Melon Ball

Melon Ball: approachable crowd-pleaser with strong visual appeal

Two minutes, three ingredients, one bright green highball. Midori carries the flavour, vodka stops the drink collapsing into cordial, and fresh orange juice gives it body.

Flavor profile

Ripe honeydew and a soft musky sweetness up front, clean alcohol heat in the middle, a faintly bitter finish. If the vodka reads as a separate note, the drink is under-diluted or your juice is thin. A squeeze of lime, about 5 ml, is the best upgrade: orange juice alone cannot balance 45 ml of liqueur.

Melon Ball measures in ml and oz

For a pitcher, mix it without ice and add ice only in the glasses.

How strong is a Melon Ball?

Midori is about 20% ABV, so 45 ml carries 9 ml of pure alcohol and the vodka adds 12 ml more — 21 ml in total. That lands near 15% ABV before shaking and around 13% in the glass: stronger than a Fuzzy Navel, gentler than a Margarita. Budget 170 to 190 kcal, nearly all of it sugar.

Technique

Shake for 8 to 10 seconds, no longer, because you are only chilling a drink that is already sweet. Strain over fresh ice into a highball, or serve it up in a chilled coupe for a colder, more concentrated version. Skewer two melon balls across the rim.

Riffs with names

• Japanese Slipper — equal parts Midori, Cointreau and lemon juice, shaken and served up.
• Midori Sour — Midori, fresh lemon and a barspoon of syrup, shaken hard over ice.

Melon Ball FAQ

Can you make a Melon Ball without vodka?

Yes. Swap the vodka for 30 ml of soda water and keep the lime, for a roughly 6% ABV drink that still tastes of melon.

Why does my Melon Ball taste like medicine?

Almost always warmth or juice from concentrate. Chill the liqueur, use juice you would drink on its own, and hold the 45 ml to 60 ml liqueur-to-juice ratio.

Can I batch Melon Balls for a party?

Multiply every measure, stir it in a jug in the fridge, and pour over fresh ice one glass at a time. Never leave ice in the jug.