Astrology is everywhere – whether you’re all-in and know your ascendants from your critical degrees or if you know your sign but that’s about it, there’s no avoiding celestial conversations, especially with the New Year bringing the zodiac calendar reset. Seems like every party I go to the conversation eventually turns to star signs. I love to indulge and check my horoscope for words of wisdom based on my birth sign, and I know I’m not alone!
Maybe it’s me, but I also often seem to agree with the tips I’m given based on my sign. With that spirit in mind, I partnered with my friends at ANGOSTURA and developed four riffs on the classic Old Fashioned cocktail, one for each of the zodiac elements: fire, earth, air and water. These drinks are curated to match each of the four zodiac elements and their corresponding star signs through garnish and ingredients, so that astrologically-minded cocktail fans can sip in star-crossed style.
While the traditional Old Fashioned is the world’s number one cocktail, it can easily be customized to suit personal preferences, swapping different spirits, flavored simple syrups or garnishes. However, no matter how you make your Old Fashioned, it always relies on ANGOSTURA bitters as the essential ingredient to provide balance and complexity to the timeless cocktail.
Whether you’re just looking for a new drink or are hosting a party, these four twists on the classic cocktail ensure there’s an Old Fashioned for everyone. Serving these drinks is also a great conversation-starter at a party — star signs inevitably lead people to talk about their lives, what’s happening in the world, decisions they are making or have made and so forth. Obviously, they work super well for birthday celebrations, too.
The four recipes are below, each linked to one of the elements, and, being Old Fashioneds, they all have relatively few ingredients and are easy to make! For the most part, you simply need to combine the ingredients together, add a few dashes of ANGOSTURA bitters and enjoy ¬— so let’s dive right in!
Fire
Spicy Old Fashioned | This fiery cocktail brings the heat with jalapeño peppers.
Fire Signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
– 2 slices Rio Luna jalapeños
– 2 oz Bourbon
– ¼ oz Simple Syrup
– Splash of water
– 2 dashes ANGOSTURA aromatic bitters
– 5 dashes ANGOSTURA orange bitters
– Orange peel to garnish
Combine the bourbon, simple syrup, jalapeño slices and ANGOSTURA in a rocks glass and stir. Add a large ice cube then garnish with orange peel to serve.
Earth
Coffee Old Fashioned | This cocktail is rich and dark, grounding sippers with earthy balance.
Earth Signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
– 1½ oz Bourbon
– ½ oz crème de cacao (dark)
– 1½ oz water
– 1 oz espresso (chilled)
– ¼ oz Demerara syrup*
– 2 dashes ANGOSTURA orange bitters
– 1 large ice cube
– Whole coffee bean to garnish
Add the bourbon, crème de cacao, water, espresso, Demerara syrup and ANGOSTURA orange bitters to a low-ball glass and mix the ingredients with a cocktail spoon. Add ice cube, then place one or two coffee beans on top to serve.
*To make Demerara syrup, combine 1 part Demerara sugar with 1 part hot water, then stir to dissolve the sugar. Be sure to let it cool before use!
Air
Foam Old Fashioned | This light and airy cocktail is as delicate as it is delicious.
Air Signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
– 2 oz Single Malt Scotch
– ½ oz Demerara syrup
– 2 dashes ANGOSTURA aromatic bitters
– 1 egg white
– 1 large ice cube
Dry shake (no ice) the scotch, demerara, ANGOSTURA aromatic bitters and the white of one egg. You will need to shake for around one minute in order to create a nice, airy foam. Then, pour into a low-ball glass over one large ice cube.
Water
Salted Old Fashioned | This salty, clear cocktail feels light and easy like water.
Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
– 1 tsp Salted Maple Syrup
– 2 oz Gin
– 5 dashes ANGOSTURA aromatic bitters
– 1 large ice cube
– Lemon peel to garnish
Combine the syrup, gin and ANGOSTURA aromatic bitters in a glass, add a large ice cube and garnish with lemon peel.
