Ingredients
- 2 oz Blue Curacao Liqueur
- 1 oz Gin
- 3 oz Blue Raspberry Cordial
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice to chill the ingredients quickly.
- Add the Blue Curacao liqueur, gin, and blue raspberry cordial to the shaker.
- Shake vigorously until the mixture is well chilled.
- Strain the cocktail into a cocktail glass.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
This drink is a contemporary creation, undoubtedly born from the intersection of pop culture fandom and cocktail crafting. It lacks a formal historical origin, instead emerging from the vast universe of themed drinks that pay homage to beloved characters and franchises. You won’t find it in old bartender’s guides, but rather in online communities or specialty themed bars looking to capture a bit of cinematic magic in a glass.
The Obi Wan Kenobi Cocktail sits comfortably within the category of ‘novelty’ or ‘themed’ cocktails, often characterized by their vibrant colors and straightforward, sweet flavor profiles. It shares DNA with other visually driven drinks like the Blue Hawaiian or the Blue Lagoon, relying on blue curacao for its distinctive hue. What sets it apart is its specific cultural reference, making it less about a classic flavor profile and more about an experience.
You’d typically find or serve an Obi Wan Kenobi Cocktail at a casual gathering, a movie night, or a themed party where the drinks are part of the entertainment. It’s a playful choice for a home bar setting, especially when you want to impress with color without needing a complex ingredient list. Don’t expect to find this on a classic cocktail menu at a serious craft bar, but it would be right at home at a Comic Con afterparty or a fan convention lounge.
What it tastes like
This drink hits with a strong, sugary sweetness right up front, dominated by the artificial fruit notes of the blue raspberry cordial. The blue curacao adds another layer of orange sweetness, complementing the cordial without much tartness. As it settles, the gin provides a subtle botanical counterpoint, a hint of juniper and herbs that cuts through some of the sugar, offering a slightly drier finish than you might expect from the initial assault of fruit and candy flavors.
With 2 oz of 22% ABV Blue Curacao and 1 oz of 40% ABV Gin, this 6 oz drink contains roughly 0.84 oz of pure alcohol. This puts its overall alcohol by volume at approximately 14%. To put that in perspective, it’s about three times as strong as a standard 5% ABV beer, but sits on the lighter side for a typical cocktail, which often range from 18-25% ABV. It’s potent enough to feel like a proper drink, but not so strong that it overwhelms the sweet, fruity profile.
The technique
Building this drink is straightforward. Begin by filling your cocktail shaker completely with ice. This is crucial for rapid chilling and proper dilution. Pour in your blue curacao, gin, and blue raspberry cordial. Secure the shaker lid tightly and give it a good, hard shake until the outside of the shaker feels thoroughly frosted. The goal is to get it as cold as possible while incorporating a bit of water from the melting ice. Finally, strain the well-chilled mixture directly into your preferred cocktail glass.
The most important technique here is vigorous shaking. This isn’t a gentle stir. A hard shake ensures maximum chilling and proper dilution, which is essential for a sweet, spirit-forward drink like this. If you don’t shake it enough, the drink will be warm, overly sweet, and unbalanced, tasting more like a sugary syrup than a cocktail. The ice needs to do its job by both chilling and adding a small amount of water to open up the flavors.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Blue Curacao Liqueur
- Use
- Opt for a quality blue curacao like Bols Blue, Senior & Co., or Giffard. These brands offer a consistent, vibrant blue color and a genuine orange flavor, providing the necessary sweetness and citrus notes without tasting artificial.
- Skip
- Avoid using blue food coloring as a substitute for blue curacao. While it will provide the color, it adds no flavor or body to the drink, leaving it unbalanced and thin. Blue raspberry syrup is also not a substitute, as it lacks the orange liqueur component.
- Why
- Blue Curacao is load-bearing for two key reasons: its iconic blue color, which is central to the drink’s theme, and its sweet, bitter orange flavor, which provides a crucial layer of complexity and sweetness to the cocktail.
Gin
- Use
- A standard London Dry gin works best here. Brands like Gordon’s, Beefeater, or Tanqueray provide a solid juniper backbone that can stand up to the sweet cordial without being too delicate or overly floral.
- Skip
- Avoid highly botanical or intensely floral gins, as their nuanced flavors will likely be lost or clash with the strong blue raspberry notes. Also, steer clear of heavily aged gins, as their oak and vanilla notes won’t integrate well.
- Why
- Gin provides the primary alcoholic base and a necessary botanical counterpoint to the sweetness. Its herbaceous notes prevent the drink from becoming cloyingly sweet, adding a layer of sophisticated flavor that balances the fruity cordial.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
Jedi Mind Trick
- Add a touch of citrus for balance.
- Introduce 0.5 oz of fresh lemon or lime juice to cut through the sweetness and add a brighter, more refreshing finish to the drink. This variation makes it a bit more complex and less like a candy cocktail.
Sith Lord
- Swap the blue for a darker, more menacing hue.
- Replace the blue curacao with a dark berry liqueur or a red cordial, and potentially use a darker spirit like spiced rum. This changes the visual and flavor profile to something more ‘dark side’ inspired, perhaps with a richer, deeper fruit taste.
Youngling’s Nectar
- A non-alcoholic version for all ages.
- Omit the gin and replace the blue curacao with a non-alcoholic blue syrup or a mix of orange juice and blue food coloring. This creates a vibrant, sweet mocktail that captures the look without the alcohol.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Use a standard orange liqueur like Triple Sec or Cointreau, and add a few drops of blue food coloring to achieve the desired color. The flavor will be similar, but you’ll need to adjust for sweetness.
Vodka is a neutral spirit that will work well as a substitute, allowing the blue raspberry and curacao flavors to dominate. White rum could also be used for a slightly different, sweeter base.
Grenadine or another red fruit syrup like cherry or strawberry syrup can be used, though this will change the color and the primary fruit flavor of the drink.
A clean jar with a tight-fitting lid will work in a pinch. Just make sure it seals well to avoid any spills during vigorous shaking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in an Obi Wan Kenobi Cocktail?
An Obi Wan Kenobi Cocktail contains blue curacao liqueur, gin, and blue raspberry cordial.
Is the Obi Wan Kenobi Cocktail very sweet?
Yes, this cocktail is notably sweet, primarily due to the blue raspberry cordial and blue curacao. It’s designed for those who enjoy a sugary, fruity drink.
What kind of gin is best for this drink?
A standard London Dry gin is recommended. Its juniper notes provide a good balance to the sweetness without overpowering the other flavors.
Can I make the Obi Wan Kenobi Cocktail non-alcoholic?
Yes, you can make a non-alcoholic version by omitting the gin and replacing the blue curacao with a non-alcoholic blue syrup or a mix of orange juice and blue food coloring.
Why is the Obi Wan Kenobi Cocktail blue?
The cocktail is blue due to the use of blue curacao liqueur and blue raspberry cordial, which are both vibrant blue ingredients, paying homage to the Star Wars character.
Is this a strong cocktail?
At around 14% ABV, it’s moderately strong. It’s more potent than a standard beer but on the lighter side compared to many classic cocktails.
What glass should I use for an Obi Wan Kenobi Cocktail?
A cocktail glass, such as a coupe or a martini glass, is suitable for this drink. A highball glass with ice also works if you prefer a longer, more diluted serve.
Can I prepare this cocktail in advance?
It’s best made fresh to ensure optimal chilling and dilution. You can pre-measure your ingredients, but shake and serve immediately before drinking for the best quality.
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