An Opal for October: 5 Captivating Birthstone-Based Drinks To Try
To many, birthdays are more than just a yearly opportunity for a party and presents, it's a chance to delve into the cosmic connections that shape your life. If you believe in astrology, then Zodiac signs are a wonderful way to explore your personality, and each month has its own special gemstone to make you feel treasured too. But who says that the only way to honour your birthstone is by wearing it? From fiery ruby reds to serene aquamarine blues, you can explore your spiritual connections through the world of colourful mixology with some unique, birthstone-inspired cocktails.
The opal gemstone is related to the month of October and the people born during it have been associated with this gem as their birthstone since ancient Roman times. The opal was regarded by the Romans as the most valuable and potent gemstone, primarily because it's dancing kaleidoscopic surface contains every colour found in other gems. Many people thought that wearing opal could make them invisible during the Middle Ages. Due to its supposed invisibility, they even gave the stone the moniker "Patronus Forum," or "patron of thieves." These days, opal is thought to bring love and prosperity to its wearer as well as help them stay grounded and stable.
The Birthstone Colour Of Libra
Opal is prized for its lustrous and pearly colour all over the world. Although experts categorize the gem in numerous ways, there are five main colour categories:
- White Opal
- Fire Opal
- Black Opal
- Boulder Opal
- Crystal Or Water Opal
An essence of beauty, justice, and sophistication this birthstone can be adapted into numerous cocktails, and mocktails that are colourful, refreshing, and healing just like the opal. With their sophisticated taste they like to experiment with their drinks with vibrant, flavourful, and colourful ingredients like apples, raspberries, ginger beer, honey, and lemon.
1. The Opal
The crisp apple symbolizes clarity of mind, while opal offers comforting spiced notes of honey and ginger, which are naturally protective ingredients.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon cloudy apple
2 teaspoons lime juice
1 tablespoon honey syrup
105 ml spiced ginger beer
Method
Blend all the ingredients (except the ginger beer) in a highball glass. Mix thoroughly by stirring with ice. Finish it by adding spiced ginger beer on top. Garnish it with an apple slice.
2. Black Opal
The cocktail is as intense and enticing, thanks to the bold combination of black vodka, black raspberry liqueur, and the refreshing kick of freshly squeezed lemon juice. For those looking for a seductive and visually stunning mixology adventure, the Black Opal cocktail is the ideal option thanks to its deep, velvety black colour and a blend of flavours that dance on the palate.
Ingredients
15 ml lemon juice
15 ml Chambord
45 ml black vodka
Method
Pour the black vodka, black raspberry liqueur, and freshly squeezed lemon juice into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Give the mixture a good shake to mix the ingredients and chill it. To add a touch of sophistication and mystery, strain the cocktail into a chilled martini or rocks glass. Garnish with a blackberry or a twist of lemon.
3. French 75
The French 75 is a classic gin-based cocktail that is well-known for its harmoniously blended flavours. It balances the gin's botanical undertones with sweet and citrus components. It makes sense that it would appeal to Librans' sense of balance and harmony.
Ingredients
50 ml gin
15 ml lemon juice
10 ml simple syrup
Champagne, for topping
Methods
Mix gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Blend and chill the mixture and strain it into a chilled champagne flute. Top it with champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.
4. Aperol Spritz Cocktail
The Opulent Opal Spritz is an effervescent delight, radiating an opalescent charm that's both elegant and refreshing, perfect for a sophisticated soiree.
Ingredients:
90 ml prosecco
50 ml violet liqueur
Club soda
Ice cubes
Edible silver or pearl dust (optional, for rimming)
Lemon twist or violet petals (for garnish)
Instructions:
Prepare a wine glass by rimming it with edible silver or pearl dust (if desired). Fill the glass with ice cubes. Add violet liqueur and prosecco, gently stirring to combine. Top it off with a splash of club soda for a refreshing effervescence. Garnish with a twist of lemon or delicate violet petals for an opulent finishing
5. Pomegranate Tonic
Rich pomegranate, tart lemon, and sweet sugar and honey combine harmoniously in this pomegranate tonic. The opal's sophisticated side goes amazingly with the pretty pink-red presentation.
Ingredients
1/2 cup boiling water
1/4 cup pomegranate molasses
2 tablespoons honey, preferably wildflower
Ice
4 cups tonic water, chilled
Lime twists, for serving
Method
In a small jar, mix boiling water, pomegranate molasses, and honey; whisk to mix thoroughly. Pour two tablespoons of the syrup into the glasses with ice. Add half a cup of tonic water (it will foam), stir to mix, and then pour in the remaining tonic water. Garnish with a lime twist.
