The Water Bearer
Ruling House: Eleventh
Ruling Planet: Uranus
Symbol: The Water Bearer
Dates: January 20 - February 18
Element: Air
ABOUT
Free-spirited, independent, and humanitarians at heart, Aquarians proudly dance to the beat of their own drum. Often described as the square peg in a round hole, they at many times don’t fit in. And they honestly don’t want to. The rebels of the zodiac, Aquarians resent authority and conventionality. Represented by the water bearer, they instead pour forth the waters of knowledge and wisdom in search of a new way forward.
Ruled by Uranus, named after the Greek god of the sky, the planet represents individuality, quirkiness, and innovation. While often perceived as aloof or unemotional, Aquarians are just deeply rational and forward thinking. They like to be in total control of both their emotions and their futures.
Aquarians need ample time and space to recharge and to reconnect with themselves. But above all else, they deeply value freedom. The freedom to choose, the freedom to think, and the freedom to be. And they’ll do whatever it takes to avoid anything that infringes upon their freedoms.
It’s finally Aquarius season and I’m celebrating with my favorite cocktail yet. Not only is this drink beautiful, it’s the perfect balance of sour, bitter, herbal and sweet.
The base spirit for this cocktail is gin. Originally used as medicine, gin is a distilled beverage flavored with juniper berries and other botanicals — aka everything that’s good for you. Most gins are full of pine and other herbal notes. If you aren’t a huge fan of pine-like flavors, you can definitely opt for a more citrus-forward gin. However, I personally think the piney gins add more complexity to this drink.
To help enhance those flavors, I made an apple cardamom honey syrup. While the apple juice and honey are the sweeteners for this drink, the cardamom helps to add some spicy, citrus, and wood notes, as well as a hint of menthol.
The fresh lemon juice helps to not only brighten the drink up, but also compliments the honey syrup as well as the citrus notes that are often found in many gins.
The drink is topped off with tonic water — a carbonated beverage made with quinine and several other botanicals. Known for its mild bitter flavor, tonic water was originally used to treat malaria. The tonic water add a hint of bitterness, as well as some much welcomed carbonation to the drink.
This cocktail is served in a wine glass. Rosemary and an edible flower are optional garnishes.
Notable Aquarians: Oprah Winfrey, Megan Thee Stallion, Michael B. Jordan, Alicia Keys, Kerry Washington, Brandy, Paris Hilton, Michael Jordan, Jennifer Aniston, Chris Rock, The Weekend, Kelly Rowland, LeVar Burton, Uzo Aduba, and Harry Styles.
Recipe Type: Cocktails
Glassware: Wine
Servings: 1
INGREDIENTS
1.5 oz. gin
1 oz. apple cardamom honey syrup
1 cup 100% apple juice
1/2 cup honey
2 tbsp. green cardamom pods
1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice
Top with tonic water
INSTRUCTIONS
Prepare apple cardamom honey syrup by adding 1 cup 100% apple juice, 1/2 cup honey, and 2 tbsp. green cardamom pods to a small saucepan
Bring to a gentle boil and let simmer on low heat for at least 5 minutes
Remove from heat and let cool completely
Once cooled, double strain syrup into a clean glass container for later use. Discard cardamom pods
Add all ingredients, except tonic water, to a cocktail shaker
Add ice and shake for 15 seconds
Strain into a wine glass filled with ice
Fill with tonic water and stir
Garnish with rosemary and edible flowers
Enjoy