Midori Melon Liqueur (700 ml)

Midori debuted at Studio 54 in New York on 2 June 1978, a deliberate theatrical launch by Suntory designed to position a Japanese liqueur as a global cocktail ingredient — not a sipping curiosity. That decision locked in the product's identity: intensely fruit-forward, vividly coloured, and built for the back bar rather than the cellar.

Production is centred in Aichi Prefecture, where Suntory blends distillates derived from two premium Japanese melon varieties — Yubari King from Hokkaido and Musk melon — chosen for their high sugar content and aromatic intensity. The result is a liqueur bottled at 20% ABV with a sugar-dense profile that preserves the fresh, almost watery-flesh character of the source fruit.

What separates Midori from European fruit liqueurs is the use of actual melon distillate rather than synthetic flavouring or maceration alone — a production choice that gives the liqueur a rounder, less candy-like aromatic register than many competitors at this price point.

The signature chartreuse-green colour is artificial, added for brand recognition, making this one of the few liqueurs where the visual identity is openly a marketing construct rather than a natural by-product of the fruit.