via gwen’s column in CHILLED MAGAZINE:

Happy Birthday Aquarius, the most unique sign in the zodiac. Independent, unconventional, detached, rebellious, inventive, original, idealistic, far-sighted, candid, private, romantic, personable, and strong-willed are all traits of this sign.
Famous Aquarians include Christian Dior, Jennifer Aniston, Paris Hilton, Seal, Oprah, Kurt Cobain, Brandy, Shakira, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Ashton Kutcher, John Travolta, Garth Brooks and Ellen De Generes

No one can argue that Oprah is an odd bird. I love her so! Odd in a good way, as most Aquarians are. The sign of the water bearer–or in our case–the liquor bearer, is known for it’s airy, fun-loving, open-minded, friendly tendencies. But I must tell you that I have known more than one Aquarius who weren’t entirely like that description. So remember, a person’s Sun Sign is incredibly impacted by the rest of their chart! I highly recommend getting your own chart done. You can do that for free by downloading the app, Celeste, or joining AstrologyDating.com.
The other type of Aquarius–the one not so much like Oprah, despite her private nature–is rather reserved and has lots of eccentricities. I know, generalizing here… But, they really do tend to have strange yet harmless habits. Like they eat each food on their plate one at a time. Or they seem to defy logic in their thought pattern. That’s probably because their brain can run circles around yours. They are known as the analytical sign, and their wheels are always turning. There is certainly one common thread woven into the personal tapestry of all Aquarians and that is altruism. Aquarius is always empathic to other’s plights. They are true humanitarians.
Here’s some interesting tidbits about our odd Oprah: In 2006 she celebrated her birthday by purchasing her ruling planet, Uranus, from the International Star Registry, renaming it to Myanus™. She didn’t stop there, also buying her constellation of Aquarius for an alleged eight-figure sum. She decided to keep that name. On the day she announced all of this, she handed out Astrology crystal bracelets to her audience as “The Age of Oquarius™ played in the background. Oprah takes Astrology seriously and has her own personal Astrologer, like many celebrities do. All though she has lots of charities, her soft spot for animals is obvious. She has a menagerie of pets, and rewrote her will to include millions for their care in the event they outlive her. She almost put the meat business out of business with her famous lawsuit, which succeeded in waking many people up to the unspeakably horrific condition of livestock animals in America that still continues today.

Why cedar? Based on Medieval Herbal Astrology, there’s little question that the Cedar tree falls under the stern ownership of Saturn, and may hence be considered an Aquarius. Saturn co-rules this sign along with Uranus, which was discovered only recently, and after all, my cocktails are based on Medieval Astrology, not modern Astrology. Known for its formidable pest and weather-resistant properties, this tree means business. Just like its planet. Not only is the wood of this tree highly functional in modern society, but it is also steeped in spiritual tradition. Cherokees believe that the Cedar tree holds the essence of their ancestors, and wearing its wood protects against evil spirits. Cedar wood oil was used by the Sumerians and Egyptians. It is the sacred incense of Tibetan temples, and is repeatedly mentioned in the Bible. The name Cedrus is Arabic for kedron, which means power. Today, cedar spray is used increasingly as a holistic alternative in the combat of fleas and ticks, bed bugs and other such lovely creatures. Its healing oil is frequently used in aromatherapy for a myriad of treatments. A more unusual way to utilize the essence of Cedar’s strength is in a nightcap. Earthy, musky, and highly fragrant, infused cedar tips tend to make a fine spirit even finer.

HOT OPRAH TODDY:
Build in mug:
2 oz gin
8 oz boiling water
1 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 oz cedar tip syrup*
Garnish with lemon bow
CEDAR TIP SYRUP: dried cedar tips can be found in health food stores or online?(mountain rose herbs)
Toast 2 parts dried cedar tips in skillet over medium low heat. Remove from heat and crush lightly with mortar & pestle, spice mill or food processor. Add to sauce pot with 3 parts white sugar, 2 parts water. Simmer for 15 minutes. Strain for use.

Hey we’re in Side Dish of D MAGAZINE, featuring my Astrology Mixology Talk & Tasting with Zodiac Vodka:

this past holiday i created the cocktails for UNDER THE STARS, an astrology-themed event with famed astrologer SUSAN MILLER and celebrity chef TODD ENGLISH. both of whom, seem to be nice people, which i am glad to report : ) Todd’s head chef was even nice… he shared this culinary tip with me: “gwen, you should toast your spices to bring out the flavor before cooking with them!” oh, says me. DUH, thanks mike the scorpio : ) i have tested this since, and it really does help immensely. SUSAN gave a speech on what 2012 will bring (awesomeness for every sign) and TODD served 4 element-inspired apps, while promoting his latest book. there was a pop-up zodiac shop too, in which IZ glassware was featured. it was a fun night, and hey, now i can say that i’ve been interviewed by the wall street journal. that was cool! read all about it on heydoyou.com.

as promised, i’m putting all the recipes from UNDER THE STARS online, so now all you zodiac junkies can drink your very own sign for some extra christmas cheer this year!

check out IZ the pop-up shop: WHAT’S YOUR SIGN WINES and BAROSCOPE SHOTS and MARRIAGE SIGN SHOTS and BACHELORETTE SHOTS below.

The work of Nicholas Culpeper, the father of western herbalism, serves as a guide when i create astrology-themed drinks. His work may still be referred to in online classes at culinary arts schools today. Culpeper’s books are still in print, 300 years after he wrote detailed descriptions of which plants belong to which signs and how to use them medicinally. In Medieval Herbal Astrology, plants have Zodiac signs, just like people. In the Medieval times only seven planets had been discovered as opposed to nine today. Therefore, since these drinks are based on Medieval Herbal Astrology, the ancient ruling planet for each sign is referenced.

“under the stars” was sponsored by TYKU, perrier and jim beam, the recipes call for these fine products. cheers!

Aries’ Cocktail features CRANBERRY as its star ingredient! Aries is ruled by Mars: The scarlet, fiery, hot planet. Flavors that are very spicy or very tart are often ruled by Mars. The cranberry’s bright crimson color, underscored by its tangy flavor certainly betrays its allegiance to the red planet, and is hence an Aries.

ARIES XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz sochu, 2 oz cranberry syrup, 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice, perrier
(shake over ice and strain pour into an ice packed collins glass. Top with Perrier. Garnish with a floating fresh cranberry)

CRANBERRY SPICE SYRUP:
2 c white sugar, 3 c water, 1 c fresh cranberries, peel of half a small orange
(simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Taurus’ Cocktail features PEPPERMINT as its star ingredient! If its divinely fragrant and tantalizingly tasty, you can bet its ruled by Venus. This beautiful planet rules all fruit, herbs and flowers that are particularly fragrant. Hence, mint falls under the dominion of Venus and may be identified as a Taurus.

TAURUS XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz sochu, 1 oz peppermint syrup, 1 oz lemon juice
(served up with a mini candy cane garnish)

PEPPERMINT MINT SYRUP:
3 c white sugar, 2 c water, 1 tsp peppermint extract
(heat until dissolved)

Gemini’s Cocktail features HAZELNUT as its star ingredient! Culpeper lists the hazelnut under Mercury. The tree’s delicate leaves & flowers are indicative of this planet’s fleeting & wispy qualities. After all, Mercury is the fastest orbiting planet in our solar system. hazelnut is a Gemini.

GEMINI XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz sochu, 1 oz hazelnut cocoa syrup, 1 oz creamer
(served up with a few pcs of floating chopped hazelnut garnish)

HAZELNUT COCOA SYRUP:
1 c “NUTELLA” spread,2 c water
(heat lightly and whisk until blended)

Cancer’s Cocktail features EGG as its star ingredient! The egg is ruled by the Moon, as is Cancer. They share the traits of a hard outer shell and a soft, pale, fleshy inside. Cancer is known for its innate creativity, along with a desire to “nest.” What symbolizes those two qualities more than the egg?

CANCER XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz whiskey, 1 oz ‘nog anise syrup, 1 oz creamer
(served up with a floating star anise)

‘NOG ANISE SYRUP:
1 c brown sugar, 1 ½ c water, 2 cinnamon sticks, 5 star anise, 4 tsp chopped, fresh ginger, 3 tsp vanilla extract, 10 cardamom pods
(toast spices over medium low in pan first. then simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Leo’s Cocktail features CLEMENTINE as its star ingredient! The bright, round, orange-colored, life-giving star of our solar system, the Sun, rules over Leo. Because the clementine bears a heavy physical resemblance to the sun, it is given ruler ship under it. The clementine is a Leo.

LEO XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz sochu, 1 oz clementine rosemary syrup, 1 1/2 oz lemon juice
(served over ice topped with Perrier. Garnish with a slice of clementine)

CLEMENTINE ROSEMARY SYRUP:
2 chopped clementines, ¼ c chopped fresh rosemary, 2 c white sugar, 2 c water
(simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Virgo’s Cocktail features POMEGRANATE as its star ingredient! The pomegranate is ruled by Mercury due to its astringent qualities. Mercury is the fleet-footed planet and therefore holds ownership over anything that is fast-binding and drying in nature. That is why the pomegranate is a Virgo.

VIRGO XMAS TIPPLE:
1 oz sochu, 1 oz tyku liqueur, 1 1/2 oz pomegranate grenadine, 1/2 oz lemon juice
(serve up and garnish with 3 floating pomegranate seeds)

POMEGRANATE GRENADINE:
Equal parts 100% pomegranate juice and water
(simmer for 20-30 minutes)

Libra’s Cocktail features SUGAR PLUM as its star ingredient! Libra is ruled by the Venus, the beautiful planet. Venus holds dominion over things that are sugary sweet, succulent, attractive and delectable in nature. A perfectly ripe, juicy plum would certainly fall under ruler ship of Venus, and may be called a Libra.

LIBRA XMAS TIPPLE:
1 oz sochu, 1 oz tyku liqueur, 1 oz plum syrup, 1 oz lemon juice
(serve up and garnish with a sugar rim)

SUGAR PLUM SYRUP:
2 c white sugar, 3 c water, 2-3 chopped fresh plums
(simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Scorpio’s Cocktail features CLOVE as its star ingredient! The incredibly pungent and powerful clove is ruled by none other than what many refer to as the planet of war, Mars. Really, it is the planet of passion and the strength to defend and protect. In fact, clove is so strong it can be used to defeat Cancer. Today, Scorpio is considered co-ruled by Mars and Pluto.

SCORPIO XMAS TIPPLE:
1 oz sochu, 1 oz sake, 1 oz lemon juice, 1 oz clove chili syrup, perrier
(served over ice, topped with perrier, garnished with a floating clove and straw)

CLOVE CHILI SYRUP:
1 c white sugar, 3 c water, 2-3 pinches cloves, 1 small handful or approx 20 dried chili arbols
(toast chilis and clove over medium low in pan first. simmer for 15-20 minutes and strain)

Sagittarius’ Cocktail features FIG as its star ingredient The vast number of seeds in a fig makes it a fruit ruled by Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. This huge planet is the owner of all things Ubiquitous, prolific, abundant and colossal in nature. This is why the fig is listed as a Sagittarius.

SAGITTARIUS XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz whiskey, 1 ¼ oz fig syrup, ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
(shake over ice and strain into glass. Garnish with a dried fig slice)

FIG SYRUP:
1 c fresh chopped figs, 1 c white sugar, 2 c water
(simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Capricorn’s Cocktail features MOLASSES as its star ingredient! Discarded as a by-product, molasses is the almost black, densely thick, mildly bittersweet syrup that is born from the dregs of the sugar cane plant. Saturn symbolizes frugality, austerity and scarcity. Molasses is ruled by Saturn due to the nature of its genesis.

CAPRICORN XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz whiskey, 1 oz gingerbread syrup, 1 oz creamer
(served up with a slice of candied ginger garnish)

GINGERBREAD SYRUP: 2 c brown sugar, 2 c water, 1 c molasses, 5 tbsp chopped fresh ginger
(simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Aquarius’ Cocktail features CEDAR as its star ingredient! Saturn is the slowest moving planet, symbolizing longevity and resilience. Plants ruled by this constant planet are extremely hardy in nature–take for example the famously pest and weather-resistant cedar tree. Today Aquarius is considered co-ruled by Saturn and Uranus. That’s why cedar is an Aquarius.

AQUARIUS XMAS TIPPLE:
1 oz sochu, 1 oz sake, 3/4 oz lemon juice, 1 oz cedar syrup
(served up with a sugar rim)

CEDAR TIP SYRUP:
2 c white sugar, 2 c water, 1 c dried cedar tip needles
(toast cedar over medium low in pan first. simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

Pisces’ Cocktail features CHESTNUT as its star ingredient! The chestnut tree’s diameter can be as great as 17 feet, which epitomizes the grandiose qualities of the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter. Today, Pisces is considered co-ruled by Jupiter and the more recently discovered Neptune. The chestnut is a Pisces and sheer size alone is what determines that.

PISCES XMAS TIPPLE:
2 oz whiskey, 1 oz chestnut syrup, 1 oz creamer
(served up a chestnut slice garnish)

CHESTNUT SYRUP:
2 c white sugar, 2 c water, 1 c chopped and peeled roasted chestnuts
(simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain)

ROAST CHESTNUT GARNISH:
Slice each nut prior to baking with a knife, but try not to penetrate flesh. Then it will be easier to slice them for garniature.

the magical acai berry is dark in color and pleasant in taste. it doesn’t pack a punch, but persuades your palette to enjoy its flavor on an even keel. just like the god of saturn would prefer you to do in every area of your life. the god, saturn, is known as the lord of time, and goes by the name old man winter as well. he’s slow. he takes 29 years to orbit alone, and is the Furthest planet to be seen with the naked eye. he’s frigid, gassy, and surrounds himself with rings of ice. but saturn is arguably the most powerful planet in our solar system, rivaled only by pluto (who’s not a true planet). the acai berry has been declared the number one super fruit by those “in the know.” this brazilian berry is small, but strong.

here’s some saturn trivia:
***the word Saturnine means: a) cold and steady in mood; slow to act or change b) of a gloomy or surly disposition c) having a sardonic aspect a saturnine smile.

***We have all been born on the day of our choosing. if you entered this world on saturn’s day, Saturday, then you’ll work hard for a living.

***Satan’s role as an adversary was to wander the Earth in pursuit of those who did not keep the faith and who broke God’s law. Word has it he was authorized to test and tempt humans to demonstrate their lack of moral goodness.

so, dear aquarius, were’nt you the happy little camper when the outer planet of uranus was discovered? yep, William Herschel, a virgo, chanced upon it back in 1781, changing aquarius forever. through study and meditation it was found that uranus was the missing ruler of aquarius, and you are now happily considered to be ruled by both planets: uranus and saturn.

the sombering traits that saturn lent your character will never be taken away–but only augmented by the loving and effervescent uranus. the interesting combination of steely saturn and open-armed uranus makes for a quirky personality… that is perhaps why some aquarius are such strange birds. i can usually rationalize the actions of a person by their zodiac sign, but with aquarius, that tactic doesn’t always work. some of these eccentric and unpredictable characters make absolutely no sense to me! not naming names, but i’d certainly like to disclose some of my family members right about now… cheers to aquarius!

ASTRAL KISS:
2 cups veev acai liqueur
1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 1/2 cups elderflower juice
1 1/2 cups lychee syrup
champagne

combine all in pitcher, stirring well. chill in fridge until ready to use. pour 2/3rds flute full and top with 1/3 champagne. drop a whole lychee nut into the bottom of the glass.

***elderflower juice is made from elderflower concentrate found at IKEA.
***lychee syrup is simply the juice in a can of lychees.

this is also an easy Mocktail to make for the kiddies… just make the recipe without alcohol, so they can tipple too!

let’s take the strangest ingredient one would ever consider using in a cocktail, and use it in a cocktail. of course this has to be one of aquarius’ creations, the sign of the zodiac known for its eccentricity and uniquity. aquarius is also known for her universal love, and acceptance of any and every strange creature to inhabit this earth, and i’m sure those in faraway galaxies too. perhaps it is because she knows she’s not quite normal, a little off, slightly wacky in a good way of course, that she empathasizes with those beings that society cares for last. the bedraggled, the abandoned, the misunderstood, the special ones if you will. the liquor bearer will always greet you with open mind and open arms, if not outwardly, then inwardly. we love aquarius, and aquarius loves every last one of us. even the most f***d of us will find a friend in the liquor bearer girl!

why the mushroom? this odd fungus is ruled by saturn, ancient ruler of aquarius. (now considered co-ruled by both saturn and uranus). while i used portabella mushrooms for this tipple, i would love to t(r)ipple with some magic-mushroom infusions. now that’s a brilliantly aquarian idea…!

this drink has got a smoky, earthy, woody quality to it from the mushrooms… i guess similar to mescal tequila if i was going to give a comparison. cheers!

SHROOMTINI:
2 oz mushroom infused vodka
2 oz fresh lemon
1 oz simple syrup
1 oz NAVAN vanilla liqueur

*to infuse vodka with mushrooms add 3 sliced portabella mushrooms to 750 ml bottle vodka allow to infuse for 1 month.
*simple syrup is fifty percent water fifty percent sugar mixture

aquarius is rather like a puppy—usually wagging her cute little tail and willing to play ball. if any sign is man’s best friend, it is the water bearer. few enjoy people, and gatherings, like aquarius. this stereotypically fun-loving, friendly, humanitarian, spontaneous sign would die to have this cocktail served at her birthday bash, in honor of her truly. so if you’re a true friend, screw the mixing glass and bring on the pitcher. that’s one gift aquarius will remember (unless she drinks it all herself).

or perhaps your aquarian friend is of the quiet sort? they do exist, i know several. if that’s the case, definitely bring them a pitcher of freshly mixed booze… this uptight species of water bearer needs to loosen up in the worst way, and if you peer into their puppy dog eyes you’ll see them silently begging to do just that. what better way to loosen up than with 50 proof? in a few sips, those atypically cautious aquarians will be even louder than their stereotypically outgoing counterparts. it must be noted that ALL aquarians are FUN with a capital F. and when one adds gin with a capital G to the equation, well life doesn’t get much better.

this filling cocktail could easily replace aquarius’ birthday cake, it’s like a meal in itself… so skip the cake and go right to the nightcap. happy birthday to the celestial liquor bearer… and to the stereotypically ditzy aquarius, that would be you i’m talking about!

the dark blackberry is technically ruled by venus according to culpepar, but its somber hue has convinced me to assign rulership under saturn. now remember, in the medieval times the outer planet of uranus was not yet discovered, so aquarius was then ruled by saturn. it is not considered co-ruled by saturn and uranus. aaaanyway, in scotland apple season occurs at the same time as bramble season and one of the scot’s fave baked goodies is an apple and bramble pie. for some reason the two flavors blend awesomely together. the bramble gives a nice boost to the apple, both in color and taste. bon appetit.

BRAMBLE APPLETINI:

1 C FRESH LEMON JUICE
20 GRANNY SMITH APPLES FRESHLY JUICED
1 1/2 CUPS BRAMBLE JUICE (FROM ABOUT 4 CUPS BERRIES)
3 CUPS RAW SIMPLE SYRUP
2-3 CUPS GIN DEPENDING ON DESIRED LEVEL OF INTOXICATION

IN PITCHER, STIR THE ABOVE VERY WELL. PLACE IN FRIDGE UNTIL TIME TO SERVE. GARNISH EACH GLASS WITH A TWIST.

*TO JUICE BRAMBLES, SIMPLY “MUSH” THROUGH A STRAINER UNTIL ONLY PULP IS LEFT. NOT AN EASY TASK, BUT WORTH IT FOR THE WATER BEARER.

*SIMPLE SYRUP IS A MIXTURE OF 50% WATER AND 50% SUGAR. STIR MIXTURE UNTIL DISSOVED, THERE IS NO NEED TO HEAT.

how appropriate that the quince is co-ruled by saturn, and is therefore a product of aquarius. where apple is the forbidden fruit, quince is the misunderstood fruit. most americans, if you ask them, won’t even know what it is! these apple / pear hybrid lookalikes can be found only for a brief period during the fall at farmer’s markets and gourmet grocers. if you do manage to secure a fresh quince, don’t bite into it, as inviting as it’s flesh looks. like the sign of the water bearer, it is not as it appears. a raw quince will both break your tooth and taste something awful. so, what to do with a quince… what to do with aquarius? my dad is one, and i tell you, i just don’t know! these personalities – as warm and brilliant as they are – can be hard to understand. kind of like a ouija board. not quite sure how it works, just know that it does. if you’re very lucky you’ll score both the quince and aquarius… she’s the most peculiar sign with a delightful sense of spontaneaty. never a dull moment with aquarius. she’s delicously fun, just like her pet fruit, the quince.

HARD TO GET (FLOWERING QUINCE JULEP)

1 oz quince liqueur
1 oz bourbon
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1 oz simple syrup
ice

add all ingredients to ice filled shaker and agitate vigorously for ten seconds. pour contents including ice into chilled goblet. (chill by placing in freezer or filling with ice prior to use).

quince liqueur is hard to get! i’ve found two places online, none of which are in the states: New Zealand and the UK, and the UK, and the UK.

***or you can make your own using one of the many recipes i’ve found online:
LIKE TO COOK
JOANNA’S FOOD
STRATS PLACE
OHC

thanks to BRICIOLE for hosting WEEKEND HERB BLOGGING #112.

Did you ever wonder, which sign rules the Cannabis plant? Well, I’m
here to tell you that would be Saturn, who along with Uranus, co-rules
Aquarius. Technically speaking, any substance that produces a mind-altering affect would belong to pisces. however, because the hemp plant is one of the hardiest plants on earth, which makes some of the strongest fibers on earth, with a speed of growth rivelled only by bamboo, it belongs to the workhorse planet of saturn. and a plus, if grown legally it does not require pesticide for it is naturally bug-resistant. did you know that the constitution was written on hemp paper? or that it was illegal not to grow hemp during george washington’s presidency? today, when we think of hemp fabric, a course canvas comes to mind. but actually, i have felt hemp that was spun so fine it was like cashmere to the touch. and of course, the medicinal benefits of hemp are completely underated. i was staying in friend’s apartment in brasil, and came down with this super bug. i thought, really, seriously, that i might die. i’ve never had a fever like that, where i sweated eternally for days. i could barely move, and looking back, i can’t believe that i didn’t make my friend take me to the hospital. however, my point is that one day i decided to crawl, quite literally, to an old joint my friend had left out on the coffee table. i lit it up, almost dreading the expected effects. because, honestly, i hate marijanna. only once have a had a good experience with it, and that involved my couch, godiva chocolate and a spaniard. so, i lit up this roach and inhaled every last bit of it until it burned my fingers. in only a few miraculous minutes, i was up on my feet and walking around hardly aware that i was even sick. the medicinal power was truly amazing and that is a true story my friends. so let’s
FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHT TO PARTY, and make pot legal NOW. aaaaanyway, back to the sauce…. Today, our IZ guest blogger, RADICAL MUSE, weighs in with her very own far out libation.

It’s just been killin the RADICAL MUSE… throwin out all those perfectly good stems. I mean, at $50 a gram, a single stems gotta be worth like $20. Talk about throwing the green stuff away, in more ways than one. Finally, salvation to your inner eco pothead… you can repurpose the pot stems…!!! The more stems you recycle, the better your karma. So roll up a fattie, save up your stems, and grab a handle of vodka…
you’ve got a 420′tini that’s gotta get made. After your finish inhaling of course.

RADICAL MUSE: As a guest contributor to this intoxicating blog, I thought I would touch on the greening of alcohol. No, not the usual kind of greening, but rather the sometimes illegal, always-controversial kind of green. Marijuana. Yes, the stuff you used to smoke in your friend’s basements in the 80′s is back with a vengeance. This time it’s making it’s way to a bar near you in the form of a martini. According to Wikipedia,”4:20 or 4/20 (pronounced four-twenty) is a term used in North America as a discreet way to refer to the consumption of cannabis and, by extension, a way to identify oneself with cannabis culture. Although many diverse theories exist to explain the origin of the term, it is widely accepted that in 1971, a group of teenagers at San Rafael High School in San Rafael, California used to meet after school at 4:20 p.m. to smoke cannabis.”

Enter the 420 Martini. The makers of Cannabis Vodka have created a perfectly legal (in most places) alcohol that is infused with cannabis. If you’re more of a do-it yourselfer, it’s super easy to make yourself using a bunch of old stems. The Cannabis stems have just a touch of THC content but not enough to smoke. When the stems infuse with vodka it releases the THC and you can get a euphoric feeling (aka known as “wasted”) from drinking the THC laced vodka without having to smoke the Cannabis stems. What a great way to recycle those old throw away stems!

420′TINI

• 3 oz. Cannabis Vodka (or make your own)

• Dry Vermouth (enough to coat the glass)

• garnish: bag of munchy chips

Coat a chilled cocktail glass with the Vermouth. Chill vodka in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into the cocktail glass. Garnish with a sprig of something green and leafy. Contrary to what you may think, this does not taste like old bong water, rather it has a fresh herby kind of taste.

how is majiuana different than hemp?

VOTE HEMP

photo credit: I CAN HAS CHEEZBURGER

it’s so ironic that calling someone a pansy is snonomous to calling them a wimp, and is seen as a kind of friendly insult. this modest flower is actually made of some of the strongest petals on earth. yes, one would assume that it’s frilly little head, often seen in cheesy table bouquets and on fancy cakes, would die off quietly at the end of summer. but true to aquarius’ surprising and quirky nature, the pansy will keep ya guessin… will it or won’t it show up in the spring? if it is located in a shady spot in the garden, chances are it will impress you by being one of spring’s first blooms. it is a cool, shade-loving plant, like the cold planet of saturn by whom it is owned. and it is particularly hardy, flowering well into january even. i’ve heard we shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, and this holds especially true for aquarius – the queen of unpredictability. calling someone a pansy is really a compliment to that person’s fortitude. so the next time you seek to offend someone by doing just that, think again. you’ll really be flattering the person you mean to diss. not that any of us would EVER do such a thing anyway ; )

in keeping in line with gabriel’s FIZZ theme for mixology monday, i absolutely HAD to make use of my fave fizz: SPARKLING SAKE. ask your sauce shop to special order it for you… totally deliciously worth it!

PANSY-ASS SAKE
sparkling sake
pansy syrup
agnostura bitters

in bottom of empty glass, add one drop agnostura bitters and 1/4 oz pansy syrup. then fill the glass with chilled sake. garnish with pansy flower.

PANSY SYRUP:
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1 cup pansy petals

remove all traces of green from petals and place in food processor. Adding 1/3 cup sugar, grid pansies into sugar by pulsing slowly 4 times. Finish by processing on high for 30 seconds.

Combine remainder of sugar, mixture from food processor and water in sauce pan. Bring to boil. Stir and allow to simmer for approx 45 minutes. Remove from heat and pour into a final storage container. will keep for months in fridge. adding 1 oz vodka or few drops lemon oil acts as a preservative.

(recipe created by gwen sutherland kaiser)

thanks to COCKTAIL NERD for hosting MXMO XIX.

Blackcurrants are now legal in the US, after the ban on growing it was lifted a few years ago. Their juice is delicious, and full of all that healthy stuff like flavinoids, vitamin C and antioxidants. And even better, it’s grown domestically (the brands I’ve seen are all here in the Northeast). Less food miles = better for the environment? All though Culpeper does assign rulership of all currants to Venus, I’m going to reassign it to Saturn due to it’s not-so-sweet flavor, and near black color.

I used to live for Snakebites during my summers spent in Scotland. The drinking age started at 16 back then and in US would have me wait five more years before I could legally drink. So, my sister and I, and our British bud, Duart, would get snockered on Snakebites until the wee hours in Edinburgh. And by wee hours I mean 1am. Yup. Last call was at 12:45am. For all the talk of those Scots being able to drink, they sure did’t know how to run a pub. I was later told that serving Snakebites had been outlawed due to it’s aggressively drunken effects leading to one too many pub fights. I must admit that the combination of hard cider and lager goes straight to one’s head. The added shot of blackcurrant helps the pints slide down even easier. Maybe that’s where the name came from… the innebriation kind of creeps up on you, like a slithering snake. The shot of blackcurrant was provided by the famous concentrated blackcurrant juice, RIBENA, which was not sold here in the States. Another item we’d schlep back with us, along with the haggis, blood pudding and spotted dick. Of course I jest, the British Isles weren’t exactly a vegetarian paradise.

One of my all time favorite cities, Edinburgh is built around an ancient stone fortress and it’s streets are packed with fashion, art, culture and fish -n- chips!

SNAKEBITE
* pale lager OR dark stout
* hard cider
* blackcurrant syrup***

Pour glass full of equal amounts lager and cider. Add a shot of blackcurrant syrup and stir.

(if you do not have blackcurrant syrup, RIBENA, or CREME DE CASSIS can be used as a replacement).

***BLACKCURRANT SYRUP:
In saucepot, combine 1 cup blackcurrants, 1/2 cup water and 1 cup sugar. Bring to boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Add shot of vodka and a couple drops of lemon oil to preserve (if you have, great).
***if you don’t have actual berries, make with one cup sugar and two cups blackcurrant juice instead.

HOW HILARIOUS IS THIS LABEL ON THE RIBENA BOTTLE?