Bad Touch

The Bad Touch is a fictional cocktail that blends the deep, botanical notes of gin with the sweet, tropical flavor of passion fruit drink. It's served chilled without ice and is known for its high alcohol content despite its approachable taste. The drink's simple two-ingredient recipe makes it easy to replicate, offering fans of the game a tangible taste of the dystopian bar in Glitch City. It's a drink that balances simplicity with a surprisingly strong kick.
Bad Touch

Preparation

Preparation time: 3 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Bad Touch is a fictional cocktail from the cyberpunk visual novel "VA-11 HALL-A." It's a modern-style mixed drink, categorized within its universe as a "girly" and "classy" drink, despite its suggestive name.

Serving

This is a medium-sized drink served "up" (chilled, without ice) in a pre-chilled coupe or cocktail glass. It's a straightforward, spirit-forward cocktail despite its sweet mixer.
Serving size
Approx. 180 ml / 6 oz
Alcohol content
Approximately 20-25% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

This cocktail originates from the video game "VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action," where the player serves drinks to characters in a futuristic city. The Bad Touch is a popular order in the game, requested by patrons who want something sweet, strong, and a little risqué. Its name and description in the game are intentionally provocative, reflecting the neon-soaked, adult themes of its world.
Origin
Fictional. From the video game "VA-11 HALL-A", released in 2016. Its creation is attributed to the game's developers, Sukeban Games.

Bad Touch

The drink is primarily known as the "Bad Touch." Its alternative name, "Mero Mero Inmoraru," is a Japanese phrase that roughly translates to "lewd and immoral," fitting the drink's theme in its source material.
Original name
Bad Touch
Alternative name
Mero Mero Inmoraru

Characteristics overview

The drink has a sweet, tropical flavor dominated by passion fruit, with gin botanicals providing a complex base. It has a smooth texture and a clean, sweet finish.
Flavor
Sweet, tropical, passion fruit, botanical, juniper
Aroma
Fruity, floral, passion fruit, gin botanicals
Taste balance
Sweet-forward, with an alcoholic backbone
Aftertaste
Sweet, clean, short
Fizziness
Still
Color appearance
Hazy, pale yellow or orange
Texture
Smooth, liquid
Seasonality
Refreshing, all-season

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor is intensely fruity and sweet, masking a moderate alcohol strength. There is virtually no saltiness, sourness, or bitterness in this still drink.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

This simple two-part cocktail requires only two ingredients: an equal measure of your favorite gin and a sweet passion fruit drink.
  • Gin90 ml / 3 oz
    A classic London Dry Gin works well to cut through the sweetness.
  • Passion Fruit Drink90 ml / 3 oz
    Use a good quality passion fruit juice, nectar, or soda. The color and sweetness of the final drink will vary depending on your choice.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

You will need a cocktail shaker to combine and chill the ingredients, and a strainer to achieve a clean, ice-free pour into the glass.
  • Cocktail shaker for chilling and mixing.
  • Strainer for pouring.

Instructions

The drink is quickly made by shaking equal parts gin and passion fruit drink with ice, then straining the chilled liquid into a coupe glass.
1. Chill your coupe or cocktail glass in the freezer for at least 15 minutes before preparation.
2. Add the gin and passion fruit drink to a cocktail shaker.
3. Fill the shaker three-quarters full with cubed ice.
4. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds, until the outside of the shaker is frosted and cold.
5. Strain the mixture into the pre-chilled glass, leaving the ice behind in the shaker.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy the taste of Glitch City.

Garnishing

This drink is traditionally served without a garnish, maintaining a simple and clean presentation true to its digital origins.
  • None. The drink is served as is.

Dietary Information

This is an alcoholic beverage that is typically free from caffeine, dairy, eggs, soy, nuts, and gluten. It is generally suitable for both vegan and vegetarian diets.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This cocktail is moderately high in calories, with its energy coming from both the alcohol in the gin and the high sugar content of the passion fruit mixer.
Calories
Averagely 250-300 kcal / 1046-1255 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 20-25 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 20-25 g
Sugar level

Occasions

Perfect for a video game night, especially when playing its source game, or for a cyberpunk-themed party. Its simple, potent nature also makes it a suitable casual sipper or a quick nightcap.
  • Video Game Night
  • Themed Party
  • Casual Sipping
  • Nightcap

Pairing suggestions

The sweetness of the Bad Touch provides a great counterbalance to salty snacks like chips or pretzels. It also complements the heat of spicy Asian dishes or can be enjoyed with various light appetizers.
  • Salty Snacks
  • Spicy Asian Food
  • Light Appetizers

Bad Touch: A Taste of Glitch City's Cyberpunk Nightlife

The Bad Touch is a deceptively simple and potent cocktail originating from the cyberpunk video game "VA-11 HALL-A". Combining just gin and passion fruit drink, it delivers a sweet, tropical flavor profile with a significant alcoholic kick. Its straightforward preparation and unique cultural origin make it a favorite among fans of the game and a conversation starter at any themed gathering. While not a traditional classic, it represents a modern form of mixology where inspiration comes from all forms of media.

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