Midori Liquor Substitutes

Updated on April 9th, 2023

Midori is a well-known liqueur with a melon flavour. The brilliant green bottle that shines behind numerous bars throughout the world is readily recognizable. It’s a sweet liqueur made with neutral grain spirit, brandy, and sugar that was created by Suntory in Japan. Two species of Japanese melons contribute to the wonderfully sweet flavour.

If Midori liqueur is unavailable, you can substitute one of the many other popular liqueurs on the market today. Chartreuse, Creme de menthe, Bols, and Orgeat Italian soda syrup are among them. Because of their high alcohol content, these liqueurs may not be suitable for all recipes. Some of the most popular Midori alternatives are listed here. Instead, try one of these.

What are Some Substitutes for Midori Liqueur Substitutes?

• Chartreuse

Chartreuse, a popular midori replacement, is a bright green liquor produced from a variety of medicinal plants. The recipe was once used as a medicine by monks, but it is now only manufactured in one monastery. Chartreuse has a particular flavour that comes from a combination of herbs and flowers. In fact, the monks gave the liqueur its name.

If you can’t locate midori liqueur in your location, you can use chartreuse instead. Its distinct flavour profile makes it an excellent midori alternative, but any herbal liqueur will suffice. Combine sugar and water to produce a simple Chartreuse syrup. Simple syrup is available in most liquor stores. You can also get it at a specialty liquor store or order it online.

• Creme de menthe

If you like the flavour of creme de menthe, peppermint schnapps makes an excellent replacement. It has a strong mint flavour, although not as sweet. Because peppermint schnapps is normally 100 proof, it’s best to reduce the amount in a recipe. Green mint syrup, which is nonalcoholic but decreases the proof of your drink, can be used instead if you’re a vegetarian.

While you won’t be able to duplicate the flavours of midori liqueur, Creme de menthe can be used in a variety of recipes. This liqueur’s minty flavour pairs well with fruit flavours. You might also use Bottega Melone, a neutral melon liqueur. This liqueur can be found at most liquor stores and is a superb midori substitute.

• Bols

If you can’t get Midori liqueur, you can try Bols, an inexpensive green liqueur with a similar flavour and colour. It’s created using melon and is used in a variety of cocktail mixes. Bols has a similar flavour to Midori and is fairly easy to come by. Potter’s melon liqueur, which has a similar flavour and is also readily accessible, is the next best option. De Kuyper is another low-cost liqueur brand. Its delicious melon liquor should be poured over rocks.

Potter’s, which has 20% alcohol, is another liqueur that can be replaced with Midori. Both of these ingredients can be used in the same dish. They’re mostly flavor-wise equivalent to Midori and can be substituted in a 1:1 ratio. Both alternatives are fantastic when combined with fruit flavours like melon or pineapple. Before selecting one substitute, do some study, but the outcomes should be as satisfying.

• Orgeat Italian Soda Syrup

By swapping Orgeat Italian soda syrup for Midori liquor, you can make cocktails without it. It’s an Italian soda alternative with an interesting backstory. Orgeat syrup can also be used to make lemonade and other fruity beverages at home. Here are a few delicious recipes to try. ILLUSION OF MIDORI

Many people in New Orleans consider this drink to be a breakfast beverage and serve it at brunch. It has a powerful flavour that is evocative of the classic cocktail, yet it is not overbearing. This drink can be made using orgeat or almond milk. You can also buy or get online. Although not as intense as Midori, this syrup will nonetheless give a pleasant flavour to your desserts and drinks.

• Chardonnay

If you like midori liqueur but don’t want to drink the alcohol, try a Chardonnay replacement. Chardonnay is a white wine variety that has been farmed in France for generations. Many wines contain its fruity and fragrant aromas. If you want to make a midori liqueur alternative without compromising flavour, seek for a Chardonnay made from the Aligote vine. Although this grape is widely farmed in France and Italy, it is rarely encountered in wine shops. It has a lovely acidity and minerality that will mix well with a variety of foods. It goes well with charcuterie before a meal as well.

This bright green liqueur contains the same flavour as Midori and is cheaper. If you are worried about the flavour, try combining a splash of Bols with a neutral spirit to make a cocktail that has the same melon taste. Bols also goes well in tropical-themed cocktails and can be consumed straight, although it is sweet and is best served on the rocks.

Why is Midori Hard to Find?

The quality and wonderful taste of Midori® Melon Liqueur comes from combining the juices of premium muskmelons, which are exceptionally rare in Japan. They are extremely rare because they are exclusively grown in one region of Japan. They can sell for as much as $20,000 in their first harvest because of this.

Midori Melon Liqueur is consumer-tested and debuted in NYC after high interest from top U.S. bartenders (at this time, no such fruity liqueur exists in the USA). Midori Melon Liqueur is the major ingredient highlighted in “The Universe,” a cocktail that wins first prize in the United States Bartenders’ Guild annual competition the same year it debuted.

It is a Japanese liqueur with a brilliant green melon flavour. It’s quite sweet and has a low alcohol content of 20–21 percent by volume (ABV). We characterize it as tasting like a honeydew melon in North America, and that’s a good approximation. It tastes like honeydew or cantaloupe that has been sweetened.

Is Midori Like Melon Liqueur?

It’s created using a neutral grain spirit and fresh yubari and musk melon from Japan. Suntory, the firm that created it, guarded the formula for creating this liquor for years. The corporation has become more transparent about both the components and the method in recent years.

It immediately became a must-have for any bar. It gives any cocktail a lot of green pigment, allowing bartenders to make stunning drinks in shades of green, yellow-green, and blue-green.

What does Midori Taste Like?

It’s created using a neutral grain spirit and fresh yubari and musk melon from Japan. Suntory, the firm that created it, guarded the formula for creating this liquor for years. The corporation has become more transparent about both the components and the method in recent years.

It immediately became a must-have for any bar. It gives any cocktail a lot of green pigment, allowing bartenders to make stunning drinks in shades of green, yellow-green, and blue-green. The famous green liquor is now made all over the world. Since 1987, Mexico has produced the majority of the world’s Midori, with manufacturing in France beginning in 2003 to service the European market. The melons are still obtained and processed in Japan, which is known for producing some of the world’s best and most expensive melons.

Is Midori Discontinued?

Midori (Japanese for “green”) was the code name for a managed code operating system (OS) developed by Microsoft in collaboration with Microsoft Research. Midori was decommissioned in 2015, while many of its concepts were incorporated into other Microsoft projects.

Suntory purchased Beam Inc. in 2014, resulting in Beam Suntory, the world’s third-largest distilled spirits corporation. This means that popular American whiskeys like Maker’s Mark and Jim Beam, as well as Suntory whiskies, are owned by the same firm as Midori. Malibu, on the other hand, isn’t simply a classic; it’s sunshine in a bottle, with a smooth, fresh flavour. That’s why it’s the best-selling coconut-flavoured Caribbean rum on the planet.

The ABV is 21%. 2.5 fl. oz. per serving Original Malibu. It’s a mixed alcoholic cocktail made out of Midori (a honeydew melon-flavoured liqueur), Sprite, and a whisky sour mix, with a maraschino cherry or two thrown in for good measure. It’s true that it’s a “girly” drink (imagine a green apple Jolly Rancher), but only if you believe in outdated gender norms. Midori’s distinct profile shines as vividly as its colour in herbal botanical gins, grassy vegetal tequilas, and funky rums.

What Melon is Midori Made from?

Midori is made using two different types of melon:

Yubari King Melon: The yubari melon, which is a hybrid of two cantaloupe species and farmed near Yubari City in Japan, is sometimes hailed as the most expensive fruit. It has orange flesh and a delicious flavour.

MuskMelon: The muskmelons used in Midori are grown in the Japanese districts of Aichi and Shizuoka. Midori’s hue is inspired by another high-quality melon, the luscious fruit, which is famed for its sweetness and green flesh.

In Japan, a neutral grain spirit base is mixed with yubari and musk melon to create Midori. After that, the base spirit is transferred to Mexico and France to be finished. The melon spirit is combined with cognac and sugar before bottling, and food colouring gives it that unique green colour. ​

Midori’s recipe has evolved throughout time. In the 2000s, the brand reduced the sugar content in response to bartender requests for a less sweet liqueur. The alcohol concentration has also mellowed, now sitting at 20% alcohol by volume (40 proof).

How to Drink Midori?

For most people’s taste, Midori is too sweet to drink straight from the bottle. It is best when slightly diluted and ice-cold; a few ice cubes makes a pleasantly sweet sipper. Better yet, add soda (nothing too sweet) and serve it over ice as tall or short as you like.

Midori is designed to shine in cocktails, and it’s a very versatile mixer. Some drink recipes—including the famous Japanese slipper and Midori sour—use it as the base liquor, mixing it with a sweetener and citrus juice. Other recipes pair it with vodka, rum, or tequila, and Midori is an interesting addition to whiskey cocktails.

The bulk of Midori beverages are straightforward and include a fruit-on-fruit combination. It pairs well with apples, citrus fruits, cranberries, raspberries, and pineapple, but will also work with most other fruits. Midori’s colour is a common addition to colourful party shooter recipes, and it may even be found in creamy cocktails. Many of these drinks are green in colour, depending on how much Midori is used and the colour of the other mixers.

What are Recipes for Which Midori Liquor is Used?

• Melon Ball Midori

Fresh melon balls form a fun and delightful garnish for this refreshing cocktail, which is perfect for melon season. Honeydew, watermelon, cantaloupe, or any other favourite fruit can be used. One serving

• Japanese Slipper

This Midori drink, which dates back to the 1980s, is a delightful, low-alcohol alternative for those searching for something sweet but not too drunk. One serving

• Bahama Blue

Are you yearning for warm breezes and sand between your toes? A Blue Bahama cocktail, made with Midori, blue curaçao, gin, triple sec, rum, vodka, and tequila, is a bright and flavorful blend.

• Sour Midori

The sour, Midori’s most famous and possibly well-known cocktail, admirably balances Midori’s sweetness. One serving

• Splice Midori

Try a Midori Splice if you’re in the mood for something tropical. You’ll be swept away to an island paradise in no time. Produces one drink

• Martini with Honeydew

Anyone who enjoys a fruity variation on the Martini will enjoy the Honeydew Martini. It’s a simple cocktail to make with few ingredients and the perfect amount of sweetness. It’s also a great candidate for personalization and makes a tasty after-dinner drink.

Conclusion

You should have no problem finding a bottle of Midori among the liqueurs and cordials at any liquor store. It’s a top-shelf brand, so look up when shopping and expect to pay a premium price for a bottle. While other green melon liqueurs are available, try to avoid the really inexpensive ones to save money because they’re often artificially flavoured and cloying.