Symbolized by the persistent and sure-footed mountain goat, and ruled by the stern and authoritative planet of Saturn, our next sign in the Zodiac series is Capricorn. Extending from December 22 to January 19, those born under this sign are serious, stable, and self-disciplined leaders who have the ability to formulate long term strategies and the staying power to see them come to fruition. The mythology of Capricorn originates in the aftermath of the battle between the Olympian gods and the Titans. Seeking revenge, the monster Typhon, son of the Titan Tartarus and Earth, followed the Olympians to Egypt, where they quickly tried to disguise themselves. Zeus became a ram, Hera a cow, and Pan a goat. Typhon was a fire-breathing giant of a monster with huge hands that had 10 dragons instead of fingers. I think I’d run too. He managed to completely dismember Zeus and was set to deliver the final blow, when Pan screamed and distracted Typhon long enough for Hermes to put Zeus back together again. As a token of his gratitude, Zeus gave Pan an eternal place in the heavens.

Capricorns have lofty ambitions and a natural resilience that is unparalleled anywhere else in the Zodiac. They are independent creatures who will work dutifully on the task at hand, preferring to take the straightforward path to finishing it, rather than getting caught up in imaginative alternatives. They desire simplicity, structure, and clean lines in every aspect of their lives. When it comes to emotions, Capricorns can be stoic and may have difficulty articulating their feelings, preferring to display their love in terms of actions and accomplishments. This can lead to difficulty in their interactions with other people, but when Capricorns do enter into a relationship or friendship, they are steadfast, intensely loyal, and devoted, almost to the point of being possessive and jealous. Capricorns’ natural tendency towards reticence and deep thought can often make them seem moody and melancholic, as they struggle to deal with emotions that threaten to distract them from the path they’ve set. They can appear pessimistic, unforgiving, and downright cold at times, making conversation with them seem impossible. When dealing with Capricorns it’s important to remember that the word capricious, which means erratic, shares the same Latin root as their name. It’s normal to see some unpredictability with this sign. We just need to weather the storm and wait for them to return their normal selves.

Capricorns love family, traditions, and things that are made well in the spirit of true craftsmanship. They love the structure of music and mathematics, and despite their tendency towards avoiding dialogue, they love engaging in spirited debate over issues that are important to them. Because they love solid and realistic plans so much, they despise unnecessary foolishness of any kind, laziness, and shortcuts. They have no time for people who dream instead of strategize, for public displays of affection, or for gossip, and they loathe being in debt, forever seeking to pay off their bills as soon as possible.

For today’s cocktail, I was faced with the challenge of trying to come up with something that had a deep blue color, clean lines, structure, and simplicity. Not an easy task. And it had to be serious, so going with exclusively with Blue Curaçao was out of the question. I decided on a slight variation of a Blue Russian that would use Giffard Crème de Mûre as it’s base, along with vodka and cream, and just enough Blue Curaçao to keep it from being too purple. Forgive me Capricorns, but you all need to lighten up a bit anyway! The layering can be tricky. I found it best to pour the cream over the back of a barspoon very, very slowly to get it to sit on the top. I confess that it took me a few times to get it right.

The Moody Blues

1 oz Giffard Crème de Mûre
¼ oz Blue Curaçao
1 oz Stateside vodka (distilled locally right here in Philadelphia)
½ oz light cream

Place a few pieces of small ice into the bottom of a chilled martini glass. Mix the Giffard and Blue Curaçao together and then pour them in first. Slowly add the vodka on top. Holding a bar spoon over top of the drink, pour the cream as slowly as possible, attempting to get it to sit on top. Prayer helps. Cheers, Capricorn!!