Japanese Slipper

The Japanese Slipper is a sophisticated sweet and sour green cocktail with notes of melon and citrus. A true stunner!

Here’s an impressive cocktail that’s as sophisticated as it is stunning: the Japanese Slipper! This bright green drink will raise your eyebrows at the first sip. It’s perfectly balanced between sweet and sour, with notes of melon and citrus. Don’t let the electric green color fool you — it’s not overly sweet or artificial tasting. It’s just delicious.

I originally bought Midori, a Japanese melon liqueur, to try out the famous Midori Sour. But let me tell you, the Japanese Slipper is just as good — if not better.

What’s in this tasty drink?

The Japanese Slipper was invented in 1984 in Melbourne, Australia, by a French bartender, Jean-Paul Bourguignon. As the story goes, a sales rep brought him a bottle of the new Japanese melon liqueur, Midori. He mixed it with lemon juice and Cointreau, an orange liqueur from his native France. It became an instant hit (read more here).

While it might seem like the overly boozy and neon drinks of the 1980s, it’s surprisingly well-balanced. The Japanese Slipper is an equal parts cocktail, meaning it uses the same quantity of each of the three ingredients.

Here’s what’s in this green drink:

• Midori liqueur
• Cointreau
• Lemon juice

All about Midori

Midori is a specialty ingredient, but is it one worth buying? While this 1980s liqueur was out of vogue for a while, it’s worth a place in your liquor cabinet. Here’s a bit more about it:

• Midori is a honeydew melon-flavored Japanese liqueur that’s bright green in color. It was first released in 1964 as Hermes Melon Liqueur. When released in the US in 1978, the name was changed to “Midori,” the Japanese word for green.
• What does Midori taste like? It’s very sweet, with a candy-like honeydew melon flavor.
• What cocktails can you make with Midori? The most famous cocktails with Midori are the Japanese Slipper, Midori Sour, and Tokyo Tea (Long Island Iced Tea with Midori).
• How much does Midori cost? A small bottle (375 ml) costs around $15, and a large bottle (750 ml) is about $25-$30.
• Is it worth buying? I think so — for the adventurous home mixologist! You can make the cocktails above or mix it with soda water or champagne.

Cointreau substitutes

Cointreau is an orange liqueur with a lightly sweet, orange perfume flavor. Orange liqueur is a high-quality liquor worth the splurge vs. pedestrian triple sec. If you don’t have it, here are a few things you can substitute for Cointreau:

• Triple Sec
• Grand Marnier
• Orange Curacao
• Any other orange liqueur

Tips for making this cocktail

The Japanese Slipper is an easy cocktail for two reasons: it has just 3 ingredients, and it’s equal parts. So, it’s easy to remember when you’re measuring! You have to mix it up in a cocktail shaker, but that’s all there is to it. Here are the basic steps:

• Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake. Add 2 handfuls ice and shake until cold. Don’t have a cocktail shaker? You can use a mason jar with a cover.
• Strain and garnish. Strain the drink into a cocktail glass (use any strainer if you don’t have a cocktail shaker). Then garnish with a cocktail cherry — it’s traditional to have it rest at the bottom of the glass.

Related cocktails: Midori Sour, Cosmo and more!

The Japanese Slipper is constructed more similarly to classic cocktails of the past than a 1980s drink! The Cointreau and lemon harken back to sour cocktails of the 1920s. And there are a few great drinks with that bright green liqueur, Midori, too! Here are a few related drinks to try if you love this one:

• Tokyo Tea: This easy sipper is like Long Island Iced Tea…but with Midori! And even tastier.
• Midori Sour: Pair Midori with lemon, lime, and soda water for a sweet-tart drink.
• Cosmopolitan: This Cosmo stars vodka, cranberry, lemon, and Cointreau, and has a similar vibe!
• Sidecar: One of the most famous classic sour cocktails, starring Cognac, lemon, and Cointreau.
• White Lady Cocktail: Another classic cocktail featuring gin, lemon, and Cointreau.

When to serve a Japanese Slipper

This classy cocktail is sure to impress all your friends! Try it as a:

• Happy hour drink
• Dinner party drink
• Late night drink
• Guys or girls night drink
• Cocktail hour drink

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