El Toro

Ruling House: Second

Ruling Planet: Venus

Symbol: The Bull

Dates: April 20 - May 20

Element: Earth


ABOUT

This drink may look cute, but just like a bull it packs a punch. Even better: it can be made in advance and batched for a crowd.

Hardworking yet stubborn, and patient while also uncompromising, Tauruses are one of the most practical and grounded signs of the zodiac. They find deep comfort in stability and consistency, and have a strong dislike for sudden changes.

Ruled by Venus – the planet of love, beauty and satisfaction – Taurus finds pleasure in making (and spending) money and enjoys anything considered luxurious. “Work hard, play hard” is the mantra of their life. Once they set a goal, they chase it at full speed just like a Spanish Fighting Bull.

Just like my Taurus friends, this is a cocktail that I can always rely on. The “El Toro” is an easy-to-make red sangria that gets its sweet, tropical flavors from fresh apples, mangoes and papayas.

The key to extracting as much flavor from the fruit is to let them macerate in sugar overnight. Maceration is the process of using sugar to soften the fruit and draw out its liquid. Using this method, we are basically creating a simple syrup to sweeten the sangria.

Since sangria is a wine punch, the base spirit for this drink is wine of course. With this being a Spanish sangria, I decided to stick with a Spanish Garnacha wine. Full of strawberry, cherry and blackberry notes, Garnacha wine is often silky smooth with an intensely fruity flavor.

This drink is served in a wine glass with or without the stem. Garnish with additional diced apples, mangoes or papayas.

Notable Tauruses: Stevie Wonder, Adele, Queen Elizabeth II, Janet Jackson, Kelly Clarkson, Cedric the Entertainer, Renée Zellweger, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Gabourey Sidibe, George Clooney, Rosario Dawson, Cate Blanchett, Cher, Barbra Streisand, and Kenan Thompson.


Recipe Type: Cocktails

Glassware: Wine

Servings: 4 - 6

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/4 cup demerara sugar

  • 1 cup papaya, diced

  • 1 mango, diced

  • 1 honey crisp apple, diced

  • 1/2 cup orange juice

  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

  • 1 cup aged rum

  • 750 ml. Grenacha wine

  • Optional: club soda

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Add diced mango, papaya, and apple to a pitcher and pour demerara sugar on top of the fruit.

  2. Refrigerate overnight

  3. The following morning, gently muddle and add remaining ingredient

  4. Gently stir

  5. Enjoy

  6. Store leftover sangria in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours