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Midori Price, Sizes & Buying Guide

Rebecca Hanlon
Last Updated: February 28th, 2023

Are you someone who is fascinated by the elegantly displayed bottles behind the bar?

Then a glass container filled with bright green liquid would have piqued your interest. Would you want to know what sort of liquor that is? That’s Midori.

This post will tell you everything you need to know about Midori, including its brief history, price point, and, of course, some delicious recipes.

All You Need To Know About Midori

need to know

Midori is a very interesting Japanese liqueur honeydew melon-flavored drink that is easily identifiable due to the bright green bottle.

It is widely available at many bars across the world. Suntory, a Japanese company, created this sweet liqueur using brandy, neutral grain alcohol, and sugar.

Initially, it was called Hermes Melon Liqueur back in 1964 however in 1978 when the brand launched this liqueur in the United States, they renamed it to “Midori” which is essentially the Japanese word for “green”.

Midori is a versatile liqueur that works well with a wide range of tastes, making it ideal for creating beautiful green cocktails.

What makes it even more interesting is the fact that two species of Japanese melons contribute to the wonderfully sweet flavor of this electric green liqueur.

In only a few decades, Midori has charmed consumers and bartenders alike, and it is now regarded as an essential liqueur for every well-stocked bar.

Although Midori has competitors, it is one of the most popular liqueurs when it comes to melon liqueurs and the ideal choice for any recipe that calls for such a unique flavor.

What Type Of Liquor Is Midori?

Midori is most typically used as a mixer since it is incredibly sweet and low in alcohol, containing just 20–21 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).

It has a somewhat syrupy flavor and gravity of 1.0513, which is almost the same gravity as the other popular mixers such as Cherry Brandy or Irish Cream, putting it smack in the middle of the spectrum for layered beverages.

What Does Midori Taste Like?

midori taste

It’s typically characterized as tasting like a honeydew melon in North America, and that’s a decent description. To most people, it does taste like honeydew or cantaloupe that has been artificially sweetened.

The dominant flavor in Midori is, of course, melon. Unlike some liqueurs, which keep their tastes subtle, Midori is unmistakably a melon drink.

However, the flavor is initially relatively mild but as one’s palate adapts to Midori, that’s when one can distinctly tell of its two different melon flavors as it is created with fresh Yubari and Musk melon from Japan, along with a neutral grain spirit and some added sugar.

Suntory, the corporation that created it, guarded the formula for creating this liquor for many years. Surprisingly, in recent years the company has grown more forthcoming regarding the ingredients and the manufacturing method.

What Is The Process Of Making Midori?

Midori is produced from real, fresh melons. Yep, you read that right. It’s not artificial flavoring but actual real fresh fruit that is used to make this neon green drink – Yubari Melon and Musk Melon.

Both Yubari Melon and Musk Melon used in Midori are sourced from Japan. The volcanic ash in the soil of the northern island city of Yubari gives the Yubari melon a very high nutritional value.

In Yubari City, Yubari melons harvested in June and July are processed into a rich orange-colored pulp.

Once the harvested melons are processed into pulp, it is immediately frozen to preserve the fresh flavor, and Suntory orders it fresh only when they immediately require it. This ensures its freshness and flavor.

The frozen pulp is left in sacks on the manufacturing floor until it is entirely defrosted before the process of making the two – a Yubari distillate and a Yubari infusion begin.

On the other hand, the Musk Melons come from the two provinces of Shizuoka and Aichi, which are located south of Tokyo, and are known for producing high-quality melons that cost approximately $40 to $200 each!

Both the distillate and infusion process of Yubari employs a neutral high-grade spirit with no fermentation.

For the yubari infusion, to help break down the fibrous pulp of Yubari they use an enzyme followed by the mixing of neutral spirit and sugar.

A low pressure still is used to distillate yubari in order to capture the fresh yubari flavor. Yubari pulp, water, and high-quality spirit are used to create a 59% ABV rich-tasting, smooth distillate.

It is then combined with a musk melon infusion created in Shizuoka, which has an ABV of 59%.

Midori Price

Midori is mid-priced liquor when compared to others. A 375 ml bottle costs approximately $12 to $13 and a 750 ml bottle costs about $18 to $23.

Why Do People Like Midori Since It Is Widely Recognized To Be Overly Sweet And Low In Alcohol?

Midori has a wonderful candy-sweet taste that pairs well with fresh citrus or other liquors in cocktails. It’s fantastic in a contemporary Midori Sour.

Are There Any Substitutes For Midori?

De Kuyper, Bols, or Potter’s melon liqueur are some of the finest alternatives to Midori for a similar sort of cocktail flavor.

If you’re looking for a non-alcoholic alternative you can pick up “Still Spirits Melon Liqueur Essence” from any home brewing store.

“Crème de menthe” is also an interesting green spirit that gives the same kind of essence, however, it lacks that distinct melon flavor.

Is Midori Gluten-free?

Absolutely! Midori is gluten-free since it is manufactured from two types of melons.

Is Midori Vegan?

Yes! Midori is vegan-friendly since no animal products are utilized in its creation.

Is There A Specific Way One Must Consume Midori?

Midori is most commonly used as a mixer. Since it is a sweet liqueur, it is often used as a counterpoint to sour in a variety of mixed beverages, most of which we’ll provide the recipes for in this blog.

Midori is a favorite among cocktail aficionados with a sweet tooth and is fantastic with many different kinds of sour or citric juices such as lime, lemon, orange, and pineapple.

What Are Some Of The Most Popular Midori Drinks?

Midori is nearly never drunk as a shot or straight; instead, it is most commonly mixed in cocktails. Here are some of the most popular drinks prepared using Midori, which is a candy-like liqueur.

The Japanese Sipper

This mix of melon and citrus, known as the Japanese Sipper will prove to be a true showstopper at any party.

Ingredients:

  • Cointreau– 1 ½ ounce
  • Midori – 1 ½ ounce
  • Lemon Juice – 1 ½ ounce
  • Ice – Handful
  • Cocktail Cherry – Optional

Recipe:

Mix the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with 1 handful of ice for 20-30 seconds. This freezes and dilutes the cocktail. Strain, top it off with a cocktail cherry and serve the delicious beverage.

Tokyo Iced Tea Cocktail

The Tokyo-Iced Tea is a fun twist on the Long-Island Iced Tea. This drink recipe substitutes 7-up for Cola and Midori for triple-sec. It’s really simple and easy to prepare!

Ingredients:

  • Midori – 2 ounces
  • Vodka – 1 ounce
  • Gin – 1 ounce
  • Rum – 1 ounce
  • Ice – handful
  • 7-up – as required
  • Lime Juice – ¼ lime

Recipe:

Add in Midori, Vodka, Gin, Rum, a handful of ice and lime juice in an old-fashioned glass. Stir and pour in the 7-up. Garnish the cocktail mix with a slice of kiwi or lemon/lime slice.

Midori Sour

This 1980s staple is like drinking a melted melon Jolly Rancher in a glass. But it’s not excessively sweet: it’s just the right amount of sweet and tangy!

Ingredients:

  • Soda water – 2 ounces
  • Lemon Juice – 1 tbsp.
  • Lime juice – 1 tbsp.
  • Midori – 2 ounces
  • Ice – Handful
  • Lime slice – For garnish

Recipe:

For this recipe, fill the glass with ice, lime juice, Midori, and lemon juice and gently stir. Pour soda water, garnish with freshly cut lemon slices, and serve.

Midori Melon Ball

midori melon ball

This refreshing drink is ideal for the melon season, and the fresh melon balls make it even more fun and enticing. You can use watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, or any other fruit of your choice.

Ingredients:

  • Vodka – 1 ounce
  • Midori – 2 ounces
  • Orange juice – 3 ounces
  • Melon balls – 3-4 freshly scooped
  • Ice – 2 cubes

Recipe:

Combine the orange juice, vodka, and Midori in a mixer. Add in the ice and shake it well. Pour this delicious tangy mix over the ice and garnish with melon balls.

Melon Patch

If you’re looking for a delicious springtime brunch cocktail, the melon patch goes perfectly with a fresh fruit salad on a hot summer day. It’s a light and delicious vodka and melon drink that’s quite simple to make.

Ingredients:

  • Vodka – 2 ounces
  • Midori – 1 ounce
  • Triple sec – ½ ounce
  • Club soda – approx. 4 ounces
  • Ice – handful
  • Orange slice for garnish

Recipe:

Mix in the triple sec, Midori, vodka, and ice cubes in a cocktail shaker. Mix it well and strain it. Garnish the glass with a fresh orange slice and enjoy!

Bottoms Up!

To summarize, Midori may appear intimidating owing to its color, but when used correctly in a cocktail, it may offer the ideal most exciting kick to an otherwise plain cocktail.

Its wonderful fruity flavor makes it ideal for summer beverages, as a mixer to add a little bit of this green to provide a tropical vibe, or to add a little pizazz to your St. Patrick’s Day drinks.

Furthermore, it is simple to store in a cold, out-of-the-way location away from direct sunlight. So definitely add a bottle of Midori to your collection and test out all these different cocktails with this delicious candy-like liqueur.

About The Author

Rebecca Hanlon

Rebecca has been a blogger for over 5 years, before that enjoying a number of jobs to fund her passion for travel. She's taught English as a foreign language, a part-time Barista, a waitress, and a tour guide.

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