Midori Sour
This bright green Midori sour balances sweet melon liqueur with fresh lemon, lime, and a splash of soda. It is easy to shake at home and tastes fresher than the neon bar version many people remember.
- Total time
- 5 min
- Yield
- 1 cocktail
- Difficulty
- Easy
Prep 5mCook 0mAmericanDrinks
A Midori sour is a simple shaken cocktail built around Midori, the vivid green Japanese melon liqueur. The drink became popular in American bars in the late 1970s and 1980s, and it is still a fun choice when you want something sweet, tart, and eye-catching.
The key to a good one is fresh citrus. Bottled sour mix can make the drink taste flat and candy-like, while lemon and lime juice give it a clean, sharp edge.
This version includes a small pour of vodka for structure, simple syrup for balance, and club soda for a light fizz. You can adjust the syrup and soda to make it more tart or more mellow.
01What you'll need
Ingredients
8 items · 1 cocktail
- 1 1/2 ounces Midori melon liqueur
- 3/4 ounce vodka
- 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup, preferably 1:1 sugar to water
- Ice, for shaking and serving
- 1 to 2 ounces chilled club soda, to top
- Lemon wheel, lime wheel, or maraschino cherry, for garnish, optional
02How to make it
Step-by-step
1. Chill the glass
Set a rocks glass or small Collins glass in the freezer for a few minutes, or fill it with ice water while you mix the drink. A cold glass helps the cocktail stay bright and refreshing.
2. Measure the liquids
Add the Midori, vodka, lemon juice, lime juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Measuring keeps the drink balanced, especially because Midori and simple syrup are both sweet.
3. Add ice
Fill the shaker about two-thirds full with ice. Use enough ice so the drink chills quickly without becoming watery.
4. Shake well
Seal the shaker and shake hard for 10 to 15 seconds. Shaking chills the drink and slightly dilutes it, which softens the alcohol and blends the citrus with the liqueur.
5. Prepare the serving glass
Empty the ice water from the chilled glass if you used it. Fill the glass with fresh ice.
6. Strain the cocktail
Strain the shaken drink over the fresh ice. A cocktail strainer holds back the broken ice from the shaker so the drink tastes clean.
7. Top with soda
Pour 1 to 2 ounces of chilled club soda over the drink. Use 1 ounce for a stronger, tarter cocktail or 2 ounces for a lighter, spritzier one.
8. Garnish and serve
Add a lemon wheel, lime wheel, or maraschino cherry if you like. Serve right away while the drink is cold and bubbly.
03From our kitchen
Cook's tips
- Make the citrus mix ahead: Juice the lemon and lime up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate in a covered jar. Fresh juice tastes best the same day but is still useful the next day.
- Do not shake with soda: Add club soda only after shaking. If you shake carbonated soda, the shaker can leak or pop open from the pressure.
- Adjust the sweetness: For a tarter drink, reduce the simple syrup to 1/4 ounce. For a sweeter, softer drink, use the full 1/2 ounce and add the larger splash of soda.
- Swap the vodka: Leave out the vodka and increase the soda for a lower-alcohol version. The drink will be sweeter and lighter, but still refreshing.
- No cocktail shaker? Use a clean jar with a tight lid. Shake carefully, then strain through a small sieve if you have one.
- Storage note: A finished Midori sour does not store well because the ice melts and the soda goes flat. If needed, mix the Midori, vodka, citrus, and syrup up to 4 hours ahead, refrigerate, then shake with ice and add soda just before serving.
Cook's note
This recipe is intended for adults of legal drinking age. Nutrition is estimated for one cocktail and does not include an optional garnish.
04Frequently asked
Questions & answers
What does a Midori sour taste like?
It tastes sweet, tart, and fruity, with a clear melon flavor from the Midori. Fresh lemon and lime keep it from tasting too sugary.
Can I make a Midori sour without vodka?
Yes. Skip the vodka and add an extra splash of club soda. The drink will have less alcohol and a softer flavor, but it will still taste like a Midori sour.
Can I use bottled lemon or lime juice?
Fresh juice is strongly recommended. Bottled citrus can taste dull or bitter, and this cocktail relies on bright acidity to balance the sweet melon liqueur.
What is simple syrup?
Simple syrup is sugar dissolved in water. To make a 1:1 syrup, stir equal parts sugar and hot water until clear, then cool before using.
Why is my Midori sour too sweet?
Midori is already sweet, so too much syrup or too little citrus can make the drink taste sugary. Add a little more lemon or lime juice, or top with extra club soda to lighten it.
05Per serving
Nutrition facts
Nutrition Facts
1 cocktail
Amount per serving
% Daily Value*
- Total Fat0 g
- 0%
- Saturated Fat0 g
- 0%
- Cholesterol0 mg
- 0%
- Sodium6 mg
- 0%
- Total Carbohydrate31 g
- 11%
- Dietary Fiber0 g
- 0%
- Total Sugars29 g
- Protein0 g
- 0%
- Vitamin D0 mcg
- 0%
- Calcium4 mg
- 0%
- Iron0 mg
- 0%
- Potassium38 mg
- 1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
05Keep cooking
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