hey everyone, i’m launching our new INTOXICATED ZODIAC tumbler size zodiac cocktail candles this week at HENRI BENDEL… i’ll be there now through mid jan…. so swing on by and pick up a birthday gift for the cappie in your life ; )

as promised, i’m putting all the recipes from our holiday event (intoxicated zodiac, susan miller & todd english) online. so now all you zodiac junkies can drink your very own sign for some extra christmas cheer this year!

The work of Nicholas Culpeper, the father of western herbalism, serves as a guide when i create astrology-themed drinks. 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” is a NOISE 784 production. 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.

its that time of year again… holiday shopping at henri bendel… which means intoxicated zodiac cocktail candles! come check out our new packaging and new scents/ flavors/ cocktails… we’re on the ground floor through new years…
this year, henri bendel decorated the store with a rockettes/nyc theme. here are some pics from the store, and i even had the chance to have a photo op with some real live Rockettes myself!

what’s the big apple without coffee and cabs?

yours truly will be creating a zodiac cocktail for every sign, to be served at this awesome event, don’t miss it! see details below:

“Under the Stars with Susan Miller & Friends”

***Spend the whole evening with astrologer, susan miller, and as part of the event, Listen to her one-hour talk on “All That We Can Look Forward to in 2012!”

***Renowned restauranteur, author and tv star, todd english will take you on a culinary zodiac inspired tasting.

***Indulge in an open bar featuring twelve cocktails inspired by the zodiac from mixologist and founder of Intoxicated Zodiac, Gwen Sutherland Kaiser.

***Shop in our astrology holiday shop, dance to live music, and mingle – we will all celebrate together, and share stories as we do!

Date: December 15, 2011
Time: 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM
Place: CrossBar at LimeLight, 47 west 20th street at 6th ave
Cost: $225 per ticket all inclusive of food, drinks, lecture, entertainment
(Event produced by Noise 784)
Email: Jaspre@noise784.com for more information

i’ve picked up a couple shifts at COMIDA MERCADO FRESCO in park slope brooklyn. so c’mon down and visit me! COMIDA is near and dear to my heart, as the saga behind it is better than most soap operas. oh the drama, gwen just loves it. sometimes i find myself longing for a mundane existence, but thank god the universe doesn’t take me seriously and my frenetic life continues! read about COMIDA’S checkered past here, and here (in that order.)

COMIDA is much more than margaritas! but yes, we have them too : ) I created the majority of our cocktail program, a sophisticated assortment of mexican-inspired tipples, and latin classics. our drinks are top notch—everything is made in-house: homemade syrups, infused spirits, fresh fruits, blended salts, brandied cherries, ect. swing by for a libational treat… ask me to make whip you up a mexican zodiac cocktail!

dissident artist ai weiwei was conspicuously absent from his zodiac exhibit opening today in new york’s central park.

detained at beijing airport last month, no word has been heard from Ai Weiwei since. he might be dead for all anyone knows… for simply daring to speak his mind and create art. in hong kong, there is graffiti featuring ai weiwei’s face with a question mark, plastered all over town. this incident is attracting international attention as his shocking absence from his nyc show opening has been reported around the world.

if this is not a wake up call to think twice before purchasing products made in china, i don’t know what is. the chinese government is playing for the other team, not for the one of its people. buy made in usa! stop supporting communism. simple, right?

ai weiwei’s exhibit depicts the 12 chinese zodiac signs cast in huge bronze statues. a documentary is also in the works on this renowned artist, which has taken on a new urgency. let’s all say a prayer for Ai Weiwei, and the Chinese government, so this situation can be resolved quickly and peacefully.

guess what? new york’s famed BERGDORF GOODMAN windows were astrology-themed this holiday! last year they involved cocktails (view my post here). hmmnn… i see a theme: intoxicated zodiac!

aries is posing for the camera above, made entirely from paper!

just one of many zodiac windows! central park is captured in the reflection…

ride ‘em celestial cowboy…

bergdorf’s chic manequins were posed with astrolabes, sky maps and other ancient astrological devices…

here’s taurus, obviously in manhattan with the adjacent cityscape…

ah, capricorn and scorpio… best of friends in the bergdorf window!

another full-bodied window shot, for effect…

best buddies, cancer and leo, shopping with the stars at bergdorfs…

the water bearer—but as this is the intoxicated zodiac—the liquor bearer!

a beautiful star gazer… she’s too sexy for her telescope!

pisces and gemini are window buddies, along with cupid…

sagittarius and libra, amongst others.

virgo’s angelic wings, with pisces and aquarius too…

so it’s official: astrology is hot! so says bergdorf goodman…

henri bendel through holiday with our new wine glasses. our cocktail candles, of course, will also be available. cheers!

cheers to EXAMINER.COM’s jackie silver, for toasting our SHOT GLASS CANDLES!

VIA EXAMINER:
“Based on Medieval Herbal Astrology, plants have signs like people, according to “mixologist” and artist Gwen Sutherland Kaiser, founder of Intoxicated Zodiac, a company that offers “Cocktail-inspired Shot Glass Candles” based on Astrology. Each candle’s Zodiac sign has an exclusive scent which is associated with its unique cocktail recipe.

Kaiser created a cocktail recipe and astrological illustration for each sign. Her experience as a Manhattan bartender, New York product designer and life-long astrology buff led her to create Intoxicated Zodiac, Astrology of the Cocktail. Intoxicated Zodiac blends, shakes and serves up those famous bar scene lines with a twist… “What’s your sign? Can I buy you a drink? C’mon baby light my fire!” Her favorite line these days is, “do you have Martini rising?”

The recipes use plants, herbs and flowers associated with each individual sign. In Medieval times, those who could not afford traditional medicine cured themselves with the supportive and nurturing plants of their sun sign. Today, this topic is enjoying renewed interest as people realize the enormous healing potential of botanicals. This uncommon collection has been formulated using the work of renowned herbalist, Nicholas Culpeper, as a guide. In his book, Heal Thyself, Culpeper identified the Zodiac sign of each and every plant he found. This book is still in print today, 300 years later.

The Shot Glass Candle retails for $14 and is available in New York at Henri Bendel through the holidays. They can be purchased year-round at IntoxicatedZodiac.com.”

Our Intoxicated Zodiac candles will be in Henri Bendel through holiday. Swing by and pick up the perfect stocking stuffer, birthday present, hostess gift, or haunakah present. Because all the best gifts come in brown and white boxes ; ) Imbibe Wisely, Live Healthy, Love Freely, Burn Safely… Cheers to a blessed yuletide season!