Tell Us Your Favorite Lightsaber Style, And We'll Tell You Your Next Favorite Cocktail

It's well known that Jedi study the blade. Part of their training involves constructing and learning to use the lightsaber, the iconic weapon of the Jedi Order. Since it's been in use for millennia, countless ways to use such a weapon have been developed, though the Jedi Council has only recognized seven of these forms as being in line with the Jedi Code. Nevertheless, those who dedicate themselves to mastering their lightsabers will be unparalleled opponents on the field of battle.

We don't have lightsabers in our galaxy, but we do have something else that's been part of our world's history for millennia: alcohol. Maybe you can't spend years honing your skill with a blade to deflect blaster bolts and disarm foes, but at least you can mix yourself a tasty drink when the mood strikes you.

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So how do you choose a cocktail to suit your inner Jedi Knight? We have you covered, so read on to find our suggestions for pairing your lightsaber form of choice with a refreshing beverage. And if you have alternative suggestions, be sure to let us know on our social media feeds!

Form 0: Responsibility

Among the Jedi, there is a philosophy called "Form Zero." It takes the stance that knowing when to draw one's lightsaber and, critically, when not to, is more important than knowing how to wield it in combat. There are plenty of situations where using a lightsaber is unwise, and keeping it on one's belt will do far more good for the Jedi and the people around them. The goal of a Jedi, after all, is to keep the peace.

The same is true when it comes to consuming alcohol. While enjoying a strong drink after a long day might sound like the perfect thing to do, it's important to be aware of yourself and your surroundings. Know your limits and be sure to pair your drink of choice with something to eat and plenty of water. Consider your own safety, as well as the safety of others, before you imbibe. If you're ever in a situation where it seems like a wiser course of action to abstain from drinking, follow that instinct.

Form I: Shii-Cho

Also called the Determination Form and the Way of the Sarlacc, Shii-Cho is the first lightsaber form taught to Jedi when they begin their training. It has its origins with the Jedi Order itself and is concerned with the most basic objective in a fight: end it quickly. Practitioners use direct blows and simple attack-and-parry tactics to force their opponents into submission, either by disarming them or killing them.

The history of Shii-Cho has largely been lost to time. It's not clear if it was the only form of lightsaber combat practiced by the Jedi at the beginning, or if it was simply the only one to survive and form the foundation of later techniques. During the time of the Galactic Republic, all Jedi students learned Form I, though most went on to study other forms in greater depth. Few lightsaber users dedicated the time to truly master Shii-Cho and its simple strengths. Kit Fisto was widely considered to be one of Form I's best practitioners, and General Grievous relied heavily on Shii-Cho due to his lack of Force sensitivity.

Drink Of Choice: Margarita

Since Shii-Cho is so basic and straightforward, there's really only one drink that suits it: the humble margarita. Made with a simple combination of tequila, lime juice, and sweet liqueur (usually orange, and the lime juice increased or decreased to match its sweetness), margaritas are found in just about every bar, matching the ubiquity of the first form among lightsaber wielders. Many servers and bartenders can attest to stories of first-time drinkers choosing the margarita when dipping into the world of mixed drinks.

However, just like Shii-Cho's adaptability in combat, there's a lot of room for personalization and experimentation in margaritas. Whether that's adding increasingly exotic ingredients or keeping things simple in order to pair it with a wider variety of foods, margaritas are rarely the best choice for one occasion, but they're certainly a good choice for just about any. Much like the historically first lightsaber form, margaritas can inspire people to broaden their horizons and add more choices to their repertoire.

Form II: Makashi

The second lightsaber form, Makashi, emerged from the Hundred-Year Darkness and the first conflicts between the Jedi and the Sith. As the Sith's ranks were made up of fallen Jedi, they had an intimate understanding of lightsaber combat and all the strengths and weaknesses of Shii-Cho. Form II was developed with one-on-one duels in mind, as most battles between the Jedi and Sith, even those involving entire armies, resolved into single combats.

As galactic warfare evolved, Makashi was left behind as a viable battlefield choice. However, due to its singular focus on duels and the romanticization of the past, it came to be seen by later generations as a refined, even elegant form of combat. It relies on patience, observation, and the ability to rapidly take advantage of an opponent's opening in order to deliver a single, final blow. Count Dooku is easily the most famous Makashi master, using his polished curved hilt and refined fashion taste to fully embody the idea of a duelist. He taught Asajj Ventress in the ways of Form II, and the Grand Inquisitor later relied on this form when he hunted Jedi for the Galactic Empire.

Drink Of Choice: Sidecar

Let's seize on that refined air that Makashi presents and suggest that, if you like the intimacy of a one-on-one duel, the sidecar will serve you well. At its heart, a sidecar relies on a careful balance between Cognac, Cointreau, and lemon juice—get the mixture wrong, and one flavor will dominate the others. Such is the way of Makashi, requiring precision and a certain level of culture to make the most of it. When you get that balance just right, there's no better drink and no greater sense of victory.

Of course, since it's so difficult to make properly, the sidecar tends to be overlooked when compared to more popular drinks like the sazerac or the martini. The same is true for Form II, as its singular focus on lightsaber duels made it unpalatable for the Jedi, once things like blasters and multiple opponents became the norm. Still, the amber glow of a sidecar reminds us of a forgotten golden age, one far more civilized than this one.

Form III: Soresu

In order to deal with blasters and other ranged weapons, the Jedi developed Soresu, the third form of lightsaber combat. It's a largely defensive technique that can deflect attacks away from the user and, when properly mastered, even reflect blaster bolts back at the shooter. When applied more broadly, Soresu's focus on tranquility in the face of an opponent's furious attacks earned it the name "the Resilience Form," as its practitioners were schooled in outlasting their enemies and waiting for the best time to strike.

After it was developed, Soresu remained a popular form among the Jedi, both for its broad applicability and its alignment with their philosophy of defending, rather than attacking. As such, there is no shortage of Form III users. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luminara Unduli were both Soresu masters, able to frustrate their opponents with unyielding calm and take advantage of that exasperation. In addition, it's said Darth Bane was well-versed in the technique, possibly due to his position as the last surviving Sith and progenitor of the Rule of Two. In any case, many Jedi found studying Soresu an important part of their lightsaber strategy, especially during galactic conflicts like the Clone Wars.

Drink Of Choice: Whiskey Sour

Embrace the possibilities of Soresu in combat, from batting away blaster bolts to defending against multiple opponents, and you'll understand why a whiskey sour is the drink of choice for Form III practitioners. It's considered a foundational cocktail, one that opens the door to a large number of local favorites, but for that versatility, the original recipe is still a winner. A straightforward mixture of bourbon, lemon juice, and sugar can lead to an entire galaxy's worth of possibilities, which pairs well with Soresu's economy of action.

Whiskey sours also draw on a similar reputation of nostalgic respect that Soresu does, as it was once considered the drink of a connoisseur but was supplanted in time by other choices. Form III was also once the preeminent lightsaber style until changing attitudes among the Jedi and new threats led them to develop new forms.

Form IV: Ataru

Ataru stands in stark contrast with its predecessors. Where the first three forms of lightsaber combat had a strong preference for defense, the fourth form is almost exclusively about going on the offensive against your opponent. By drawing on the Force to enhance their athletic capabilities, Jedi can use Ataru, sometimes called the Aggression Form, to overwhelm their opponents with rapid strikes, somersaults, and leaps that bypass defenses. It's also true that the constant movement required makes Ataru practitioners difficult targets, and their swinging lightsaber blades are well-suited to deflect blaster bolts and other ranged attacks. The flashy nature of Form IV helped give rise to the Jedi's reputation as legendary warriors throughout the galaxy.

There are a number of Ataru practitioners to make note of, particularly Aayla Secura and Qui-Gon Jinn, the latter passing on his preference to his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, until Kenobi saw his master killed in part due to Ataru's lack of defensive options. Perhaps the greatest Form IV master, however, is Yoda: his small size and control over the Force made him an ideal user of the Aggression Form. 

Drink Of Choice: Cosmopolitan

There are few mixed drinks that have the same kick-to-your-tonsils feel as a cosmopolitan. Eye-catchingly pink in most cases, cosmos are made from Citron vodka, Cointreau, lime juice, and cranberry juice, giving it a distinctive sweet-and-sour taste. That kind of energy will leave you buzzing, well-equipped to hit the dance floor or crank up your old bedroom stereo for an individual groove session.

The cosmopolitan being a relatively recent addition to bartenders' selections also serves to tie it to Ataru. Form IV represents the Jedi Order's deeper understanding of the Force and their connection to it, relative to earlier styles like Shii-Cho and Makashi. Likewise, a better understanding of the interplay between tastes made cosmos a sensation, as did their association with pop culture icons.

Form V: Shien And Djem So

The fifth lightsaber form sought to combine the wisdom of all previous forms into a single style, suitable for both defense and attack against ranged and melee opponents. In some respects, it failed: though Form V seeks to strike that balance, the preference of its users and the different demands of the battlefield effectively split the style into two philosophies, Shien and Djem So.

Shien builds upon the core concerns of Soresu, as blasters grew only more prominent in the galaxy and the Jedi needed to deal with them. Practitioners are skilled not only at deflecting blaster bolts but also at sending them back to their attackers, effectively turning the blaster into the Jedi's weapon, instead of their opponent's.  Though this often means sacrificing mobility, it allows the lightsaber's wielder to maintain control beyond arm's reach. Ahsoka Tano is a particularly accomplished Shien practitioner, even using the controversial reverse grip unique to Form V.

Djem So uses many of the same strategies as Shien but translated into melee combat, often against lightsaber-wielding foes. While it remains effective at deflecting ranged attacks, this style is much more focused on parrying blows and counterattacking. It puts more of an emphasis on footwork, but only enough to make sure the lightsaber wielder can press their advantage against their enemy. Anakin Skywalker is a Djem So master, raining blows down on his opponents to keep the pressure on, then quickly capitalizing on their mistakes.

Drink Of Choice: Dark 'n' Stormy

No matter your preference for Shien or Djem So, Form V is a heavy style that favors concentrated assaults against the senses, which is why the Dark 'n' Stormy makes the perfect pairing. Its combination of dark rum, lime juice, and ginger beer (the spicier the better) fills your mouth, triggering every taste receptor you have. Your tongue will struggle to repel flavors of this magnitude.

Of course, the name itself conjures a deeper connection to Form V's most famous practitioner. Anakin Skywalker's tragic turn to become Darth Vader saw him utilize his Djem So mastery with terrible efficiency when hunting down Jedi Knights. His relentless assaults kept his opponents off-balance, unable to mount a serviceable defense and vulnerable to Vader's savage reprisals when they tried to turn the tables. 

Form VI: Niman

Rising to prominence in a period of relative peace, Niman was seen by many Jedi as the natural progression of all the styles that had come before. It strives for balance in all things, not only in lightsaber combat but also in employing the Force and even avoiding fighting altogether. This made it an attractive choice for Jedi whose studies lay outside of battle, a number that only grew after what was seen as the final defeat of the Sith and the Mandalorians.

The Force rests at the heart of Niman, as its practitioners can use it to pull opponents into range, push them away, and even hold them in a single place. This makes it less demanding than other styles when it comes to combat, a trait that appeals even to accomplished fighters since they can use these techniques to give themselves a reprieve if needed. Cin Drallig, the Chief of Security of the Jedi Temple, was a notable practitioner of Form VI, as was Darth Maul, since he incorporated its use of the Force into his techniques.

Drink Of Choice: Gin And Tonic

The gin and tonic is as ubiquitous as it is simple, requiring little more than gin, tonic water, and just a splash of lime or another citrus. This gives it worldwide availability and a solid choice for anyone looking to have a drink in hand, be they diplomats at a formal function or exhausted parents looking to unwind after a long week. Because of this, gin and tonics are the equivalent of Niman, acceptable to the broadest scope of potential drinkers while still encouraging some experimentation with ingredients.

Of course, the criticisms of Form VI could be applied to the humble G&T as well. Many Jedi Masters are said to have looked down on Niman, seeing it as a diluted style that failed to live up to the strengths of any of its forebears. Similarly, while it has a long and storied history, for some people the gin and tonic will always just be water and booze, no matter how many tweaks and innovations are added to it.

Form VII: Juyo And Vaapad

The seventh form of lightsaber combat recognized by the Jedi Council is also the most questionable. Originally called Juyo, it's believed to have started with techniques that were too aggressive to be included with Shii-Cho, ones that drew openly on negative emotions like anger and fear to deliver savage attacks meant to maim and kill. Many Jedi practiced it in their wars with the Sith, and virtually all of them were drawn to the dark side of the Force by their experiences. Form VII was recognized by the Jedi Council only to be banned, leaving it practiced only by the Sith and other dark-siders. Darth Maul was the most recent Juyo master in memory.

However, the potential of a style that channeled dark emotions in order to control them was not lost on Jedi Master Mace Windu. Through considerable effort, he refined Juyo with the goal of bringing it into alignment with the Jedi Code, resulting in the form called Vaapad. While his efforts were lauded by his fellow Jedi, Windu carefully controlled who learned this new form to ensure none of its practitioners fell to the dark side. By the end of the Clone Wars, Windu himself and his former padawan, Depa Billaba, were the only masters of the so-called Ferocity form.

Drink Of Choice: Scorpion Bowl

Much like Juyo, the origins of the scorpion bowl have been lost to time. This is a tasty, flavorful punch that calls for a lot of rum that's generously spiked with other alcohols such as cognac, wine, or gin and mixed with sweet fruit juices, then balanced with savory Orgeat syrup. Despite their colorful presentation, most scorpion bowls are engines of chaos and calamity, as many college students can attest.

This sinister undertone is what makes a scorpion bowl the perfect companion to Form VII. It's easy to be drawn in by the promise of a good time and then fall victim to the emotional rollercoaster that so much sugar and alcohol will provoke. The thing that can turn this Juyo adjacent experience into a Vaapad triumph is splitting it with friends, sharing the risk while also opening yourself up to connection.

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Source(s): Wookieepedia
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