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Here are the top Midori cocktails that showcase this bright green Japanese melon liqueur! These drinks are sweet-tart and refreshing with fresh citrus and quality ingredients.
Got a bottle of Midori? This neon green Japanese liqueur was emblematic of drinks of the 1980’s, brightly colored and intensely sweet. It’s now back in style and and better than ever, with an earthy melon flavor that makes fruity, sweet tart drinks.
As someone who’s made hundreds of cocktail recipes, I’ve experimented with this liqueur in my kitchen. I found that when you pair it with fresh lemon juice and quality ingredients, Midori creates some genuinely delicious cocktails! Here’s a list of my best Midori cocktails, from the citrusy Japanese Slipper to the classic Midori Sour.
My top Midori cocktails
The most famous Midori cocktail is the Midori Sour. This 1980’s classic tastes like a liquid melon Jolly Rancher, but perfectly sweet tart! My spin is a refreshed version of this classic with real lemon and lime instead of the traditional sour mix.
The Midori Sour is a popular cocktail from the 1980’s that sprung up after the Japanese liqueur was introduced in the United States in 1978.
Ingredients: Midori, lemon juice, lime juice, soda water
Here’s an Midori cocktail that’s as sophisticated as it is stunning: the Japanese Slipper! This bright green drink is perfectly balanced between sweet and sour, with notes of melon and citrus (and it's not overly sweet or artificial tasting).
The Japanese Slipper was invented in 1984 in Melbourne, Australia by a French bartender named Jean-Paul Bourguignon. The fresh lemon and Cointreau harken back to classic cocktails.
Ingredients: Midori, lemon juice, Cointreau
Here’s a Midori cocktail that’s eye-catching and absolutely delicious: a spin on the Long Island Iced Tea starring the honeydew melon-flavored liqueur. It’s refreshing, zingy, and full of flavor contrasts of lemon, orange liqueur, and bright melon.
Tokyo Tea is a spin on the popular Long Island Iced Tea, invented in the 1970’s. This drink likely came about after Midori was introduced in the US in 1978.
Ingredients: vodka, tequila, white rum, gin, Cointreau, lemon juice, simple syrup, Midori, soda water
Want a spin on the classic margarita? Try it with Midori melon liqueur, which makes a refreshing and unique flavor combination that is perfect for any occasion. Up your margarita game with this deliciously easy Midori cocktail. via A Grateful Meal
Ingredients: Midori, tequila, lime juice
Combine Midori with vodka and orange juice, and you've got another classic 1980's cocktail. This cocktail works serve in a martini glass, or you can combine it with soda water as a highball. Either way, it's an eye-catching green drink! via Dishes Delish
Ingredients: Midori, vodka, orange juice, honeydew melon garnish
Buying and storing Midori
Midori is a bright green, honeydew melon-flavored Japanese liqueur. It was first released in 1964 with the name Hermes Melon Liqueur. When released in the US in 1978, the name changed to Midori, the Japanese word for green.
A small bottle (375 ml) costs around $15, and a large bottle (750 ml) is about $25-30. I recommend starting with the smaller bottle if you’re new to Midori cocktails. The liqueur has a long shelf life and doesn’t need refrigeration. Store it a cool, dark cabinet away from direct sunlight.
Other cocktail recipes to try
Here are more of my favorite cocktail recipes:
- Classics: Try Sour Cocktails, Classic Cocktails, or 40 Great Cocktail Recipes You Should Know.
- Easy: These 10 Easy Mixed Drinks and Cheap Drinks have just 2 to 3 ingredients.
- The Big 5: Try the best cocktails with Gin, Vodka, Whiskey or Bourbon, Tequila or Rum.
- Specialty: Make drinks with Mezcal, Fernet Branca, Aperol, Hennessy, Maraschino, or Licor 43.
- By Season: Go for drinks in Fall, Winter, Christmas, or Summer.
