cocktaildna

Melbourne, Australia · 1984

Japanese Slipper

A bright, neon-green cocktail that tastes like sweet melon candy with a sharp citrus edge.

melonsweetcitrusvodkafruitytartcandygreensourrefreshing

%

ABV

Difficulty

Japanese Slipper

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip hits you with upfront, juicy melon sweetness that leans toward tropical fruit. Mid-palate, the lemon juice cuts through, adding a tart snap that keeps the sweetness in check. The finish is short and clean, leaving a lingering fruity sweetness on the tongue.

Who will like it

This is for drinkers who like sweet, fruity cocktails and don't mind a drink that tastes more like dessert than a spirit-forward classic.

When to drink

Serve this at a summer party or as a fun, bright starter drink before a heavy meal.

Ordering tip

If you find it too sweet at the bar, ask the bartender to add an extra quarter ounce of lemon juice to dial back the candy-like sweetness.

Ice: NoneTemp: ColdCost: $8–$12Glass: CoupeBatch-friendlyHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This drink is a straightforward, sweet fruit bomb. The melon liqueur hits you right away with a sugary, candy-like flavor, and the lemon juice steps in just enough to keep it from tasting like pure syrup. It's light, crisp, and very easy to drink, with the vodka providing a gentle buzz rather than a strong bite. There isn't much depth or lingering complexity, but it's refreshing and fun if you're in the mood for something bright and sweet.

Finish: The finish is short and clean, leaving a sweet, fruity melon note on the back of the tongue before fading away.

Primary tastes

sweetfruitysour

Secondary

floral

Aroma

meloncitrus zestcandy
  • Sweetnessvery sweet

    The Midori brings a heavy, candy-like sweetness that dominates the flavor from start to finish.

  • Sournessmoderately sour

    The lemon juice provides a solid tartness that cuts the sweetness but doesn't make the drink puckering.

  • Strengthmoderate strength

    The vodka adds a noticeable alcoholic warmth, but the strong melon flavor masks most of the booze.

  • Refreshingquite refreshing

    Served ice cold with citrus, it drinks like a bright, thirst-quenching cooler.

  • Creaminesslight and crisp

    The texture is light and juice-like, with no dairy or heavy body to coat the palate.

  • Complexitystraightforward

    What you see is what you get: it tastes exactly like melon and lemon, with no hidden layers.

Recipe

Make it at home

Shaken · Coupe · equal parts on Vodka. A neutral vodka works best here so it doesn't fight the melon

Before you start

Pop a coupe glass in the freezer for a few minutes to get it frosty. Squeeze your lemon juice before you start so you aren't scrambling mid-pour.

Ingredients

  • VodkaBase Spirit30ml
  • MidoriLiqueurThe bright green melon liqueur that defines this drink30ml
  • Lemon JuiceJuiceFreshly squeezed; bottled juice will make it taste flat30ml
  • Maraschino CherryGarnish1 piece

Garnish: Maraschino Cherry

Tools

  • Cocktail Shaker · Shaking

    To shake and chill the ingredients quickly with ice

    At home: A large mason jar with a tight lid

  • Jigger · Measuring

    To measure the equal parts of vodka, Midori, and lemon juice

    At home: A standard shot glass or measuring spoons

  • Hawthorne Strainer · Straining

    To hold back the ice while pouring the drink into the glass

    At home: A slotted spoon or fine mesh sieve

  • Citrus Juicer · Other

    To extract juice from fresh lemons

    At home: Squeeze by hand and strain out seeds

  • Coupe Glass · Serving

    To serve the chilled drink without ice

    At home: Any small stemmed wine glass

Ingredients and tools to make Japanese Slipper
Ingredients and tools

Steps

  1. 1

    Measure 30ml of vodka, 30ml of Midori, and 30ml of fresh lemon juice using your jigger, and pour them all into the empty shaker tin. The mixture will already look like bright green syrup at the bottom.

    Step 1 — how to make Japanese Slipper

    !Using bottled lemon juice instead of fresh, which makes the drink taste artificially flat.

  2. 2

    Fill the shaker tin about three-quarters full with ice cubes. Make sure the ice comes up above the liquid line so everything chills evenly when you shake.

    Step 2 — how to make Japanese Slipper

    !Using too little ice, which melts fast and waters down the drink instead of chilling it.

  3. 3

    Put the top on the shaker and shake hard for about 10 to 12 seconds. You'll know you're done when the outside of the metal shaker feels icy cold and frost starts forming on the tin.

    ~12s

    Step 3 — how to make Japanese Slipper

    !Shaking too gently, which leaves the drink lukewarm and doesn't wake up the citrus.

  4. 4

    Take the top off the shaker and fit a Hawthorne strainer over the rim. Pour the drink through the strainer into your chilled coupe glass, letting the liquid flow smoothly until the ice stops it.

    Step 4 — how to make Japanese Slipper

    !Letting small ice shards slip into the glass, which will melt and dilute the drink quickly.

  5. 5

    Drop a maraschino cherry right into the bottom of the glass. It will sit there as a sweet bite at the end of the drink.

    Step 5 — how to make Japanese Slipper

Serve

Serve it right away in the chilled coupe while it's still icy cold and the green color is bright. The drink should be smooth with a thin layer of tiny bubbles on top from the shake.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for Midori

  • MidoriBols Melon Liqueur
    Match
    Specialty availability

    Midori → Bols Melon Liqueur: Slightly less sweet with a more natural honeydew flavor instead of candy-like melon.

  • MidoriWatermelon Liqueur
    Match
    Specialty availability

    Midori → Watermelon Liqueur: Shifts the flavor from honeydew to watermelon, making the drink taste slightly earthier and less neon-sweet.

Related

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Midori Sour

Similar cocktail

Midori Sour

The Midori Sour adds a splash of soda water to stretch the drink into a longer, lighter highball.

Match

Both drinks taste like sweet melon candy, but the Midori Sour is more diluted and bubbly, making it a better choice if you want to sip on something longer.

In common: Sweet melon flavor, Shaken and served cold, Neon green color

Ingredients

Both share

Vodka, Midori, Lemon Juice

Only in Midori Sour

Soda Water

The Midori Sour uses the exact same base but tops it with soda water, turning a short, neat drink into a tall, fizzy one.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Dominant sweet melon flavor, Citrus tartness from lemon

How Midori Sour differs

Lighter body, Fizzy texture, Slightly more diluted flavor

View recipe & details →

Lemon Drop

Similar cocktail

Lemon Drop

The Lemon Drop uses orange liqueur and simple syrup instead of Midori, removing the melon flavor entirely.

Match

The Lemon Drop is a cleaner, more grown-up vodka sour, while the Japanese Slipper leans heavily into sweet, fruity territory.

In common: Shaken and served up, Tart lemon flavor, Sweet and sour balance

Ingredients

Both share

Vodka, Lemon Juice

Only in Japanese Slipper

Midori

Only in Lemon Drop

Orange Liqueur, Simple Syrup

The Lemon Drop swaps the melon liqueur for orange liqueur and simple syrup, trading the fruity green flavor for a sharper, more traditional citrus profile.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Bright lemon tartness, Vodka backbone, Sweet and sour balance

How Lemon Drop differs

No melon flavor, More citrus-forward, Less candy-like sweetness

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

Created in 1984 by Jean-Paul Bourguignon at Mietta's Restaurant in Melbourne, Australia. It was invented as a showcase for Midori, which had recently been introduced to the Australian market, and its striking green color quickly made it a popular party drink of the era.

Creator
Jean-Paul Bourguignon at Mietta's
Era
1980s
IBA
New Era Drinks
Data version
IBA Contemporary Classic spec
Confidence

The IBA official recipe uses equal parts of all three ingredients, which is the standard spec followed here.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

  • Chill your coupe glass in the freezer for at least 15 minutes before making the drink.
  • Fresh lemon juice is non-negotiable; the bottled stuff will make this taste flat.
  • If the drink is too sweet for your taste, bump the lemon juice up to 45ml.

Avoid

Common mistakes

  • Don't skip the shake; stirring won't wake up the citrus enough.
  • Don't use cheap, harsh vodka; its bite will poke through the sweet melon.