be suitable for people of all ages!
Emily says
Yes! My son love the eyeballs, which is too funny. Enjoy!
Tara says
Such a fun cocktail! Definitely perfect for celebrating the holiday. I absolutely love that color.
Emily says
Gotta love a creepy green drink, right? Enjoy!
Tyanne says
I love a green drink!
Nathan says
I love these spooky cocktails! The lychee eyeball garnish is such a cute touch, and I love that there's a mocktail option too. Thanks for the recipe!
Emily says
Thanks for checking it out, Nathan. I hope you get a chance to make it for Halloween!
Amanda Scarlati says
Such a fun cocktail! Was perfect for my party and the flavor is spot on!
Emily says
I'm so glad this worked for your party! Thanks, Amanda.
Shilpa says
Omg so spooky.. perfect for Halloween
Emily says
Thanks, Shipla!
Catherine says
So tasty!!