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Cocktail History
The Chosen One is a Novel Nightcaps original cocktail that was created in honor of May the 4th, also known as Star Wars Day. The concept for this drink that’s meant to pay homage to Darth Vader, the iconic villain who began his journey as Anakin Skywalker, is built around a prickly pear syrup inspired by the desert world of Tatooine, where Anakin’s story began. Gin forms the cocktail’s foundation, offering a clean, botanical canvas that pairs beautifully with sweet vermouth and cherry liqueur for depth and sweetness, as well as smoky bitters as a nod to the darkness of the Sith and Campari, which contributes both complexity and a bold red hue that mirrors the glow of Vader’s lightsaber. Finished with soda water for effervescence, this drink combines striking visuals with an intricate flavor profile, making it a unique toast to Star Wars fans everywhere.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Soda Water: This is a type of water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure. I used Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water.
Gin: This is a spirit made with juniper berries, botanicals, alcohol, and water. I used Brockmans Intensely Smooth Gin.
Sweet Vermouth: This is a fortified wine made with grapes, sugar, botanicals, herbs, sugar, alcohol, and water. I used Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth.
Prickly Pear Syrup: This is a sweetener made with prickly pear slices, white sugar, and water. I used this sous vide recipe.
Campari: This is a liqueur made in Italy with gentian root, rhubarb, citrus, herbs, aromatic plants, fruit, alcohol, and water.
Heering Cherry Liqueur: This is a liqueur made in Denmark with Stevens cherries, baking spices, almonds, sugar, alcohol, and water.
Smoke & Salt Bitters: This is a food product made with lapsang souchong tea, sea salt, botanicals, and alcohol. I used Crude Bitters “Pooter” Smoke & Salt Bitters.
Cherry: This is a fruit that has been soaked in brandy and rich syrup. I used Luxardo Maraschino Cherries.
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 the workspace clean and organized. I used the Highball & Chaser 18×12 Bar Mat.
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. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Mixing Glass: This is a sturdy, wide-bowled glass that’s used to stir ingredients before they’re strained and served. I used the Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass.
Bar Spoon: This is a long-handled spoon with a twisted shaft that’s used for stirring, layering, and reaching the bottom of tall cocktail glasses. I used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Julep Strainer: This is a flat, perforated metal strainer with a handle that’s used to strain cocktails from a mixing glass or tin into a serving glass while keeping ice and solids behind. I used the A Bar Above Julep Strainer.
Cocktail Pick: This is a small, slender tool that’s used to skewer cocktail garnishes. I used one from the I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.
Highball Glass: This is a tall, slim glass that’s used for mixed drinks with a larger proportion of non-alcoholic mixers. I used the Durobor Brek Highball Glass.
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Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Bright red color with an ombré effect
• Aroma: Earthy smokiness with a hint of fruit
• Taste: Sweet aloe-like flavor with cherry, prickly pear, and vermouth notes
• Finish: Bitter gentian root accented with smoke and saltiness
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “This original recipe was probably of the most difficult creations yet. It ended up taking eight tries to get it right, and the ingredient list went through quite the revolution before I landed on this final recipe. Originally, I was going for a coffee Negroni-style drink so it would be dark, brooding, and bitter like the character, but those flavors ended up clashing too much, in my opinion. In the end, I ended up with a Remember The Maine crossed with a Negroni variation that adds in the prickly pear syrup and stretches it all with soda water to fit a highball. Some Campari lovers might find The Chosen One too sweet, but I think the result is right on the mark for palatability and concept. Anyone could drink this Darth Vader-inspired cocktail and enjoy it!”
Recipe
The Chosen One
The Chosen One 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 Darth Vader, the primary villain formerly known as Anakin Skywalker in the original Star Wars movie trilogy that was released in the 1970s and 1980s. The concept for the drink was built around a unique prickly pear syrup, which was chosen to pay homage to the desert landscape shown on Anakin's home world of Tatooine. It then calls for gin as the base spirit and pairs it with sweet vermouth, cherry liqueur, smoky bitters, and soda water, as well as Campari to turn the drink a color similar to that of the Sith Lord's red lightsaber.

Ingredients
Method
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Add gin, sweet vermouth, prickly pear syrup, Campari, cherry liqueur, bitters, and cubed ice to a mixing glass.
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Stir for 30-45 seconds.
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Strain into a highball glass over fresh cracked ice.
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Top with soda water.
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Stir gently for 3-5 seconds.
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Garnish with cherry.