Melon Ball
Have a ball with this week’s Friday Cocktail, the Melon Ball.
It is likely the Melon Ball, or Melonball, dates back to 1978. According to the offical Midori website, that’s when the liqueur first appeared in the United States, and the company wanted a drink to promote it. Midori is a melon liqueur, although it’s really more watermelon in smell and flavor. The Melon Ball cocktail is a sweet refreshing drink.
It is interesting to note that there is a Melon cocktail dating back as far as 1964, included in that edition of the Old Mr. Boston de luxe Official Bartender’s Guide. That drink calls for gin, lemon juice and maraschino. Perhaps it inspired the creation of this latter drink?
What you’ll need: Vodka, Midori (or melon liqueur), and Pineapple Juice (or Orange Juice)
This one’s quite easy to make. Put ice cubes in a tall glass. Pour in an ounce of vodka and 2 ounces of midori. Fill the glass with pineapple juice and gently stir. Garnish with a marashino cherry and, optionally, a slice of pineapple. Alternatively, you could garnish with an actual melon ball or two.
How I like it: Now because I’ve seen two versions of this recipe, one calling for orange juice and the other for pineapple juice, I decided to compromise and use pineapple-orange juice! If I had to choose between the two, I would go with the more commonly used pineapple juice.
Remember, drink responsibly!
The Poisoned Martini 