What's in “the most expensive drink in the galaxy?”
Deconstructing the Kaiburr Crystal cocktail at the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge
Ahoy mateys! I’m aboard the christening cruise of Disney Cruise Line’s new ship, the Disney Wish. There are lots of great experiences to enjoy. Perhaps the most popular experience, however, is a visit to the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge. Its most talked-about libation, which is among the most talked-about things on the ship, is the Kaiburr Crystal cocktail. Priced at a stratospheric $5,000, it is billed as “the most expensive drink in the galaxy.”
So, what the heck is in it? An actual Kaiburr crystal? Well, no. But I’ve got the lowdown on its ingredients.
The Kaiburr Crystal is served in a nifty gizmo that guests activate by pressing a button and turning a dial. Along with some cool sound effects, the sides of the device open, wisps of smoke emanate from it, and lights activate revealing multiple shot glasses. It makes quite the presentation.
According to a bartender in the lounge, the galactic beverage is primarily made with Camus cognac. It also includes the Japanese citrus fruit, yuzu, as well as kumquat. Apparently, ritzy cocktails can never have enough cognac, because the Kaiburr Crystal also features Grand Marnier Quintessence, which is considerably pricier than Camus cognac. Speaking of pricey, the bartenders add shots of ultra-expensive Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 23 Year bourbon and Taylor's Fladgate Kingsman Edition Very Old Tawny Port.
Guests get to keep the silver plated glasses in which the drinks are served. (But not, alas, the cool Star Wars container gizmo.) They also get amenities delivered to their staterooms, including flowers and personalized sparkling wine from Skywalker Vineyards, the wine estate owned by none other than Mr. “Star Wars,” George Lucas. They can check out the grapes that made the wine, because the $5,000 package includes a visit to the vineyard, which is located at Skywalker Ranch in Marin County, California. Tours are not otherwise available to the public.
Is all that worth $5,000? If you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it. If you can afford it, the bragging rights of having purchased the most expensive drink in the galaxy are pretty nifty. If you want to indulge in some conspicuous consumption on a budget, you could consider the Hyperspace Lounge’s Coaxium Trio. It goes for a mere $250. I have no idea what’s in that.
Among the more, um, down-to-Earth-priced drinks at the lounge are The Golden One, from the Moons of Endor, which will set you back $15. I really enjoyed The Chancellor, a $20 beverage brought to you by the good folks on Coruscant. It includes Hennesy James cognac, which is apparently a (much) lower-shelf cognac than the ones in the Kaiburr Crystal.
The sleek Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge features a large viewport behind the bar. It shows a constantly shifting array of vessels and other activity. Every few minutes, a jump to lightspeed transports the lounge and its customers to another planet.
With only eight tables and another seven seats at the bar (what was Disney thinking?), the lounge is surprisingly small. Since it is a must-see aboard the ship, the demand far exceeds the supply. On the christening cruise, reservations were generally required, often hours in advance, to enter the lounge.
The Disney Wish will sail its maiden voyage on July 14, 2022.
Would you pay $5,000 for a Star Wars-themed cocktail? Would you want to visit the Hyperspace Lounge? Join the conversation.
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While the initial reaction is that it's a ridiculous thing to offer, just think of the free publicity it provides. Marketing genius!
Great info, Arthur! Did you have to use any Jedi mind tricks to get cast members to reveal what's in the $5000 drink?