A winning Valentine’s Day cocktail celebrates the romantic holiday theme, generally with pink or red hues, decadent flavors, festive garnishes and whimsical names. We’ve included a few great cocktail recipes perfect for Valentine’s Day during the past few weeks–TruLuv , Love My Way, Love Letter, and the Valentini, not to mention an elegant pink Grapefruit Bellini. Here are a few more drinks to help heat up the holiday.
Spiked Rose
2 oz. Yukon Jack Jacapple
½ oz. Maple syrup
¾ oz. Fresh lime
¼ oz. Grenadine
Place all ingredients into a mixing tin or glass. Shake all ingredients and strain into a chilled Martini glass. Garnish with lime wheel.
The mixologists at Howells & Hood in Chicago created this recipe.
Gateway to Love
1 ½ oz. Porton Pisco (infused with hibiscus*)
½ oz. Grand Marnier
¾ oz. Lemon juice
¼ oz. Simple syrup
3 Quarter size disks of ginger
Sparkling wine
In a mixing tin or glass, muddle ginger. Add all remaining ingredients except for sparkling wine. Add ice, shake well and double strain into a flute or coupe. Top with sparkling wine.
*For infusion: Add 3 tablespoons of loose dried hibiscus flowers to 750 ml of pisco, allow to infuse for 1 ½ hours, agitating occasionally.
Beverage consultants the Tippling Bros. created this cocktail for Little Market Brasserie in Chicago.
Soft Glow
1 ½ oz. Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch whisky
1 oz. Grapefruit juice
1 Tbsp. Raspberry jam
Add all ingredients and shake. Strain through a fine strainer.
Darren Makowsky, staff barman for Republic National Distributing Co. (RNDC), created this recipe.
Him
1½ oz. Weller Bourbon
½ oz. Cherry Heering
1 oz. Strawberry-ginger juice
¾ oz. Simple syrup
¾ oz. Lemon juice
1 Egg white
Combine with ice and shaken together. Garnished with a pinch of cinnamon.
Her
1½ oz. Stoli vanilla vodka
½ oz. Amaretto
1 oz. Strawberry-ginger juice
¾ oz. Simple syrup
¾ oz. Lemon juice
1 Egg white
Combine with ice and shaken together. Garnish with a pinch of cinnamon.
Master mixologist Ergys Dizdari at Filini Bar & Restaurant in Chicago created these two cocktails with each gender in mind, knowing that both sexes have different taste preferences.
French 75
1 ½ oz. Chateau de Laubade Armagnac VSOP
½ oz. Fresh-squeezed lemon juice
½ oz. Simple syrup
4 oz. Champagne
Combine Armanac, lemon juice and simple syrup in flute. Top with Champagne and garnish with a lemon peel.
The beverage team at Restaurant R’evolution in New Orleans created this twist on the classic cocktail.
The Atlantico Endless Love
1½ oz. Atlantico private cask rum
½ oz. Creme de cacao
½ oz. Kalhua
1 oz. Heavy cream
Dash Angostura bitters
Add ingredients into a shaker with, shake well and strain into a Martini glass. Garnish with grated chocolate.
The mixologists at Atlantico created this recipe.
Te Amo
2 Parts Sauza Blue Silver 100% Agave tequila
1 Part DeKuyper Razzmatazz
6 Parts chocolate milk
2 Dashes of Taza Chocolate Mexicano Extract
Chocolate shavings for garnish
Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously. Strain the mixture into two martini glasses rimmed with chocolate shavings. Garnish with raspberries.
The mixologists at Sauza created this recipe.
The Anejo Kiss
(Serves 2)
3 oz. Partida Anejo Tequila
1 oz. Creme de cacao (white)
2 oz. Amarula Cream
Mix ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into two chilled Martini glasses.
The mixologists at Partida created this recipe.
Pink Passion
1 Part Skinnygirl White Cherry Vodka
2 Parts grapefruit juice
Splash sparkling water
Mix vodka and grapefruit juice in a shaker with ice. Pour over ice, and garnish with a small slice of grapefruit. Enjoy!
The mixologists at Skinnygirl created this recipe.
Cupid’s Devotion
2 ½ oz. Devotion Wild Cherry vodka
Fresh Lemon juice
Dash of amaretto
In a shaker filled with ice, add Devotion Vodka Wild Cherry and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass, and add a dash of amaretto. Garnish with cherries and heart-shaped gummy candies.
The mixologists at Devotion created this recipe.