There are so many ways to say ‘I love you’ this Valentine’s Day, but none more appealing than with a glass full of booze. Whether you are looking to impress that special someone with your mixology skills or need something to dull the pain of being single, we have rounded up some of the best Valentine’s Day cocktails for you to concoct on cupid’s holiday.
Portón Scarlet (Courtesy of Portón Pisco)
1 part Portón Pisco
½ part raspberry puree
½ part lemon juice
½ part cranberry juice
½ part sugar cane
Fresh thyme
Champagne float
Fresh raspberry for garnish
Lemon peel twist for garnish
Shake all ingredients and strain in to champagne flute – top with champagne float, skewered raspberry and lemon peel twist.
The Birds and the Bees (Courtesy Solerno Liqueur)
1 pt Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur
.5 pt honey flavored vodka
2 pts plain almond milk
.5 pt fresh lemon juice
.5 pt fresh, organic egg whites*
.25 pt honey syrup (1:1)
1 bar spoon rose water
Combine all ingredients in a mixing tin and dry shake to emulsify the egg whites. Add ice and hard shake until frothy and chilled. Fine strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish with a single, edible rose petal.
Dark Icy Heart (Courtesy of Andrea Correale)
1 oz. Stoli Razz
1 oz. Café Patron XO Dark
Splash of Peppermint Schnapps
Shake and strain into a martini glass.
Chandon Rosebud (Courtesy of Chandon)
4 Raspberries
1/3 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
3/4 oz. Gin
1/4 oz. Simple Syrup
2 dashes Rose Water
Shake Fresh Lemon Juice, Gin, Simple Syrup and Rose Water over ice. Pour into glass and top with raspberries.
CRUZ Choco-Taco-Tini (Courtesy of Cruz Tequila)
2 parts CRUZ Reposado Tequila
3 parts Choco-vine, Chocolate Wine
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass, garnish with chocolate sauce and cinnamon.
Rose Colored Glass (Courtesy of Katie Stipe)
.25 oz. Angostura bitters
.75 oz. lemon juice
1 oz. simple syrup
Crémant d’Alsace Rosé
Lemon twist or rose petals for garnish
Shake bitters, lemon juice and simple syrup and strain over ice into a flute or coupe glass. Top off with three ounces Crémant d’Alsace Rose. Garnish with lemon twist or rose petal.
Sweet Heat (Courtesy of Tres Agaves Tequila)
1 ½ parts Tres Agaves Reposado Tequila
1 part Licor 43
½ part Tres Agaves Cocktail-Ready Agave Nectar
1 part fresh-squeezed lime juice
½ fresh jalapeño pepper, seeds removed
Lime wheel and/or thin jalapeño strips, for garnish (optional)
Muddle jalapeño in lime and agave nectar. Add ice and Tequila, shake well and strain over fresh ice into a glass. Garnish with lime wheel and/or thin jalapeño strips, if desired.
All the Single Ladies (Courtesy of Owl’s Brew)
2 parts Pink & Black Owl’s Brew
1 part Tequila
Raspberries
Strawberries
Muddle fresh raspberries & strawberries. Shake and pour over ice. Garnish with fresh mint.
NOHO Bramble (Courtesy of Noho Gold)
2 oz. Tequila
1/2 oz. Lemon Juice
1/2 oz. Agave Syrup
5 Muddled Blackberries
Fill with NOHO Gold
3 Dashes Plum Bitters
Serve in a bucket glass with blackberry and lemon peel as garnish.
San Valentino (Courtesy of Tavern 29)
2 oz. Wild Turkey
2 oz. Quarenta y tres (Liquor 43)
4 drops of chocolate mole bitters
Stir & strain. Serve on the rocks. Garnish with 3-4 chocolate morels.
The Perfect Gentleman (Courtesy of Laphroaig)
1 1⁄2 parts Laphroaig 10-Year-Old Scotch Whisky
3⁄4 part DeKuyper Crème de Cacao Dark
1 1⁄2 parts Heavy Cream
2-3 dashes Orange Bitters
Shake vigorously with ice and strain into a chilled stemless cocktail glass. Garnish with fresh shaved chocolate.
Italian Love Affair (Courtesy of Belvedere Vodka)
30 ml Belvedere Pink Grapefruit
20 ml Aperol
Top Chandon
Combine all ingredients in a wine glass over ice and gentle stir. Garnish with a pink grapefruit twist.
Sparkling Lovers Lemonade (Courtesy of Martini)
1 ½ oz. Lemonade
3 oz. MARTINI Sparkling Rosé
Combine the ingredients in a flute glass and top with MARTINI Sparkling Rosé. Garnish with a lemon wheel or float fresh raspberries.
Rose Shooter (Courtesy of Le Méridien)
30 ml Illy Espresso
10-15 ml coffee liqueur
Pink colored whipped cream (colored with food coloring and rose syrup)
Mint leaf
Pour coffee liqueur into shooter glass. Brew a single Illy Espresso on top of the liqueur. Place whipped cream on top, if possible in a flower. Garnish with mint leaf.
Shellback Seduction (Courtesy of Tony Abou-Ganim)
2 ounces Shellback Silver Rum
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1 ounce simple syrup
Fresh, seasonal fruits and berries
In a shaker, muddle fresh fruits with the simple syrup. Add fresh lime juice and Shellback Silver rum. Shake with ice until well blended. Double strain into a chilled cocktail coup. Garnish with a thin slice of lime and fruit of your choice.
Not a cocktail fan? Want to go the more traditional route? We’ve got some options for you in the form of sparkling wine and champagne. Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte recently announced the release of its newest champagne, D’Luscious. It is a demi-sec rosé that sells for $52, perfect for Valentine’s Day! Want something more budget friendly? Spain’s leading sparkling wine, Anna de Codorníu, has a beautiful new look for both its Brut and Brut Rosé, making them irresistible for Valentine’s Day. Best of all, you can snag them for just $14.99.
Cheers!
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