The best way to celebrate St Patrick's Day is with a stiff drink in hand. What better time than now, while we're all feeling extra Irish?
Whether you're chilling with a drink at home or are throwing one helluva party, this St. Patrick's Day cocktail will get you into the green spirit!
This vodka & Midori cocktail is perfect for the occasion. You'll be sipping it away in just a few minutes!
While this St. Patrick's Day melon cocktail is an excellent alternative to traditional drinks this holiday, it's an easy, wonderful beverage you can enjoy year-round. It's a refreshing cocktail for summer parties and backyard gatherings.
You can serve it as an aperitif or after-dinner drink with Irish dishes like Dublin Coddle or Fish and Chips.
Whether you take your martini with gin or vodka, extra-dirty, or garnished with an edible flower, you will love the flavor of this melon martini that goes down easy.
Why you'll love this St. Patrick's Day cocktail:
- This green melon martini is super quick to make!
- It's made with just two ingredients! (OK, three if you count ice).
- Green cocktail is perfect for celebrating Irish culture, but it is also the ultimate summertime refresher!
- It's the perfect drink for those of us who don't like green beer on St. Paddy's Day (or St. Patty's Day, as often misspelled).
- This shamrock martini easily converts from St. Patrick's Day cocktail into a great Halloween cocktail. Just add Maraschino cherry to the bottom of your glass for garnish and or red-colored simple syrup to the rim.
๐ Ingredients and Notes
- Melon liqueur: Midori brand is the most popular but also the most expensive. I found this melon liqueur for half the price at Amazon. If you don't like melon flavor (I don't like melons but love anything melon-flavored. I know, such a weirdo, lol), substitute with apple-flavored liqueur for another fruity green drink – appletini.
- Vodka: use your favorite brand! Don't forget that you can use vodka in savory dishes too!
๐ช Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour melon liqueur and vodka.
- Shake well and strain into a prepared martini or cocktail glass.
- Refrigerate your liquor before making this martini, so it stays cold longer.
- You can also chill your glasses in the refrigerator. Don't put them in the freezer; the glass will get frosty, which is only suitable for beer glasses.
- You can crush ice in a blender or food processor before adding it to the cocktail shaker. Omit to crush the ice if you don't like your drinks watered down, as it melts faster.
- If you don't have a cocktail shaker, you can use a mason jar or simply stir the mix with a spoon.
- Place frozen honeydew melon balls skewered on stir-sticks (cocktail picks) or place one onto the glass rim to garnish. You can also use regular watermelon for a splash of red color!
- If you wish, rim the glasses with green-colored sanding sugar: Add a thin layer of simple syrup (corn syrup) to one shallow bowl (or a small plate) and fill another with green sugar (or sprinkles). Dip the rim lightly into the syrup, then into the sugar until it is covered with your desired amount.
- If you like sweeter cocktails, add some syrup to taste.
- Enjoy St. Paddy's Day but drink responsibly!
Which Vodka is Best for St. Patrick's Day cocktail?
Vodka is a great base for cocktails with a neutral flavor that mixes well with other flavors. You can buy expensive brands like Chase or Grey Goose, but budget-friendly vodka works just as well.
Here are our recommendations for mixed vodka drinks. Look for them at your local store or check out Amazon:
- Smirnoff Red Label
- Absolut Vodka
- Skyy Vodka
- New Amsterdam
- Svedka Vodka
โ Frequently Asked Questions
Real martini is made with gin. A vodka martini is also known as a vodkatini or kangaroo cocktail, and it also includes vermouth.
Midori is a melon-flavored sweet liqueur, that originated in Japan. It contains a muskmelon variety with green flesh, which inspired Midori's color, and the cantaloupe-like yubari fruit.
Yes, of course! This recipe makes two martini cocktails, so multiply the ingredients accordingly.
This green melon martini will keep in the refrigerator for days. Keep in mind that if you've added ice, it wouldn't be as strong.
Make Midori sour: 1 ounce each Midori and vodka, ½ ounce each fresh lemon and lime juice, and soda water to top. Or try this fun recipe for a melon ball drop shot.
- Milk Tart Cocktail
- Jellyfish Shot
- Peach Sangria Bellini
- Florida Citrus Drop Shot
- Tequila Sunrise Cocktail
- Moscow Mule
Liked this recipe? Leave a โญโญโญโญโญ rating and/or a review in the comments section. Your feedback is always appreciated! Stay in touch through Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook! Don't forget to sign up for my email list below too!
St. Patrick's Day Cocktail (Melon Martini)
EQUIPMENT
- Cocktail shaker
- Martini glasses
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour melon liqueur and vodka.
- Shake well and strain into a prepared martini or cocktail glass.
Notes
- Refrigerate your liquor before making this Midori cocktail so it stays cold longer.
- You can also chill your glass in the refrigerator. Don't put it in the freezer; the glass will get frosty, which is only suitable for beer glasses.
- You can crush ice in a blender or food processor before adding it to the cocktail shaker. Omit to crush the ice if you don't like your drinks watered down, as it melts faster.
- If you don't have a cocktail shaker, you can use a mason jar or simply stir the mix with a spoon.
- To garnish, place frozen honeydew melon balls skewered on stir-sticks or place one onto the glass rim. You can also use watermelon for a splash of red color!
- If you wish, rim the glasses with green-colored sugar: Add a thin layer of simple syrup (corn syrup) to one shallow bowl (or a small plate) and fill another with green sugar (or sprinkles). Dip the rim lightly into the syrup, then into the sugar until it is covered with your desired amount.
- If you like sweeter cocktails, add some simple syrup to taste.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This recipe was originally published in March 2017 and updated in January of 2021 with new photos and recipe tips.
Aida says
Oooooh talk about festive! Love St. Paddy's day, and this cocktail is the perfect way to ring the spring in. That color is out of this world and I bet it tastes divine too!
Jas says
Awe, thank you so much, Aida! It sure is a pretty and tasty cocktail, if I may say so myself. :)Thanks for stopping in. Wishing you a fabulous weekend ahead!
April J Harris says
Pinning! What a fun St Patrick's Day drink, Jas! I am a quarter Irish - my late father's mom was from Belfast. So, I'm always looking for fun ways to celebrate St Patrick's Day! Thank you for being a a part of the Hearth and Soul Link party. Hope to 'see' you again this week! Have a lovely week!
Lily says
Those martinis look very tasty and festive for St Patty's Day. Great photo btw and thanks for bringing to drinks to FF!
Jas says
Thanks so much, Lily! ๐
Lynda Hardy says
Beautiful color! Thanks for sharing with Party in Your PJs!
Jas says
Thanks, Lynda!
Sandra L Garth says
Martini over beer for me and the opposite for the hubs. The first and only time Iโve had melon liqueur was in Vegas about 20 years ago. I liked the taste but just never thought of it much until now. Iโm ready to try it again, thanks for the reminder. Cheers, and thank you for sharing with us at Celebrate Your Story, and have a great weekend.
Jas says
My husband is the same. More for us, right? ๐ Thanks for stopping in, Sandra!
Leslie says
This so makes me wish I could handle liquor better. At least it's pretty to look at! Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Jas says
What do you sip on at your parties? ๐
Kaila (The Wanderlust Celiac) says
This looks delicious! I'm excited to maven from Valentine's Day themed posts to St. Patrick's day! Happy Fiesta Friday, and have a wonderful weekend. ๐
Jas says
And then right over to Easter, right? LOL. Thanks, Kaila! TGIF