Melon Ball

The Melon Ball is a fun highball cocktail made with vodka, green melon liqueur, and either pineapple or orange juice.

Served in a highball glass with ice cubes, it’s usually garnished with melon balls scooped right from your favorite melon – cantaloupe, honeydew, or watermelon.

With its bright yellow-green color, the Melon Ball looks like it just walked out of 80s-90s cocktail culture…because it did. It was there!

Incredibly sweet…and fruity. The Melon Ball bursts with sweet, juicy melon flavors that bring forward sun-ripened honeydew and cantaloupe. The pineapple juice works incredibly well with the green melon liqueur, offering yet more sweetness but also a subtle but much-welcomed tanginess.

Although the history of the Melon Ball is unknown, or at least undocumented, what is certain is that this cocktail is closely linked to the 1980s and 90s cocktail culture, least not because of its sugary sweetness and bright neon color. However, some sources suggest that the Melon Ball actually dates back to the 1970s.

• Make your own pineapple juice
  Skip the store-bought pineapple juice and make your own. Store-bought options are often loaded with added sugar and preservatives, making them overly sweet. Since green melon liqueur is already very sweet, using store-bought pineapple juice will likely make your drink way too sweet. You want that freshness and acidity from real pineapple juice.

  To make fresh pineapple juice, cut a pineapple in half, remove the skin and core, and chop it into chunks for blending or juicing. If you’re using a blender, remember to strain the mixture with a sieve for a smooth finish. Check out our article on how to make juice for your cocktails.

• Pre-chill your glassware
  It’s a small detail but makes a big difference to the drinking experience. Pre-chill your glassware by placing your glassware in the freezer for 30 minutes before serving the drink. Now you’ve got a perfect summer drink.

• Replace pineapple juice with orange juice
  Drink recipes for the Melon Ball often feature orange juice just as commonly as pineapple juice. Make both versions and see which you prefer.
• Melon Ball Shot
  Mix 15 ml vodka, 15 ml green melon liqeuer and 15 ml of pineapple juice (or orange juice) in a shaker with ice. Strain into a shot glass and you’ve now got a deliciously sweet summer shot!
• Frozen Melon Ball
  There are two ways you can make a Frozen Melon Ball cocktail – one where you simply blend ice together with all the ingredients to create a slushie-like drink, and one where you use fresh honeydew, which is then frozen and then blended to create a fresh fruit-slushie. Both are fantastic!
• Melon Martini
  The Melon Martini takes the idea of classic Vodka Martini and turns it on its head by using green melon-liqueur instead of dry vermouth. It then adds a splash of simple syrup to sweeten the deal. Sweet and spirit-forward, check out the recipe for a Melon Martini.
• Swap vodka for light rum
  Create a tiki-inspired version of a Melon Ball but swapping vodka for light rum, together with pineapple juice and green liqueur. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry to really bring home those tiki vibes.

• Serve your Melon Ball cocktail in a highball glass or collins glass with ice cubes. With all that liquid and ice, you need a tall glass.

• We like garnishing our Melon Ball cocktail with a watermelon wedge, but traditionally, it’s all about those melon balls. Grab an ice cream scoop and make balls from watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, or any melon you fancy.

• If you’re making a Melon Ball cocktail with orange juice instead of pineapple juice, garnish your drink with an orange wedge instead.

• Another popular garnish is to skewer a couple of melon pieces (pick your favorite type) on a cocktail stick and lay it across your glass.

• Want to add a fragrant element to your drink? Garnish with a couple of basil or mint leaves to give your Melon Ball a fresh touch.