Japanese Slipper
A bright, jewel-green cocktail from 1984 Melbourne that pairs the honeydew sweetness of melon liqueur with the orange bite of triple sec and the tang of fresh lemon juice.
- 1 ozmelon liqueur
- 1 oztriple sec
- 1 ozlemon juice(freshly squeezed)
- Maraschino cherrygarnish
- 1Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- 2Add the melon liqueur, triple sec, and fresh lemon juice.
- 3Shake vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds until well chilled.
- 4Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- 5Drop a maraschino cherry into the glass and serve.
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The Japanese Slipper was created in 1984 by Jean-Paul Bourguignon, a French-born bartender working at Mietta's Restaurant in Melbourne, Australia. The cocktail's name references the Japanese origin of Midori, the vivid green melon liqueur that anchors the recipe — Midori being the Japanese word for green. Suntory developed Midori and introduced it to the United States in 1978, and it subsequently made its way to Australia's growing cocktail bar scene. Bourguignon's equal-parts formula — melon liqueur, triple sec, and fresh lemon juice — gave the drink a perfect balance of sweet, orange, and sour that became an instant hit. The Japanese Slipper quickly established itself as a staple of Australian cocktail culture and is now recognised internationally as a modern classic.
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