What to drink for Planetary Rites
I am participating in RO’s planetary rites series and having lots of good stuff coming up because of it. I am also hunkering down to weather out the coming Frankenstorm that is set to arrive in my neighborhood early tomorrow evening.
For some reason, the combination of the two has me thinking about Alcohol. Specifically, what I would recommend imbibing for different planetary rites.
Here is what I have so far:
Luna: The Moon demands something Witchy and herbal that strikes at the deep mind. Strega Liqueur was the first thing that came to mind. Strega of course means Witch and this drink was invented in Sicily in 1860 was first marketed as a Witches love potion.
Mercury: I pretty much knew which drinks I wanted for which planets when I satt down to write this, but Mercury eluded me. I finally decided that Brandy, being both one of the earliest distilled drinks and one that has been used in all kinds of tonics and medicines was a good choice. Armagnac specifically is the earliest type of Brandy distilled in France and was reputed to remove redness from eyes, cure hepatitus, gout, and cankers when drunk. It was also used as a rub for curinbg wounds and paralysis. Cardinal Vital du Four claimes that “when retained in the mouth, it loosens the tongue and emboldens the wit, if someone timid from time to time himself permits.” If that is not mercurial, I don’t know what is. I am ordering up some Baron de Lustrac Cepage Bacco Armagnac right now for my rites.
Venus: This one was a no-brainer. Venus is the wormwood star and its color association is most often listed as green. Absinthe’s primary active ingredient is wormwood and it is famously known as the “Green Fairy”. For more of my thoughts on the wonders of Absinthe read my article “Occult Secrets of the Greem Fairy”. For a truly GREAT Absinthe, purchase a bottle of Jade Liqueurs “Nouvelle-Orleans” Absinthe Superieure
Sol: What better to celebrate the sun than a sip of Chartreuse 1605 Liqueur d’Elixir? Chartreuse of course is made by Carthusian Monks in the Chartreuse Mountains of the French Alps. You have probably seen one of the cheaper bottles of it gathering dust in the cordial section of your local liquor store. The Chartreuse 1605 is a specific recipe that the monks came up with in 1605 to celebrate the return of a manuscript concerning the Elixir of Life. As with all types of Chartreuse, the recipe is a closely guarded secret known only to two monks at a time.
Mars: Smoke and Oakum’s Gunpowder Rum It’s Rum infused with gunpowder, hot chilies, and tobacco – the incense of Mars. Do I really need to explain it any further? The last time I drank this I sprouted muttonchops and fought a duel with flintlock pistols at dawn.
Jupiter: Johnny Walker Blue. A lot of Scotch Drinkers get hung up on the single-malt thing, as if that is a primary indicator of a quality Scotch. I assure you it is not. A single malt surely has a more distinct flavor, but sometimes that flavor is stale ass. Many blended Scotches are blended to keep costs low, but not all of them – enter Johnny Walker Blue. It is SOOOOOOO smooth. And, you know, the label is blue. Jupiter and all…
Saturn: I wanted a Vodka for Saturn because while it seems to be the drink of choice in the Northernmost darkest reaches of human civilization. While a black liquor might be more Saturnian, there is something about a perfectly clear drink that fits it as well. Crystal Head Vodka is certainly not the best Vodka on the market. To tell you the truth, I don’t even think it’s a good Vodka at all. BUT. It is sold in a Crustal Skull Bottle, which makes it my drink of choice for Saturn.
OK. I want to hear from you guys now. Drinks and Planets, tell me what your thoughts are.
