Valentine's Day Drinks

Let’s face it, planning a great evening for your sweetheart on February 14^th can be a bit nerve wracking. It’s tough enough to come up with ideas for dinner and dessert, but finding recipes for Valentine’s Day drinks adds a whole other degree of difficulty. You have all sorts of choices to pick from, you could go simple with a glass of wine or mix up elaborate cocktails – yet you have to consider your loved one’s tastes and even pairing things up properly with the meal. Thankfully, there are a handful of great ideas out there to meet your needs, from easy and fruity to drinks with a kick.

Valentine’s Kiss

1 oz gin

1/2 oz raspberry liqueur

Splash of cranberry juice

Soda water to fill glass

 

Mix gin, liqueur, and cranberry juice with ice, then pour over ice in collins glass. Top with soda water and garnish with lime and cherry.

 

Love Bug #2

3 parts ginger ale

1 1/2 parts pomegranate liquer

1 part vodka

 

Stir over ice and serve in a highball glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

 

Queen of Hearts

1 oz gin

1 oz strawberry juice

1/4 oz red wine infused with simple syrup

Champagne to fill glass

 

Shake gin, strawberry juice, and simple syrup infusion over ice. Strain into martini glass, the top with champagne.

 

Woo Woo #2

2 parts cranberry juice

1 part peach schnapps

1 part vodka

1/2 part simple syrup

 

Stir and serve over ice in a highball glass. Garnish with an orange wedge.

 

The Sapphire Silk

2 1/2 oz strawberry liqueur

1 oz Bombay Sapphire gin

1/2 oz cream

1/2 oz Triple Sec

 

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into martini glass. Garnish with half a strawberry on the rim.

 

Agave Kiss

2 oz silver tequila

1 oz double cream

1 oz crème de cacao

1/2 oz raspberry liqueur

 

Shake ingredients over ice for 15 seconds, then strain into martini glass rimmed with flakes of white chocolate. Garnish with loose or speared raspberries.

 

Midnight Passion

1 oz mango puree

1 oz limoncello

Champagne to fill glass

 

Mix puree and limoncello in a fluted glass, top with champagne. Garnish with a single cherry on the rim.

 

Fluttering Heart

5 oz champagne

1 oz raspicello

 

Pour champagne into fluted glass, top with raspicello.

 

Strawberry Kiss

1 1/2 oz vanilla vodka

Splash cranberry juice

Splash pineapple juice

1/2 oz strawberry liqueur

Champagne to fill glass

 

Mix vodka, juices, and liqueur in a fluted glass. Top with champagne and garnish with a single strawberry dropped to the bottom.

 

Cherub’s Cup

1 part elderflower liqueur

2 parts vodka or gin

3/4 part fresh lemon juice

1/4 shot simple syrup

1 part muddled strawberry

Brut Rosé sparkling wine to fill glass

 

Shake ingredients and strain over ice into collins glass. Top with champagne and garnish with quartered, halved or whole strawberry.

 

Red Lotus

1 1/2 oz vodka

1 1/2 oz lychee liqueur

1 oz cranberry juice

 

Shake ingredients well over ice. Strain into old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Garnish with cocktail umbrella or small flower blossom.