Multiverse
Multiverse by Shannan Lynch
Eye catching creations are like birds of a feather and deserve to be together. Here’s a toast to an out of this world object with a similarly interstellar cocktail. In 1978, at the height of the disco era, the ultra emerald Japanese melon liqueur Midori was introduced to the US market (at a party at Studio 54, no less). Phillipino bartender Bobby Batuga won the US Bartender’s Guild competition that year with his cocktail, The Universe, a viridescent, tasty tropical affair that would go on to become a cult classic and ensure Midori’s place behind every bar. Batuga’s Universe included Midori, vodka, pineapple, lime and pistachio liqueur.
exploring the multiverse
Midori, originally made by the Suntori distillery, is made from two types of distinctly Japanese melons, the Yubari King melon (which is orange like a cantaloupe) and the Musk melon (which is green and inspired the final color, made with food coloring). It is, to some, rather sweet. Shannan Lynch, of Brooklyn’s Sunken Harbor Club bar, created a modern version of the Universe using a housemade melon liqueuer and ”acid-adjusted” juices that balance and brighten the drink, along with rum and aquavit in place of the original vodka. Her update blasts the original into a whole other dimension. I couldn’t quite muster that kind of g-force and had to rely on the original Midori, but it was still out of this world. Cheers!
a universal pair
Multiverse by Shannan Lynch
1 oz melon liqueur
¾ oz white rum
¾ oz aged aquavit
3/8 oz (acid-adjusted) orange
3/8 oz (acid-adjusted) pineapple
¼ oz pistachio orgeat
5 drops saline solution
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a Nick and Nora glass. Disco ball keychain garnish recommended.
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