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Here are the top Midori cocktails to make with this Japanese melon liqueur! These bright green drinks are balanced to perfection.
Got a bottle of Midori? This neon green Japanese liqueur was emblematic of drinks of the 1980’s, brightly colored and intensely sweet. After going out of vogue for a while, it’s back and better than ever! Its earthy melon flavor makes refreshingly crisp, sweet tart drinks.
Here are all the best Midori cocktails that make the most of this green melon liquor! At A Couple Cooks, we’re cocktail experts with over 300 cocktail recipes under our belt, and we’ve experimented with this liqueur to find the best ways to use it. It’s surprisingly refreshing when paired with real citrus or top shelf orange liqueur in a Japanese Slipper. Or try the classic Midori Sour uses real lemon, lime and soda water, a far cry from the vodka and artificial sour mix of days gone by. Ready to get started?
And now…the top Midori cocktails!
The most famous Midori cocktail? The Midori Sour! This 1980’s classic is like the drink equivalent of a melon Jolly Rancher. But it’s not overly sweet: it’s perfectly sweet tart! This drink was big in the 1980s and 90’s made with sour mix. Our spin is a refreshed version of this classic with real lemon and lime, and let me tell you: one sip of this and you’ll be a believer.
History: The Midori Sour is a popular cocktail from the 1980’s that sprung up after the bright green Japanese liqueur was introduced in the United States in 1978.
Ingredients: Midori, lemon juice, lime juice, soda water
Here’s an impressive Midori cocktail that’s as sophisticated as it is stunning: the Japanese Slipper! This bright green drink makes your eye brows raise on 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 darn delicious.
History: The Japanese Slipper was invented in 1984 in Melbourne, Australia by a French bartender named Jean-Paul Bourguignon. The fresh lemon and Cointreau speaks to his French roots and harkens back to classic cocktails.
Ingredients: Midori, lemon juice, Cointreau
Here’s a Midori cocktail that’s eye-catching and absolutely delicious: Tokyo Tea! This spin on the Long Island Iced Tea stars Midori, the honeydew melon-flavored Japanese liqueur. Reserve your judgement until you taste this one. This is by no means a low-brow drink! It’s refreshing, zingy, and full of intriguing flavor with the contrasts of lemon, orange liqueur, and bright melon.
History: This drink is a spin on the ultra popular Long Island Iced Tea, an ubiquitous cocktail invented in the 1970’s. The Toyko Tea likely came about sometime 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
All about Midori
Want to know more about this tasty melon liqueur? Here’s its back story:
- 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.
- What does Midori taste like? It’s sweet, with a candy-like honeydew melon flavor.
- How much does Midori cost? A small bottle (375 ml) costs around $15, and a large bottle (750 ml) is about $25-30.
More cocktail recipes
Looking for more? We’ve got them:
- Classics: Try Sour Cocktails, Classic Cocktails, or Great Cocktail Recipes.
- 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.
5 Midori Cocktails: Midori Sour & More!
Here’s how to make a Midori Sour, a bright green cocktail with a zingy melon flavor! Ditch the sour mix for this fresh homemade version.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) Midori
- ½ ounce (1 tablespoon) lime juice
- ½ ounce (1 tablespoon) lemon juice
- 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) soda water, to top
- Ice, for serving (try clear ice)
- For the garnish: cocktail cherry and lime slice (optional)
Instructions
- Add the Midori, lime juice, lemon juice and ice to a low ball glass and stir.
- Pour in the soda water. Add the garnishes and serve.
