>Home>On the bench>Alcohoroscopes

The author, Jen Rummy, is a certified astrologer and bona fide dipsomaniac who has been drinking in celestial knowledge since 1985.

Aires, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo,
Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces

Aries

Drinking style Impulsive Aries likes to party and sometimes doesn't know when to call it a night. Their competitive streak makes them prone to closing-time shot contests.

They're sloppy, fun drunks and get flirty after a couple of tipples. Getting Aries drunk is a good way to get what you want out of them, should other methods fail.

Aries can become bellicose when blotto, but they will assume that whatever happened should be forgiven (if not forgotten) by sunrise. They can be counted on to do the same for you - so long as you haven't gone and done anything really horrible to them last night, you sneaky Gemini.

Trademark cocktails Aries, born under the hot-stuff planet Mars, is the ruler of spicy food and red things - and for balance, astrologers recommend they eat tomatoes, onions, olives and greens.

That's right, Aries, you were born under the sign of the Bloody Mary. Aries also rules grapefruit, and they've been known to kick back a Salty Dog and a Sea Breeze or two.

Drinking buddies Marlon Brando, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Al Gore, Thomas Jefferson, Elton John, Eric McCormack, Reese Witherspoon Top

Taurus

Drinking style Taurus prefers to drink at a leisurely pace, aiming for a mellow glow rather than a full-on zonk. Since a truly intoxicated Taurus is a one-person stampede, the kind of bull-in-a-china-shop inebriate who spills red wine on white carpets, their preference for wining and dining to body shots and barfing is fortunate for the rest of us.

This is not to say that the Bull is by any means a teetotaler - God, no. A squiffy Taurus will get gregarious (full of loudmouth soup, some would say) and is extremely amusing to drag to a karaoke bar when intoxicated.

Trademark cocktails Early-to-bed Taureans needing a picker-upper should try a Red Bull and vodka. They also have a leviathan sweet tooth and are fond of drinks with names that sound like dessert (50-50 Bar, Mudslide).

Sweetly caffeinated drinks, like Irish Coffee or White Russian, are ideal. More macho Taureans will go for something unpretentious, like a Jack and Coke or Whiskey Sour.

Drinking buddies Cate Blanchett, Tony Blair, Pierce Brosnan, Cher, William Randolph Hearst, Jerry Seinfeld, Barbara Striesand, Uma Thurman Top

Gemini

Drinking style Geminis can drink without changing their behaviour - they're so naturally chatty and short-attention-spanned that it's just hard to tell sometimes. They can amaze you by conversing with finesse and allusion, then doing something to belie an extremely advanced state of intoxication, like puking in your shoe.

Geminis possess the magic ability to flirt successfully (and not infuriate, which is very tricky) with several people at once. They like to order different cocktails every round - repetition is boring - and may create a theme (like yellow drinks: beer, sauvignon blanc and limoncello) for their own amusement.

Trademark cocktails Easily bored Geminis need some stimulation in their drinks - those with two parts, like a Black and Tan (or just a double), are particularly appealing.

Otherwise, they'll drink all over the map, ordering frou-frou drinks to add to their collection of cocktail monkeys or going for Whiskey Rocks because they're feeling rather noir. Gemini rules the herb anise - make some home-infused anise vodka as a gift.

Drinking buddies Johnny Depp, Boy George, Allen Ginsberg, Angelina Jolie, John Kennedy, Ian McKellen, Kylie Minogue, Morrissey Top

Cancer

Drinking style Cancer is a comfort drinker and an extra wine with dinner or an after-work beer or six can be extra comforting, can't it, Cancer darling? Like fellow water signs Scorpio and Pisces, Crabs must guard against lushery.

Cancers are brilliant at ferreting out secret parties and insinuating themselves on VIP lists. Cancers are never really drunk; instead, they get ‘tired and emotional’ (read: weepy when lubricated). But there's nothing better than swapping stories (and spit) over a few bottles of inky red wine with your favourite Cancer. Even your second-favourite Cancer will do.

Trademark cocktails Ruled by the moon, Cancers are intrigued by the idea of moonshine - any brown booze, from a bourbon press to a whiskey and soda to grand pappy's special brew in a mason jar will do.

They also like comfortingly warm and sweet drinks, like hot toddies and hot buttered rums. The sign rules the flavour vanilla, and you'd be adored if you served up a vanilla vodka and soda.

Drinking buddies Pamela Anderson, George W. Bush, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, George Michael, Princess Diana, Prince William Top

Leo

Drinking style Leo likes to drink and dance. They're often fabulous dancers and usually pretty good drinkers as well, losing their commanding dignity and turning kittenish. They generally know their limit, probably because they loathe losing self-control.

When they get over-refreshed, expect flirting to ensue - and perhaps not with the one who brought them. But Leo's not the type to break rules even when drunk, so just try to ignore it (try harder, Cancer) and expect a sheepish (and hung over) lion to make it up to you the next day.

Trademark cocktails Leos like flashy drinks, be they complicated tropical concoctions festooned with umbrellas, like a Bahama Mama, the more common Strawberry Daiquiri or Mai Tai.

Indeed, they often have a taste for the fruity - try a Screwdriver, or add an extra cherry to the next Manhattan. Their sense of drama lends itself to a Kir Royale, of course.

Drinking buddies Ben Affleck, Bill Clinton, Monica Lewinsky, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Kevin Spacey, Martha Stewart, Andy Warhol Top

Virgo

Drinking style Cerebral Virgos are compelled to impose order onto their bender. Their famously fussy quest for purity could lead to drinking less than other signs, sure - but it could also lead to drinking booze neat, to sucking down organic wine or just to brand loyalty.

They rarely get fully shellacked - but, oh, when they do! Virgo is controlled by the intellect, but there's an unbridled beast lurking within, and they let it loose when walloped. It's dead sexy (and surprisingly unsloppy). As one Virgo friend used to declare: "I'm going to drink myself into a low level of intelligence tonight." A toast to the subgenius IQ!

Trademark cocktails Many Virgos prefer clear, simple, untreacly drinks like vodka tonic or a real Margarita, though you'll find 'em drinking anything - from unflinchingly downing cuervo straight to smirkingly ordering a Dirty Virgin.

They tend to like bitter, low-alk guzzles like campari and rarely change their drink once they've found it.

Drinking buddies Cameron Diaz, Hugh Grant, Christopher Isherwood, Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Keanu Reeves, Lily Tomlin Top

Libra

Drinking style "I'm jusht a social drinker," slurs Libra, "it's jusht that I'm so damn social." Libra loves nothing more than to party, mingle and relate to everyone. Whether dipped in favour of Good Libra (with Insta-Friend device set to ‘on’) or heavier on the Evil Libra side (they are little instigators when bored), the Scales can really work a room.

Charming as they are, Libras are notoriously lacking in self-control, which can get them into all sorts of trouble - including wearing their wobbly boots waaaay too early in the evening, flirting with their best friend's beau or even blacking out the night's events entirely. Oops!

Trademark cocktails Aesthetic Libras like pretty, pouffy drinks like a Pink Lady or a Brandy Alexander. That's the influence of Venus, their ruling planet, which also gives them a horror of crudely named potions like Sex on the Beach.

They're fine with normal guzzles like Apple Martinis, but every Libra secretly just wants champagne, and lots of it.

Drinking buddies Jimmy Carter, Hugh Jackman, Martina Navratilova, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sting, Oscar Wilde, Catherine Zeta-Jones Top

Scorpio

Drinking style Don't ever tell Scorpios they've had enough, for they'll smirk at you and quietly but intentionally keep tippling till they're hog-whimpering drunk, out of 100-proof spite. Scorpios like to drink, and screw you if you have a problem with that.

Most of them see the sauce as something to savour in itself, and not as a personality-altering tool - though if depressed, self-loathing Scorps seek total obliteration. But generally, they're fascinating drinking pals, brilliant conversationalists and dizzying flirts. They also remember everything - especially what you did when you were blitzed. Only drink with a Scorpio who likes you.

Trademark cocktails Just as a Scorpio can look you in the eye and smile while secretly plotting your demise, so does the brandy-laced Stinger's sweet taste hide a potent amount of alcohol.

If you want to get literal, serve them a Scorpion – they may not love tropical drinks, but it shows you're paying attention. Scorpio rules watermelon, so break out the blender and fix a pitcher of watermelon Margaritas to seduce 'em-though red wine will do the trick just as well.

Drinking buddies Truman Capote, Hillary Clinton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jodie Foster, Bill Gates, k.d. lang, Demi Moore, Sylvia Plath Top

Sagittarius

In vino veritas - and, for Sagittarius, in booze blurtiness. When buttered, they'll spill all your secrets and many of their own. Tactlessness aside, Sagittarius is just plain fun to drink with. This is a sign of serious partying.

What else would you expect from the sign of Frank Sinatra and Keith Richards? They're the people who chat up everyone in the room, then persuade the entire crowd to travel somewhere else - like a nightclub, or a playground, or Cancun. Good-natured high-jinks are sure to ensue, including a high possibility of loopy groping.

Trademark cocktails A travel-loving sign, Sagittarius might be intrigued by drinks like Moscow Mules, Singapore Slings and perhaps even a Long Island Iced Tea (not a bad option, given how much Sag can put away and still stay vertical).

Party monsters that they are, they're attracted to shots, like the ever-popular Lemon Drop. Sag rules pears, and could use a nice pear cider right about now, come to think of it.

Drinking buddies Noel Coward, Betty Ford, Brad Pitt, Keith Richards, Frank Sinatra, Britney Spears Top

Capricorn

Drinking style Capricorn is usually described as practical, steadfast, money-hungry and status-thirsty. No wonder they get left off the astrological cocktail-party list. But this is the sign of David Bowie and Annie Lennox, not to mention Elvis.

Capricorn is the true rock star: independent, powerful and seriously charismatic but not too eager to please. And if they make money being themselves, who are you to quibble? But just like most rock stars, they're either totally on or totally off, and they generally need a little social lubricant to loosen up and enjoy the after party, especially if they can hook up with a cute groupie.

Trademark cocktails Old-fashioned Cap would probably like an Old-fashioned or a Dry Martini or any other no-nonsense quaff. They prefer drinks that taste like alcohol and generally hate drinks with more than three ingredients.

However, they like the flavour of cranberry and will order a Cosmo if they can handle the wait for it to get mixed.

Drinking buddies Orlando Bloom, David Bowie, Jude Law, Annie Lennox, Marilyn Manson, Richard Nixon, Elvis Presley Top

Aquarius

Drinking style Aquarius and drinking don't go together that well (except for water, that is). They have an innate tendency toward know-it-allism and if they get an idea while sizzled, they're more stubborn than a stain. If they're throwing a party or organizing an outing, however, they're too preoccupied with their duties to get combative and make perfectly charming drunks in that case.

Fortunately, they're usually capital drink-nursers. Aquarius is fascinated by drunk people and capable of holding interesting conversations with soused strangers while sober.

Trademark cocktails Aquarius is likely to order stuff most people have never heard of: a Capirinha, Satan's Whiskers, a Negroni, an Arthur Tompkins. They like to stump the bartender.

This sign rules the colour electric blue and would be pleased by any tipple featuring blue curacao. They also rule the olive tree, so pour the juice into that dirty martini.

Drinking buddies Jennifer Aniston, Matt Groening, Ronald Reagan, Christina Ricci, Justin Timberlake, Oprah Winfrey, Elijah Wood Top

Pisces

Drinking style If you're a Pisces, you've probably already heard that you share a sign - and an addictive personality -with Liz Taylor, Liza Minelli and Kurt Cobain. Not only do Pisces like to lose themselves in the dreamy, out-there feeling that only hooch can give, but they build up a mighty tolerance fast. Who needs an expensive date like that?

On the other hand, they're fabulously enchanting partners, whether in conversation or in crime. With the right Pisces, you can start out sharing a pitcher of Margaritas and wind up in bed together for days. The phrase ‘addictive personality’ can be read two ways, you know.

Trademark cocktails Pisces rules fresh mint, and they do love a Mojito or three - though a Julep will do just as well. They also like punches, like Sangria or the oh-so-aptly named Fish House Punch. (Pretty much anything will satisfy a Pisces in a pinch, though.

‘Drinking like a fish’ is an idiom pulled out of the zodiac, not the deep blue sea.) Pisces is a chocoholic and loves Creme de Cacao (and spiked cocoa).

Drinking buddies Drew Barrymore, Chelsea Clinton, Kurt Cobain, Liza Minelli, Anais Nin, Sharon Stone, Liz Taylor Top