The Short Stormtrooper

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Cocktail History

The Short Stormtrooper 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 Luke Skywalker, the young hero and eventual Jedi Knight in the original Star Wars movie trilogy that was released in the 1970s and 1980s. The recipe’s backbone comes from a unique dragon fruit syrup and a base of mezcal, both of which were chosen to pay homage to the Krayt Dragon and desert landscape seen on Luke’s home world of Tatooine. It then adds citrus, tropical bitters, and soda water, as well as blue curaçao to turn the drink a color similar to that of Luke’s hand-me-down lightsaber from Episode IV: A New Hope.

Cocktail Ingredients

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

Soda Water: This is a carbonated beverage made with water and dissolved carbon dioxide gas, which gives it a fizzy, neutral flavor.

Mezcal: This is a spirit made in Mexico with fermented agave and yeast, which are distilled after roasting agave hearts in underground pits to develop a smoky, complex flavor.

Lime Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe limes that has a zesty, sour flavor and light green color.

Blue Curaçao: This is a liqueur made with dried laraha orange peels, spices, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended, infused, and then dyed with food coloring to develop a sweet, citrusy flavor and bright blue color.

White Dragon Fruit Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white dragon fruit slices, white sugar, and water, which are heated and infused into a syrup with a rich, earthy flavor.

Coconut, Pineapple, & Allspice Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with coconut, pineapple, allspice, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop a slightly bitter tropical flavor.

Orange Peel: This is a thick strip of orange peel that’s twisted to release its oils.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water
• 🔗 Creyente Mezcal Joven
• 🔗 Bols Blue Curaçao
• 🔗 Crude Bitters & Sodas “Tropi-500” Toasted Coconut, Pineapple, & Allspice Bitters

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 and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker made with a large metal tin and a second tin or mixing glass that’s used for shaking and chilling cocktail ingredients.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is a flat metal strainer with a handle and a coiled spring around the edge that’s used for straining shaken cocktails from a shaker while holding back ice and solids.

Cutting Board: This is a flat, durable kitchen surface made from materials like wood or plastic that’s used for slicing ingredients and preparing garnishes.

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

Electric Citrus Juicer: This is a kitchen appliance with a motorized reamer that’s used for quickly extracting juice from citrus fruits.

Fine Mesh Strainer: This is a mesh metal strainer with a tightly woven bowl and handle that’s used for straining out small ice shards and other solids while pouring cocktails from a shaker or mixing glass.

Measuring Cup: This is a kitchen tool with a handled cup and marked volume measurements that’s used for accurately measuring and pouring liquid ingredients.

Bar Spoon: This is a long-handled spoon with a twisted shaft that’s used for stirring cocktails, layering ingredients, and reaching the bottom of tall glasses and mixing vessels.

Peeler: This is a handheld kitchen tool with a sharp blade that’s used for removing thin strips of peel from fruits and vegetables.

Highball Glass: This is a tall, slim glass that’s used for serving mixed drinks made with a larger proportion of non-alcoholic mixers.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Hawthorne Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife
• 🔗 BLACK+DECKER 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer
• 🔗 Barfly Silver Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Cocktail Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Cup Angled Measuring Cup
• 🔗 Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Piece Peeler Set
• 🔗 Durobor Brek Highball Glass

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Vibrant blue with a subtle ombré effect
• Aroma: Smoky mezcal layered with bright citrus
• Taste: Harmonious blend of exotic fruits, tangy sour orange, and earthy mezcal
• Finish: Lingering fruity orange notes

Kendall’s Take
“Meant to be the light-side counterpart to my Darth Vader cocktail, this sweet and smoky recipe really delivers. The mezcal is a surprising but perfect nod to Luke’s desert-planet roots, and the blue curaçao adds just the right touch of citrus while giving the drink its iconic pop of color. Far from your usual “blue milk” homage, The Short Stormtrooper stands on its own—and paired with his father’s drink, it’s fun to see whether you lean light or dark.”

Recipe