My Only Hope

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Cocktail History

The My Only Hope is a Novel Nightcaps original cocktail that was created in honor of May the 4th, also known as Star Wars Day. The recipe was inspired by Princess Leia, a main character in the original Star Wars movie trilogy that was released in the 1970s and 1980s. The concept for the drink was built around a sous vide star fruit syrup as a nod to starblossom, an edible fruit that grew on Leia’s home planet of Alderaan. It then calls for a base of vanilla-flavored rum and spicy French brandy and pairs them with lime for balance as well as a ginger kick in homage to Leia’s feisty demeanor.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Dark Rum: This is a spirit that’s made with sugarcane molasses or juice and aged in charred barrels to give it a deep color and rich, caramelized flavor.

Star Fruit Syrup: This is a sweetener that’s made with star fruit juice, white sugar, gum arabic powder, and water.

Lime Juice: This is the bright, tart liquid extracted from fresh limes that has a zesty, acidic flavor and refreshing citrus aroma.

Armagnac: This is a type of brandy that’s made with grapes and distilled and aged in the Armagnac region of France.

Ginger Liqueur: This is a liqueur that’s made with fresh or dried ginger, other spices, sugar, and alcohol.

Star Fruit Slice: This is a tropical fruit called carambola that has crisp, juicy flesh and a mildly sweet-tart flavor and naturally forms a star shape when sliced.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Ron Cihaután 8 Year Indigo Rum
• 🔗 ODVI Armagnac
• 🔗 Domaine De Canton Ginger Liqueur

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface to catch spills, provide grip for glasses and tools, and keep your workspace clean and organized.

Paring Knife: This is a small, sharp kitchen knife with a narrow blade that’s used for peeling, trimming, and garnishing.

Electric Citrus Juicer: This is a kitchen appliance that quickly extracts juice from citrus fruits using a motorized reamer, making the process faster and easier than manual juicing.

Jigger: This is a small, double-sided measuring tool that’s used to accurately portion spirits and mixers, typically with one side measuring 1 oz and the other 1.5 or 2 oz.

Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker consisting of a metal tin and a glass or metal mixing glass that’s used for shaking and blending ingredients.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is a metal strainer with a spring around its edge that’s used to filter out ice and solids when pouring the cocktail into a glass.

Fine Mesh Strainer: This is a bar tool with a tightly woven mesh that’s used to strain small ice shards, pulp, and other solids from mixed drinks for a smooth, clean pour.

Cocktail Pick: This is a small, slender tool that’s used to skewer cocktail garnishes.

Coupe Glass: This is a stemmed glass with a shallow, wide bowl that’s typically used for serving flavored shaken cocktails and sparkling drinks.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 Highball & Chaser 18×12 Bar Mat
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife
• 🔗 BLACK+DECKER 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer
• 🔗 A Bar Above Premium Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 A Bar Above Boston Shaker
• 🔗 A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer
• 🔗 Barfly Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Cocktail Strainer
• 🔗 I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Bright, sunny yellow color
• Aroma: Fresh star fruit accented with subtle vanilla
• Taste: Exotic fruits at first, followed by warm ginger and brandy spices
• Finish: Lingering notes of vanilla, sweet star fruit, and zesty lime

Kendall’s Take
“Of all my original Star Wars cocktails, this one might just take the crown. The star fruit syrup makes it truly unique, lending a bright, exotic note to the spicy rum, ginger, and lime mixture. Plus, its inspiration being starblossom—a fruit mentioned as being native to Leia’s home planet of Alderaan—feels just right. While star fruit itself isn’t the most affordable ingredient, making a batch of the syrup is absolutely worth it. It turns the My Only Hope into a cocktail that’s as delightful as it is fitting for our princess.”

Recipe