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 type of water that’s made with water and carbon dioxide gas infused under pressure.

Mezcal: This is a spirit that’s made in Mexico with agave, sugar, and alcohol and is traditionally roasted and aged in an underground pit lined with wood.

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

Blue Curaçao: This is a liqueur that’s made with oranges, sugar, spices, alcohol, and blue food coloring.

White Dragon Fruit Syrup: This is a sweetener that’s made with white dragon fruit slices, white sugar, gum arabic powder, and water.

Toasted Coconut, Pineapple, & Allspice Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring that’s made with alcohol, coconut, pineapple, allspice, herbs, and botanicals.

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 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.

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.

Peeler: This is a kitchen tool with a sharp blade that’s used to remove the outer skin or peel from fruits and vegetables efficiently and safely.

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

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 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