One of my favorite quotes comes from Oscar Wilde who said “The secret to life is to appreciate the pleasure of being terribly, terribly deceived.” I love that sentiment. The way it looks for the silver lining in a bad situation. It has also made me laugh during some tough times in life. When everything is falling down around you, to remember Oscar Wilde can be a good thing. He was just overflowing with pithy wisdom, I respect and envy that. I like the way it hinges on the word “appreciate”, not “enjoy”, not “love”, but “appreciate”. I try to approach life with an attitude of openness. I have found that most of the more interesting experiences I have had revolved around me saying yes, especially when I say it with some hesitation. So, when I watched a bartender I normally trust and respect extol the virtues of this oft-maligned drink, I said yes. Luckily, I was able to appreciate the pleasure of the experience. So, join me now as we stand and make, the Midori Sour.

I do not like Midori Liqueur. I do not like it in a box, I do not like it with a fox. I do not like its melon taste, as a drink, it is waste. I do not like it here or there, I do not like it anywhere. I do not like it Sam I am, I say yuck yuck, green drink be damned. With many apologies to Mr. Geisel. I have never liked this alcohol. I often request it for the drink well when I do my “celebrity” bartender thing, but that is only for its unnatural neon green color or to punish rude guests with a Midori-Jaeger-Tequila Trio. I am sure there is an application where it excels, I just haven’t found it yet. So, I tried to keep an open mind when I heard that a straightforward Midori Sour was lovely. I did the math in my head and figured that the heavy pour of lime juice might balance the sickeningly sweet melon flavor. I figured what have I got to lose but a little time and dignity? Since that is practically my catchphrase on the rare occasion when I actually pour this stuff I decided to give it a try.

The first hurdle was to acquire a bottle of Midori. Twelve bucks and a curbside pickup later that difficulty was solved. We had everything else and I had already enjoyed the better part of a lovely bottle of wine, so we decided to go for it. Notice how most Midori stories start with other drinks before anyone breaks it out? Yeah, me too. 

Anyway, this is a shaken drink so grab your tins and pop in 2 ounces of that incredibly green Midori Liqueur, 1 ounce of fresh squeezed lime juice and 1/4 ounce of aquafaba or egg white. Add some big ice and shake for 20 seconds or so to get a good chill. Double strain from one tin to the other and discard the ice before a 15 second or so dry shake. Pour into a crystal glass from the collection of your mom and garnish with some lime zest.

Lift the concoction to your mouth, try not to think about the otherworldly green hue or how it resembles the poison flowing through Bane’s veins. Enjoy the bouquet, heavy lime with a hint of melon, not bad at all. Take a sip and remember why you never drink Midori. Don’t get me wrong, this drink is not bad, in fact it is the only melon based cocktail I have ever found remotely palatable. It is just not for me. I wish it were, I would love to find a way to use Midori that I enjoy, but I haven’t gotten there yet. Laura, on the other hand, thought it was lovely. She may be right, I may be crazy. Anyway, this is not my cup of melon, but it may be yours, if you go in for that sort of thing. If you have Midori suggestions, I am open. I still have $11.50 worth of the green stuff to burn through. But let it not be said that I have attempted to deceive you with this drink, though it is safe to say that I have deprived you of the opportunity to appreciate the pleasure that deception could have entailed. Cést la vie. Stay safe, stay hydrated and stay sane, my friends.