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.

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!

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.”

!HOLA TEQUILA! by about.com author, colleen graham, gives praise to one of my faves: tequila. i’ve got a soft spot for all things mexican and that definitely includes this underdog of the spirit world.

if you like tequila, you will love this book. and if you don’t like tequila, you’ll still like this book… because 90% of people who think they don’t like tequila have forgotten exactly why they think they don’t like tequila. i can’t tell you how many times i’ve served a tequila based drink to a customer who commenced to joyfully imbibe it… until they found out it was tequila! BUT, after they realized the silliness of their tequila-based fear, they conquered that fear, and continued sipping their tequila-based tipple in confident and pleasant surprise. “this is tequila? no!” so you see, tequila is not who you thought he was. tequila is mr. right for your drink right now!

out of the 90 tequila recipes included in this funky, retro style book, my fave is the CHOCOLATE MARGARITA. who would put those two together? me! i’m a tequila-lovin chocoholic. cinco de mayo is right around the corner, so make sure you are prepared with this handy book. love the colors, love the design, love the vintage look. kudos on the design colleen, and the cocktails too!

CHOCOLATE MARGARITA:

2 oz blanco tequila
1 oz chocolate liqueur
1 oz creamer (i sub coconut milk)
splash fresh oj
splash fresh lime juice
dash chocolate bitters

place the ingredients in a blender and mix well, then add 1 cup of ice and blend until smooth. pour into a margarita glass that has been rimmed iwth a mix of sugar and cocoa.

!HOLA TEQUILA! only $15 hardcover

happy valentine’s day to INTOXICATED ZODIAC & ZODIAC VODKA. we’ve been dating for sometime (as you might have read when we first met.) but it has gotten SO serious. We might even get hitched, just a suspicion. There’s been no questions popped just yet… BUT, i know that ZODIAC VODKA is THE ONE. IZ might even have found more than a soul mate, IZ may have found its MOST COMPATIBLE SOULMATE. we all have lots of soul mates, but only one MOST compatible one. that said, INTOXICATED ZODIAC and ZODIAC VODKA are SO SO SO alike, we might even be TWIN FLAMES! woah… like whitney & michael. for those of you who are wondering what i’m talking about, a twin flame is YOU. not your other half, but half of your other self. in other words, an equal sized chunk of YOU. now don’t get all exited about finding your TWIN FLAME over your MOST COMPATIBLE SOULMATE, because having YOU, in YOUR face all the time would get pretty intense, no? but there’s definitely some pretty intense lovin’ going on between IZ & ZODIAC VODKA.

tall, dark & handsome, ZODIAC VODKA, is so divinely delicious in the new BLACK CHERRY flavor… so, deep, so rich, so sweet, so – oh stop! this is good stuff this BLACK CHERRY ZODIAC VODKA… and the best part is that each bottle is SIGN-SPECIFIC! wow, again, make it stop, right? i know, i know! but there’s more… it’s GLUTEN FREE made in potato country idaho… and of course, SMALL BATCH DISTILLED for discerning drinkers. so, if you’re one of those snobs, like myself, who prefer to “infuse” their own vodka with their own flavors, just know that ZODIAC VODKA worked with a master distiller to develop a 100% NATURAL flavor extract specifically for them. also – there is no shelf-life, unlike any and all “infused liquors.” BLACK CHERRY ZODIAC VODKA will keep forever, just like our love. this BLACK CHERRY is different than any black cherries you might have dated before. trust me, this one is a keeper, AND so is each keepsake bottle that it comes in!

INTOXICATED ZODIAC & ZODIAC VODKA = TRUE LOVE ETERNAL

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 AMERICAN COCKTAIL is the first book from the visionary writers of IMBIBE MAGAZINE. the staff combed the country for the most creative cocktails to include in one concise hard-covered collection in lieu of their usual monthly glossy. if you haven’t noticed as of yet, bartending is hot. in the last month alone i’ve gotten three requests to teach the skills of the trade to curious beginners. i don’t think there’s anyone who wouldn’t appreciate this book as a stocking stuffer. (CHRONICLE $20)

japan might just be the coolest country in the world. after all, the entire world shops japan for new fashion, product and eco trends—tokyo, specifically. apart from their little whale fetish, the japanese people have it going on, big time. because of this, i am really proud that intoxicated zodiac candles are sold in japan, and i can’t wait to get over there myself! when i do finally make it to the “coolhunting” destination of the fashion world, this book will be packed in my suitcase. “DRINKING JAPAN: A GUIDE TO JAPAN’S BEST DRINKS AND DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS” by chris bunting, is not only a fascinating and comprehensive read, but a charitable one as well. with every purchase a portion is donated to japan earthquake relief—and yes, the effects of the quake are still an unlivable nightmare for those affected. (just because it’s never mentioned on USA TV doesn’t mean it’s not still beyond bad over there.) one more reason to buy this book and go to japan asap—they need all the tourism support the world can give them! but, even if you are not traveling in japan, this book is still really great. anyone who is fascinated by the wonderful world of spirits will take pleasure in flipping the pages of this entertaining and insightful book. so, for christmas this holiday, get your friend this stocking stuffer along with a bottle of saki, and they will be instantly cool… cool, like japan. ($24.95 USD)

BTW, japan is a libra! betcha didn’t know that…

THE PUNCH BOWL by dan searing is a must have for holiday entertaining. that is, if you don’t want to spend all your time behind the bar mixing drinks for your guests, with whom you should be cavorting. yes, pitcher drinks are all the rage, but before pitchers, there were punches. in fact, before we were born, there were punches. some of the recipes in THE PUNCH BOWL are circa 1890. this factual and well photographed book contains both antique recipes and their more modern counterparts. in short, it really is a fantastic collection for novice or the pro… $14.95.