*Sweet* Valentine’s Day Cocktails to Whip Up This Year

You better start thinking about your Valentine’s Day plans, lovers. Cozying up at home? Celebrating Galentine’s? Going for a night out on the town? No matter what your plans, it’s always a smart bet to start it off with a cocktail. Here are some amazingly delicious cocktails you can make for yourself, for your friends, or for your loved one(s) this year.

Make Me Blush (Courtesy of Duke & Dame)
2 oz Duke & Dame
1 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
1/2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Red Wine
1/2 oz Agave

Shake ingredients in cocktail shake with ice and strain into coupe glass.

Passion Martini (Courtesy of SipSmith)
2 parts Sipsmith London Dry Gin
1/2 part triple sec
1 part lemon juice
1/2 part passion fruit syrup
1 passion fruit
1 egg white

Combine all ingredients, including the juice of half a passion fruit, in a shaker. Shake well. Add ice and shake again. Double strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with half a passion fruit.

Red Berry Chocolate Temptation (Courtesy of Mozart Liqueur)
1 oz Mozart Coffee Chocolate Liqueur
1 oz Vodka
2/3 oz Raspberry Liqueur
Raspberry puree

Mix all the ingredients with ice cubes in a cocktail shaker or any screw-top jar. Pour into a cocktail glass filled with about three cubes. Garnish with a skewer of raspberries.

Me, Myself & Mimosa (Courtesy of Vera Wang PARTY)
Vera Wang PARTY
1.5 oz mango juice
0.5 oz rosemary syrup

In a cute flute, stir together juice and syrup. Top with chilled prosecco. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

Prickly Pear & Agave Margarita (Crafted by Manny Hinojosa)
1 1/2 parts Tequila Cazadores Blanco
¼ oz. St. Germain
1 oz. lime juice
3/4 oz. agave nectar
1 oz. Fresh Prickly Pear Puree
Manny’s Salt Rim

In a mixing glass, add all the ingredients with ice, shake and serve on the rocks (salt rim optional). Garnish with a lime wedge.

Gancia Love Struck (Courtesy of Gancia)
Gancia Prosecco Rosé D.O.C., for topping off
1.5 oz Grapefruit juice
1⁄2 oz Simple syrup
1⁄2 a Lime, freshly squeezed
1 Lime wheel, to garnish
3 Raspberries, to garnish

Add cubed ice to a wine glass, followed by the Grapefruit juice, lime juice and simple syrup. Top off with Gancia Prosecco Rosé D.O.C. Garnish with 3 raspberries and lime wheel. Enjoy!

Whipshots Strawberry Siren (Courtesy of Whipshots)
2 oz. Silver Tequila
.75 oz. Citrus
.5 oz. Simple Syrup
1 slice Jalapeño
2 large Strawberries
Whipshots Vanilla

In a mixing glass muddle 2 large strawberries and 1 slice of jalapeño. Add Tequila, Citrus, Simple Syrup and ice. Shake for 8-10 seconds. Strain into Martini glass. Garnish with Whipshots and a strawberry and Enjoy.

Red Saint (Courtesy of Santo Spirits)
1 oz Santo Blanco
½ oz Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum Redhead Rum
½ oz Sammy’s Beach Bar White Rum
1 oz fresh lime juice
½ oz triple sec or cointreau
½ – 1 tangerine juice and skin (optional)

Splash vanilla extract onto a plate then wet rim of a martini glass. Rim martini glass with cinnamon and sugar (equal parts) and a bit of nutmeg. Add ingredients to a shaker and shake with ice. Pour straight up into your rimmed martini glass. Sip and enjoy!

The Doggfather (Courtesy of Indoggo Gin)
1.5 oz Indoggo Gin
3/4 oz 19 Crimes Cali Red
2-3 fresh strawberries
3-4 fresh mint leaves
3/4 oz cucumber simple syrup (or 3/4 oz simple syrup & 2-3 cucumber slices)
3 oz ginger beer

In a cocktail shaker, add simple syrup and strawberries, mint leaves, and cucumbers. Muddle together. Add Indoggo and ice and shake. Strain into a glass with ice. Top with ginger beer, leaving room at the top. Using the back of a spoon, slowly add wine to layer the cocktail. Garnish with fresh mint. Stir to incorporate before drinking.

White Chocolate Lady Rose (Courtesy of Mozart Liqueur)
1 ½ oz Mozart White Chocolate Liqueur
½ oz Rose syrup
½ oz Almond syrup
1 ½ oz Cream

Mix all the ingredients with ice cubes in a cocktail shaker or any screw-top jar. Pour into a cocktail glass filled with ice. Top with a rose leaf.

The Heart Beet (Courtesy of Ron Barcelo)
2 oz Barcelo Imperial Rum
4-5 oz ginger beer
1 oz fresh beet juice
Fresh lemon leaves for garnish
Pomegranate seeds for garnish
Mint for garnish

In a shaker add rum, beet juice, and ice. Shake & strain into glass. Top off with ginger beer. Garnish with a lemon slice, pomegranate seeds, and mint optional.

Turkish Duet (Courtesy of Redemption Whiskey)
1 ½ parts Redemption High Rye Bourbon
½ part Montenegro Amaro
¼ part orgeat syrup
1 part fresh lemon juice
1 dash cardamom bitters
2 dashes rose water
Rose bud for garnish

Shake all ingredients with ice. Fine strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a rose bud.

Peanut Butter and Jealous (Courtesy of Skrewball Whiskey)
1.5 oz. Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey
¾ oz. Raspberry Liqueur
1 oz. Half & Half

Shake ingredients vigorously, double strain and pour into a coupe. Garnish with fresh raspberries.

White Haute Chocolate (Created by Kevin Canchola, Glenfiddich brand ambassador)
1 part Glenfiddich 14
1 pinch sea salt
8 parts milk
8 parts white chocolate
Star anise (for garnish)

Heat milk and white chocolate in a pot until melted. Add a pinch of sea salt. Pour into mug + add Glenfiddich 14. Garnish with star anise.

Cranberry Smash (Crafted by Manny Hinojosa)
1 ½ oz. Tequila Cazadores Blanco
½ oz. Disaronno
1 oz. Cranberry Puree
1 sprig of Fresh Mint
½ oz. Fresh Lime Juice
½ oz. Simple Syrup
2 oz. Cranberry Juice

In a cocktail shaker, combine all the ingredients with ice and shake vigorously. Serve over ice, and garnish with a lime twist and cranberry.

Caramel S’More Martini (Courtesy of Duke & Dame)
3 oz Duke & Dame
1/2 oz Irish Cream Liqueur
1/2 oz Chocolate Syrup
Graham Crackers
Chocolate Syrup for Garnish

Crush graham crackers and use simple syrup or honey to add graham cracker rim to a chilled Martini glass. Garnish inside of glass with a drizzle of chocolate syrup. Add Duke & Dame, Irish Cream and Chocolate Syrup to a shaker tin with ice. Shake until well chilled and pour into glass.

Heart Cracker Rum Cocktail (Courtesy of Sailor Jerry Rum)
Handful of cinnamon candy hearts
1 ½ parts Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum
¼ part grenadine
2 ½ parts ginger beer

Crush cinnamon candy hearts and rim rocks glass. Add ice. Add Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum and grenadine to a cocktail shaker, mix and pour over ice. Top with ginger beer.

Wild Berry Margarita (Courtesy of Mezcal Amarás)
2 oz of Mezcal Amarás Espadin Joven
2 oz of Wild Berry Tea
3 oz of fresh Lime Juice

Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice; shake and strain into a cocktail glass; garnish with blackberries and raspberries.

Riviera Rose (Created by Mattias Horseman, Hendrick’s Gin brand ambassador)
2 parts Hendrick’s Gin
1 part Giffard Pamplemousse
½ part Apricot Liqueur
1 part fresh lime juice
½ part egg white

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake. Then shake without ice, and strain into a coupe and garnish with a rose petal.

Love Potion No. 9 (Courtesy of Spa Girls Cocktails)
4 oz. Spa Girl Cocktail Peach Vodka Cocktail
2 oz Cranberry Juice
½ oz Lemongrass Jalapeño Simple Syrup*
Splash of club soda

Pour Spa Girl Peach, simple syrup, and cranberry juice into a shaker with ice. Shake for 10 seconds. Strain and pour into your cocktail glass of choice. Add a splash of club soda. Garnish with fresh edible flowers, or pomegranate seeds. *To make the simple syrup, add 1 cup sugar, 1 cup filtered water, 1/2 cup chopped lemongrass and 1/2 seeded chopped jalapeño to a small pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and stir occasionally until sugar has dissolved.Remove from heat and let stand for one hour. Strain syrup into a separate container.

Rosita (Crafted by Manny Hinojosa)
1 ½ oz. Tequila Cazadores Blanco
1 oz. Lychee Puree
½ oz. Rose Water
½ oz. Agave Syrup
2 oz. Sparkling Wine

In a cocktail shaker with ice combine all the ingredients except sparkling wine, shake vigorously and serve in a chilled cocktail glass, top with sparkling wine.

Espresso Mocktini (Courtesy of L’OR Espresso)
1 shot L’OR espresso of your favorite blend
1 tbsp. chocolate syrup
4 oz. half & half
¼ cup ice
Unsweetened cocoa powder and edible gold flakes (optional)

Brew espresso (compatible with Nespresso Machines) into cup with chocolate syrup. Stir to mix. Pour ice into cocktail shaker along with espresso and half & half. Seal and shake, shake, shake! Ice will melt, no straining necessary. Pour into martini glass, dust with cocoa, top with edible gold flakes and serve!

Chocolate Punch Cake (Courtesy of Mozart Liqueur)
1 ½ oz Mozart Cream Chocolate Liqueur
1 ½ oz Mozart Strawberry Chocolate Liqueur
2/3 oz Jamaican rum
2 oz heavy cream

Prepare the Choctail in short cocktail glass. For the first layer take Mozart Cream Chocolate Liqueur and pour it into the glass. Next add the Jamaican rum. Take Mozart Strawberry Chocolate Liqueur for the second layer and pour slowly into the glass, so it won’t mix with the first layer. On top and as a last step pour the cream into the glass. Again, as slowly as possible to keep all the layers separate.