Vanessa Li - Margarita in Retrograde: Cocktails for Every Sign

Although this question is well known as a clich, three-tequila-sodas in, let-me-waste-your-time-because-you-clearly-have-so-much-of-it line when trying to pick up an attractive stranger at a bar, these days many of us find that astrological signsours, our friends, our crushescome up in conversation after conversation in our social and dating lives. Now that were able to connect with so many more strangers than before with a casual slide in the DMs or just by Googling bars that have pickleback shots (nasty, but okay, we love them too), its useful to be able to get the rundown on a new acquaintance using this shorthand without needing to spend ten thousand hours with them.

We are Vanessa (Scorpio Sun, Scorpio Moon, Aries Rising) and Bowen (Gemini Sun, Pisces Moon, Gemini Rising), best friends of almost a decade and bar co-owners. And while our function as a business is to sell drinks, our greatest joy is seeing the connections people make right in front of us, whether its by sharing a love of music, creating meaningful relationships (how hot is friendship), or swapping saliva in a Danielle Steelstyle embrace but instead of a windswept cliffside or horse stable, its Brooklyn, baby.

In 2017, when we opened Mood Ring, a humble neighborhood bar in Bushwick, one of our main goals was to create a space where our guests could really mingle and let out their freakier side, if they wanted to. As we designed Mood Rings physical footprint, which contains a plush cocktail bar in front, a dance floor in the back, and a hallway of bathrooms connecting them, we were conscious that spatial tightness in strategic places creates the possibility of meaningful interactions. Its the idea that if you bump into a stranger, whether literally or just through eye contact, you can make a connection. And while the bathroom line can be long, its also where weve seen friendships and relationships start.

We also believed that we could create the possibility of new interactions by taking inspiration from astrology. In our teenage years, astrology drove our understanding of the people around usit could make or break a crush and explain why certain friendships lasted while others didntand it has never lost its power over us. As we got older, the connection between astrology and cocktails became clear to us, too. We would go out and grab drinks, celebrate birthdays with friends, meet strangers, and all the clashes or bonds between personalities from the night could be traced to the alliance between astrology and liquor. When we opened the bar, Whats your sign? became our slogan (and WiFi password), and our main attraction was our astrology special, a rotating monthly cocktail that celebrates every astrological sign by using ingredients that play off each signs unique characteristics and traits.

The schedule offers each sign the chance to shine and be the center of attention during their season. After a food-and-beverage blog erroneously posted that we offered all twelve astrology cocktails year-round, we spent months correcting the misinformation with customers who were upset to learn that they would have to wait months to taste their signs drink. (And if theres one thing weve learned about the signs, its that the one who really doesnt want to wait for their season is a Leo.) But your birthday is the day we get to celebrate you with your best friendswhy not make it even more special?

The other benefit of a rotating menu is that it allows us to batch or stock unique and fresh ingredients that would be out of place at different times of year. People in the food world emphasize seasonal cooking all the time; this is our homage to that, but for drinks, and with an astrological twist.

We are often asked how we pick which ingredients are used for a specific sign. The easiest answer is that we choose by feeling, not logic. Our team, which has remained small throughout the years, is made up of similarly devoted astrology enthusiasts. Two of our bartenders, Randall Morris (Aries) and Sarah Rosenblatt (Virgo), have often taken the lead on crafting our astrology specials. As a team, we might choose to center the recipe around a base spiritpepper-infused tequila for energetic and eccentric Aquarius, for exampleor an ingredient were excited bylike matcha for stable and chill Taurusbefore choosing ingredients that would pair well with it. We also dont shy away from bringing in fun and silly elements. You probably would never see gummy bears listed as an ingredient at your typical cocktail bar, but we think two of them ass to ass on a skewer serve as the perfect garnish for a Gemini-twin cocktail.

Our intention for the cocktails in this book was to make them match their signs while being tasty and unique, and to finally give people with a range of budgets and skill sets the ability to make any of these cocktails whenever the mood strikes. For example, a number of our recipes feature Titos vodka, not necessarily because we think its the absolute best vodka in the world but because we think its a solid choice that you can find at any liquor store and it comes with an affordable price tag.

The way this book is structured is that we will give a little introduction to each sign and what makes them special. After that youll find the recipes weve created to match with that signs season. And finally, at the end of each chapter are some helpful nightlife tips and tales tailor-made for that sign.

We see astrology as an incredible way to get to know someone because when you take all of the characteristics of someones personality togethermany of which may clashyou get a great view into who they really are. Mood Ring is the same way: weve combined all the things we loved and thrown them at the wall, and whats stuck shows you what we are about. Astrology, Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai, minimalist photography, acupressure machinery, bunnies, and Rainforest Cafe are influences that never belong in the same sentence, but somehow theyve come together at Mood Ring, and it works. And with so many sources of inspiration, everyone can pick what they gravitate toward or which decorations they sneak into their bagsthey can find the piece they like about the bar, just like we all find the things we like about each other, even if its just our Rising signs.

Our staff has seen so much since we opened in September 2017. Relationships have bloomed after first dates under the red lights at Mood Ring, Gen Z adultery has unfolded in front of our eyes, breakups have ended with tears, and yes, we have caught a number of people having sex in the bathroom. Even now, we regularly hear some iteration of Mood Ring? I love you guysI fell in love for three weeks because of you. From the start, we have always hoped that we could create a space that made people feel welcome to be themselves. We are inspired by that feeling after youve had a drink or two and are feeling the chemistry with a new personthat feeling of hope and possibility. With the recipes and tips in this book, we think youll be able to re-create a little bit of that magic wherever you are.