Midori returns to popularity in Australia

Cheers to the green glow-up! Midori is back in the limelight, proving you can’t keep a good thing down.

ELIZABETH MCDONALD

2 min read

November 30, 2023 - 11:00AM

The year is 2023 and a green glow is once again lighting up glasses across Australia. That’s right, Midori, the neon-hued liqueur that once epitomised ’80s flair, is shimmying its way back into the spotlight and us classy lassies couldn’t be happier.

Back in the heady days of 1980s Melbourne, something magical bubbled up. It wasn’t just the big hair or the shoulder pads; it was the birth of a legend – the Japanese Slipper cocktail. At Mietta’s Restaurant, Jean-Paul Bourguignonin first mixed this emerald elixir and took the scene by storm, blending Midori’s melon magic with a zesty citrus twist. It became the stuff of legend, a concoction that oozed sophistication with its sweet, tangy allure.

Jackson on George’s Japanese Slipper.

Fast forward to now, and the winds of change carry a familiar, muskmelon scent. Midori and its green hue have found their way onto the revamped menu of Sydney’s newest hotspot, Jackson’s on George.

This isn’t just any ordinary return; it’s a revival with a nod to its roots. The Japanese Slipper cocktail is reclaiming its place as a signature drink, beckoning patrons with promises of refreshment and a dash of retro charm. With the absolute plethora of vintage-style and Australiana pubs and bars that have cropped up in recent years (think the Unicorn, the Waratah, the Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre, and Double Deuce Lounge who have their own riff on the Slipper), people are thankfully taking their drinking less seriously.

Midori is back.

Sure, we love a whisky bar as much as the next yuppie, but give us a Pina Colada any day.

It was only a matter of time.

Now, let’s talk about Midori, the underdog of the spirits world. Unabashedly lowbrow, yet secretly delicious. It’s the rebel in the liquor cabinet, standing out with its vibrant colour and melon-y flavour. There’s something about that green glow that’s just impossible to resist, high school hangovers, be damned!

Sure, Midori might have had its moments of being labelled passé, but trends have a way of boomeranging and everyone loves a comeback story. Midori’s resurgence isn’t just a blast from the past; it’s a testament to the enduring appeal of committing to the bit and taking things a little less seriously. We dare you not to giggle next time you order a Midori Splice or a Japanese Slipper at knock offs.