Melon Martini

I wanted to make a green cocktail for St. Patrick's Day, and came up with the following. And it’s so good! Tart and fruity but not too sweet, and a pretty emerald green color. I’m definitely going to be making more of these, even when it’s not St. Patrick’s Day. You can use gin or vodka (or maybe white rum or tequila). I prefer gin and used Hendrick's. I used both lemon and lime juice, but you can use one or the other or any combination of the two. If you don’t have blue curaçao, you can use triple sec instead but the drink will be a lime green color instead of an emerald green.

1 oz gin or vodka

1 oz Midori or other green melon liqueur 

1 oz fresh lemon or lime juice 

1/2 oz blue curaçao

1/2 oz simple syrup 

garnish: maraschino cherries or an orange slice

Shake with ice in a cocktail shaker until very cold, then double strain into a martini glass. Garnish with maraschino cherries or an orange slice.