Terms of UseHow to Make a Midori Sour Explore this Article methods Ingredients 1 Mixing Up a Midori Sour with Sour Mix 2 Preparing a Midori Sour with Vodka 3 Whipping Up Homemade Sour Mix Other Sections Tips and Warnings Things You'll Need Related Articles References Co-authored by wikiHow Staff
Last Updated: February 3, 2026
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This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 10,685 times.
Some cocktails are known for their delicious taste, while others are better known for their distinctive appearance. A Midori sour combines the best of both worlds -- a sweet, fruity taste and a fun green color that can add a festive touch to any party. Best of all, you don't need to be a mixology expert. Whether you want a simple Midori sour with just the melon liqueur and some mixers or prefer adding a little vodka to the drink, you only need a glass and a cocktail stirrer to prepare it. For the freshest taste, though, you may want to mix up your own sour mix to combine with the liqueur.
Ingredients
Midori Sour with Sour Mix
Ice
1 ½ ounces (44 ml) melon liqueur
2 ounces (59 ml) sour mix
1 ½ ounces (44 ml) fresh lime juice
Splash of lemon-lime soda
Orange slice, for garnish
Midori Sour with Vodka
1 ounce (30 ml) melon liqueur
1 ounce (30 ml) vodka
½ ounce (15 ml) lemon juice
½ ounce (15 ml) lime juice
Soda water
Maraschino cherry
Ice
Homemade Sour Mix
1 cup (200 g) sugar
1 cup (240 ml) water
1 cup (240 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ cup (120 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Mixing Up a Midori Sour with Sour Mix
1 Fill a glass with ice. For a basic Midori sour, an Old Fashioned or on the rocks glass, which typically holds about 8 ounces (237 ml), is the best option. Place enough ice in the glass to fill it.
If you prefer, you can mix all of the ingredients for the Midori sour in a cocktail shaker with ice and then pour it into the glass.
2 Add all of the ingredients except the soda and stir. After you've added the ice to the glass, pour 1 ½ ounces (44 ml) of melon liqueur, 2 ounces (59 ml) of sour mix, and 1 ½ ounces (44 ml) fresh lime juice to the glass. Use a cocktail stirrer to mix all of the ingredients together well.[1]XResearch source
Midori is the best known brand of melon liqueur, and is obviously where the cocktail gets its name. However, you can use any melon liqueur to make the drink.
You can use store-bought sour mix to make the cocktail. However, you'll get a fresher tasting drink if you mix up your own sour mix.
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3 Top off the glass with the soda and garnish with the orange. Once all of the other ingredients are mixed, add a splash of lemon-lime soda. Float an orange slice in the cocktail as a garnish, and serve.[2]XResearch source
If you prefer, you can substitute a lemon or lime slice for the orange.
Instead of floating the orange slice in the glass, you can place a wedge on the rim if you prefer.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Preparing a Midori Sour with Vodka
1 Combine all of the ingredients except the soda water and ice into a glass. In a tall, thin glass, mix 1 ounce (30 ml) of melon liqueur, 1 ounce (30 ml) of vodka, ½ ounce (15 ml) of lemon juice, and ½ ounce (15 ml) of lime juice. Use a cocktail stirrer or long spoon to mix the ingredients together well.[3]XResearch source
A Collins glass that holds approximately 12 ounces (355 ml) is a good option for the cocktail.
You can also mix the ingredients in a cocktail shaker if you prefer.
For the best tasting Midori sour, use freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice.
While Midori is the classic melon liqueur, any brand will do for the cocktail.
2 Add ice to the glass. After you've mixed all of the ingredients, put a handful or so of ice into the mixture to chill it. Stir the cocktail with the cocktail stirrer or spoon again to ensure that the ice is evenly distributed.[4]XResearch source
If you've mixed the cocktail in a shaker, fill the glass with ice first and then pour the drink over it.
3 Pour the soda water into the glass and garnish with the cherry. Once the ice is added to the glass, top off the cocktail with a splash of soda water. Next, float a maraschino cherry in the drink and serve.[5]XResearch source
When it comes to soda water, plain seltzer or club soda will work.
You can also add an orange slice to the drink for garnish if you like.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Whipping Up Homemade Sour Mix
1 Heat the sugar and water in a pan and bring to a boil. To make a simple syrup, add 1 cup (200 g) of sugar and 1 cup (240 ml) of water to a small saucepan. Heat the mixture on medium-high to high, and allow the mixture to come to a boil.[6]XResearch source
Be sure to stir the mixture as it's cooking to ensure that the sugar doesn't stick to the pan.
2 Simmer the mixture until the sugar is dissolved. After the mixture reaches a boil, lower the heat to medium. Let it simmer for approximately 7 minutes, or until the sugar dissolves completely.[7]XResearch source
While the syrup is simmering, stir it regularly to help the sugar dissolve.
3 Remove the syrup from the heat and allow it to cool. Once the sugar has dissolved completely, take the pan off the heat. Let the simple syrup cool completely, which should take 15 to 20 minutes.[8]XResearch source
4 Strain lemon and lime juices into a bottle. While you're waiting for the syrup to cool, place a strainer over the opening of a resealable bottle and pour 1 cup (240 ml) of freshly squeezed lemon juice and ½ cup (120 ml) of freshly squeezed lime juice into it. Discard any seeds or pulp.[9]XResearch source
You can use any airtight container to store the sour mix, but it's best to use a bottle so you can easily pour it into your cocktails.
5 Pour the syrup into the bottle and shake well to combine. After you've added the lemon and lime juices to the bottle, transfer the cooled simple syrup to it. Seal the bottle, and shake it vigorously to combine all of the ingredients.[10]XResearch source
6 Use the syrup immediately or refrigerate. As soon as you've mixed the ingredients together, the sour mix is ready to use in your Midori sour or other cocktail. If you don't plan to use it right away, make sure the bottle is tightly sealed and store it in the refrigerator.[11]XResearch source
Homemade sour mix should keep in the refrigerator for one to two weeks.
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Expert Q&A
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Tips
While it's not traditional, you can also make a frozen Midori sour. Mix all of the ingredients in a blender with plenty of ice, and blend until the mixture is smooth. Pour the drink into a glass, and serve. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Things You'll Need
Midori Sour with Sour Mix
Old fashioned or on the rocks glass
Cocktail stirrer
Midori Sour with Vodka
Collins glass
Cocktail stirrer or long spoon
Homemade Sour Mix
Small saucepan
Wooden spoon
Sealable bottle
Strainer
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Co-authored by: wikiHow Staff wikiHow Staff Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 10,685 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 3 Updated: February 3, 2026 Views: 10,685 
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1 Fill a glass with ice. For a basic Midori sour, an Old Fashioned or on the rocks glass, which typically holds about 8 ounces (237 ml), is the best option. Place enough ice in the glass to fill it. 
2 Add all of the ingredients except the soda and stir. After you've added the ice to the glass, pour 1 ½ ounces (44 ml) of melon liqueur, 2 ounces (59 ml) of sour mix, and 1 ½ ounces (44 ml) fresh lime juice to the glass. Use a cocktail stirrer to mix all of the ingredients together well.[1] 
3 Top off the glass with the soda and garnish with the orange. Once all of the other ingredients are mixed, add a splash of lemon-lime soda. Float an orange slice in the cocktail as a garnish, and serve.[2] 
1 Combine all of the ingredients except the soda water and ice into a glass. In a tall, thin glass, mix 1 ounce (30 ml) of melon liqueur, 1 ounce (30 ml) of vodka, ½ ounce (15 ml) of lemon juice, and ½ ounce (15 ml) of lime juice. Use a cocktail stirrer or long spoon to mix the ingredients together well.[3] 
2 Add ice to the glass. After you've mixed all of the ingredients, put a handful or so of ice into the mixture to chill it. Stir the cocktail with the cocktail stirrer or spoon again to ensure that the ice is evenly distributed.[4] 
3 Pour the soda water into the glass and garnish with the cherry. Once the ice is added to the glass, top off the cocktail with a splash of soda water. Next, float a maraschino cherry in the drink and serve.[5] 
1 Heat the sugar and water in a pan and bring to a boil. To make a simple syrup, add 1 cup (200 g) of sugar and 1 cup (240 ml) of water to a small saucepan. Heat the mixture on medium-high to high, and allow the mixture to come to a boil.[6] 
2 Simmer the mixture until the sugar is dissolved. After the mixture reaches a boil, lower the heat to medium. Let it simmer for approximately 7 minutes, or until the sugar dissolves completely.[7] 
3 Remove the syrup from the heat and allow it to cool. Once the sugar has dissolved completely, take the pan off the heat. Let the simple syrup cool completely, which should take 15 to 20 minutes.[8] 
4 Strain lemon and lime juices into a bottle. While you're waiting for the syrup to cool, place a strainer over the opening of a resealable bottle and pour 1 cup (240 ml) of freshly squeezed lemon juice and ½ cup (120 ml) of freshly squeezed lime juice into it. Discard any seeds or pulp.[9] 
5 Pour the syrup into the bottle and shake well to combine. After you've added the lemon and lime juices to the bottle, transfer the cooled simple syrup to it. Seal the bottle, and shake it vigorously to combine all of the ingredients.[10] 
6 Use the syrup immediately or refrigerate. As soon as you've mixed the ingredients together, the sour mix is ready to use in your Midori sour or other cocktail. If you don't plan to use it right away, make sure the bottle is tightly sealed and store it in the refrigerator.[11]