Intoxicated Zodiac’s Gwen Sutherland Kaiser (me) is featured on THE DAILY MEAL… CHECK US OUT! that would be my use of the “royal we” of course… THE NEW MOON tipple, in honor of the recent annular NEW MOON, otherwise known as a solar eclipse. betcha didn’t know they were the same thing huh? cancer girl knew, she’s ruled by the moon… cheers!

VIA THE DAILY MEAL

i was so honored to be a presenter at this year’s MANHATTAN COCKTAIL FESTIVAL in nyc. ZODIAC VODKA, my soul mate, sponsored the presentation and supplied the kick ass black cherry vodka that i used to create our welcome drink: the VENUS TRANSIT.

the staff told me later that it was an unusually well-received cocktail… everyone drank their entire glass down! so, thank you for the compliment on my mixology skills, dear festival imbibers : ) apparently, the name was quite well liked too… this one’s definitely a keeper! (and so is the ZODIAC VODKA bottle: each one is a different sign)

proud of my presenter badge ; ) first time i’ve done a powerpoint presentation… see my remote control?

backstage, they’re batching our welcome drink… the VENUS TRANSIT. ps, ZODIAC VODKA is available in NY this july!!! check the website for availability outside of new york.
(slide from presentation below)

each guest got a ZODIAC VODKA goodie bag with a mini compatibility book, a coaster and a glass in the sign of their choice!

THE MCC INDUSTRY INVITATIONAL was held at the andaz hotel on FIFTH AVE & 42ND ST. isn’t that the crossroads of the world?

ps, next year’s MCC is scheduled for May 17-21, 2013. if we’re still here, that is ; )

a special shout out to CAMPER ENGLISH from ALCADEMICS… finally i got to meet my fellow veggie cocktail nerd writer extraordinaire… and yup, he’s as cool as he writes. and i’m happy to report that he asks the most interesting questions! thanks for coming to my seminar, Dear Aries

next shout out goes to lak from PARTY DIGEST… helped make the baroscope reading part of my presentation more hilarious than ever… thanks for swinging by, Dear Libra

and last but not least, shout out to JACKIE SILVER, aka MS. AGING BACKWARDS… a drink a day keeps the doctor away! hee haw.. (we love donkeys) Jackie is a Dear Gemini. (we also love that HIGH WEST & URBAN BOULDER photobooth!)

from the presentation:
“VENUS TRANSIT is a term that describes the movement of Venus, who is more than just a pretty face. She’s an amazon woman! She’s a feminist. And she’s a Goddess. Venus will transit the Sun on June 5th, which will be her last transit to occur in our lifetime, as she only passes over the Sun roughly every 122 years. I can tell you that the Astrologers are abuzz over this heavy duty alignment and the impact it will have on humanity. Her sojourn into our atmosphere will shine her Venusian frequency of peace, beauty and love on us all, to facilitate in our healing process. Synchronistically sandwiched in between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse, love is coming to earth in a big way, and is here to stay!

Black Cherry is a plant of Venus and therefore a drink of Taurus and Libra, who are both also ruled by Venus. According to Medieval Astrology, Venusian plants are warm and moist, and their temperment is sanguine. Taurus rules the neck and decolette, and libra rules the buttocks. Any sign can imbibe a VENUS TRANSIT… it’s a tasty opportunity to drink in her divine energy and see the world through her rose colored glasses. Cheers to Venus!

VENUS TRANSIT:
fill glass with ice and add:
* 2 oz Black Cherry Zodiac Vodka
* 1 oz fresh lemon juice
* 1 oz spice syrup*
stir.
garnish with a cherry.*

SPICE SYRUP:
4 opened cardomom pods (both shells and seeds)
2 sticks cinnamon
2 whole cloves
***toast spices to bring flavors out, then add to ½ cup water, ½ cup sugar. Simmer for 20 minutes and strain for use.

BRANDIED CHERRIES:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
2 cloves
2 sticks cinnamon
4 opened cardamom pods (skin & seeds)
approximately 1 quart pitted cherries (frozen are ok)
½ brandy

***toast spices to bring flavors out, then to water and sugar. Simmer for 20 minutes and remove from heat. add brandy and cherries. May be used immediately. Store in fridge.

(the use of kangen filtered water will further amplify the flavors)”
–recipe created by gwen sutherland kaiser

last year i attended a class at THE MANHATTAN COCKTAIL CLASSIC and i had so much fun that i said to myself… that’s it! next year i am going to teach a class here too! and so here it is, next year. and here i am, presenting Zodiac Cocktails at the MANHATTAN COCKTAIL CLASSIC “Industry Invitational!” yah! and my soul mate, ZODIAC VODKA is sponsoring me! i’m so exited… if you are in the hospitality biz, or the press, you are welcome to attend. sorry not open to the public : ( details listed below, RSVP to info@intoxicatedzodiac.com.

BARSTROLOGY SHOPPING PARTY! come one, come all! available to the greater new york area. contact info@intoxicatedzodiac.com for info on hosting a party!

i still cannot believe that people patronize BP gas after the atrocities they so knowingly committed. yes, BP planned the gulf spill, they intentionally tapped into an under water volcano of sorts and knew exactly what to do to stop the leak. research it. you’ll be amazed. now to tie in the astrology theme here, let it be known that volcanoes are ruled by mars. this unfortunate event occurred in aries (april 20), a sign ruled by mars. hence, please don’t take this negatively… but the SPILLTINI is an aries. may we all posses that kind of raw power, the one that lives within the soul of every aries. volcanic arien power—gimme some!

but no more! i know i sound like a gospel preaching minister, but seriously, divine intervention is saving our collective asses. while there are still shrimp being born without eyes from the spill : ( there is also a shockingly huge amount of positive news from scientists studying the area. check it out here.

we are very lucky as a species, we humans. we have the entire universe on our team! so, please, give thanks to all the unseen souls, guardian angels, benevolent aliens, and crusading humans who are assisting us in our climb to the new earth. i suggest perhaps drinking a SPILLTINI while you do so:

SPILLTINI

1 oz Oil Infused Vodka*
1 oz Seawater Simple Syrup*
1 oz Fresh Squeezed Lemon
1 Star Fish Garnish

***Rim martini glass with beach sand brown sugar.
***Shake vodka, syrup and lemon over ice.
***Adjust to taste. Strain into glass.
***Float star fish anise for garnish.

SAND RIMMED GLASS: Wet lip of glass with lemon wedge. Rotate lip of the glass in sugar.

OIL VODKA INFUSION: Dump 3 tbsp dried elderberries 4 cups vodka. (find at health food store) Allow to infuse for one week. Strain and store for use. Use immediately, or allow to sit longer for a stronger elderberry

SEAWATER SIMPLE SYRUP: Equal parts brown sugar and water. Simmer on stove and store in fridge.

Belly up or Bottoms up? The choice is ours to make!

BENEFIT WINES is the coolest way to buy wine… every purchase helps a charity! there is a wonderful selection of charities that you can choose to support (with a lot of animal advocacy ones) and about $7 from each bottle goes to that charity. all the labels are designed so beautifully and individually for each charity.

a bottle makes the perfect summer party gift for your host/hostess with a favorite cause or a soft spot for furry fuzzies. i personally love the orangutan ones for REDAPES.ORG cheers!

TRENDHUNTER.COM features intoxicated zodiac’s gwen sutherland kaiser (yup, me)… this site is where the cool people go to find out what’s cool. check it out here!

what better way to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ than with an egg-based cocktail? let the kiddies partake in the easter egg hunt while you partake in an easter egg drink!

A NOTE ON EGGS: “normal” eggs you buy in the store will be from a caged hen, unable to stand up in her cage, forced to sit and lay eggs without the proper cycle of rest known as moulting. if the package does not say “free range” they are not, and eggs that are not from free range hens are inherently cruel. hens are cool, they have personalities like a cats and dogs. i know because i have a farm nearby that i visit. please buy free range eggs for easter this year and support the new earth’s humane way of farming… compassion for all species! VISIT BATTERY HEN RESCUE HERE.

PS, the blueberry is ruled by jupiter and is a pisces… get a pretty lavender froth when blueberry meets egg white… this is sure to be a hit at easter dinner. best served in an egg cup!

EASTER EGG LIBATION:
2 parts Vodka
1 part fresh lime juice
1 part simple syrup
1 barspoon blueberry preserves
½ white from one egg (from free range chickens!)
2 drops orange flower water

shake over ice. SERVE IN AN EGG CUP.

my dutch friend annie brought these alcohol-filled chocolates back as my souvenir from the netherlands. and here i thought belgian waffles were off the hook. these little candies kick waffle’s ass. they’re filled with absolut vodka, cognac, sherry and scotch. DELICIOUS.

finally, 2012 is here and i am psyched. people are waking up! they’re reading the labels on their food. they’re asking questions. companies like PARTIDA are responding by choosing causes to align themselves with.

the time has finally come when the company from which a product hails, is as important as the product itself. enter PARTIDA, owned by gary shansby, a huge supporter of the environment.

this guy cares about earth. he cares about humanity. he cares about all beings and if you question that, then research his track record. it’s clear he’s one of the good guys, who also happens to be good in business. lucky him!

but really, lucky us. we now have the opportunity to support a company that puts back some of what they get, to make the world a better place… AND get a fabulous product too. it’s just icing on the cake that PARTIDA happens to be outstanding. if you haven’t gotten around to tasting PARTIDA, do.

i was serving some customers a few months back in COMIDA. they were looking for a good sipping tequila and their eye happened to catch the PARTIDA bottle. i told them that PARTIDA ANEJO was exactly what they wanted and served them each a glass neat. they enjoyed their drink immensely and were very pleased that they had discovered PARTIDA.

“The Partida Estate is located in and around what is known as the Tequila Valley, the birthplace of tequila. Partida an estate-grown tequila maintains complete control over their agave cultivation, allowing for the finest agave piñas (hearts of the agave) harvested at optimal ripeness from 8-10 years of age. The agaves are grown naturally in a healthy environment without chemicals. “We select the finest blue agave cultivated and harvested from the choicest acreage on the estate,” says Gary Shansby, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Partida Tequila. “A great tequila starts with cultivation and harvesting of the best blue agave followed by our own secret recipe for cooking, fermentation, distilling and aging.”

Partida Tequila is share withing consumers the differences between ‘terroir’, particularly between ‘Los Altos’ and the Tequila Valley. The ‘Los Altos’ region is about 2,000 meters above sea level (6,500 feet). It has red soil, rich in iron oxide and other minerals. It has warm days and cool nights. The Tequila Valley, 1,700 meters above sea level (5,500 feet), has volcanic soil and its days and nights are generally both hot.

It is largely agreed that in general the tequilas made from agaves from the Tequila Valley are more ‘masculine’ (to use a wine term) ? forward and assertive ? and have an earthy flavor with herbal notes. Those of ‘Los Altos’ are said to be more ‘feminine,’ softer and rounder with fruit and floral notes. Both Partida Tequila and Tequila Ocho are expressive examples of the best ultra premium tequilas available today.”