You’ve got the flowers covered, the chocolates, the gifts, the sentimental card… but if you want to really stoke the romance flames on Valentine’s Day, forget the old Cupid clichés – what you need are a few perfect cocktail recipes to enhance your evening.
Champagne and strawberries are old hat. What is this, “The Bachelor”? These seven love potions are surefire ways to improve the Valentine’s mood, no matter what your plans are for the big day. Mix up a romantic cocktail with the recipes below, and impress your better half by getting in touch with your inner mixologist – a surefire way to impress your sweetheart.
Valentine Cocktails
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Cruzan Rose Kiss
2 parts Cruzan® Aged Light Rum
1/2 parts Hibiscus Liqueur
1 part Fresh Lime Juice
3 Drops Rose Water
Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker, shake for 15 seconds. Pour over fresh ice in a Collins glass. Top with soda water.
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BLVSH
Created by Mixologist John deBary
1 ½ oz. SKYY Infusions Vanilla Bean
½ oz. SKYY Infusions Moscato Grape
¾ oz. Lime Juice
½ oz. Simple Syrup
½ cup Organic Raspberries
Combine all ingredients in a shaker. Fill shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds. Pour into a coupe glass.
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The Heartbreaker
1 ½ oz. Avión Reposado
¾ oz. Black Peach Tea
¼ oz. White Peach Puree
¼ oz. Lemon Juice
¾ oz. Brown Sugar
¼ oz. Cranberry Juice
3 Blackberries
1 Blackberry and Lemon Wheel for garnish
Muddle blackberries and brown sugar in shaker. Add all ingredients and shake. Double strain and pour into a glass over ice. Garnish with 1 blackberry and a lemon wheel.
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Winter Love Punch
1 ½ oz. Avión Reposado
¼ oz. Lime Juice
¼ oz. Lemon Juice
¼ oz. Grenadine
¾ oz. Simple Syrup
¾ oz. Pomegranate Juice
1 tsp. All Spice
1 sprig Thyme for garnish
Combine all ingredients into a shaker excluding the all spice. Shake and strain into a glass over ice. Sprinkle all spice on top. Garnish with sprig of thyme.
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Lover's Paradise
Created by Micaela Piccolo, Distilled (New York)
1 ½ oz Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
1 ½ oz Frangelico
½ oz Dry White Rum
Chocolate shavings (garnish): Carefully draw a vegetable peeler across the broad surface of a bar of semisweet or milk chocolate. This works best if the chocolate is at room temperature. For narrower curls, use the side of the bar.
In a cheater tin, add Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, Frangelico and White Rum. Fill the cheater tin halfway with ice and shake for about 8 seconds. Strain the cocktail into a coupe and garnish with chocolate shavings. Serve.
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Cupid's Arrow
Created by Micaela Piccolo, Distilled (New York)
1 oz Frangelico
1 ½ oz White Chocolate Godiva Liqueur
½ oz Heavy Cream
Syrup Lined Martini Glass
Chill the martini glass in the freezer for 10 minutes. Remove the glass from the freezer and hold it at a slight angle by its stem. Hold a squeeze bottle of chocolate syrup about 4 inches above the top of the martini glass. Gently squeeze the bottle and move it in circles over the martini glass for about five seconds. The circling motion will make the chocolate coat all the sides of the glass instead of settling to the bottom. Place the martini glasses back in the freezer while you build your cocktail to allow the Try this: Use Strawberry syrup for a festive pop of color and a touch of berry flavor!
In a cheater tin, add Frangelico, White Chocolate Godiva Liqueur and Heavy Cream. Fill the cheater tin halfway with ice and shake for about 8 seconds. Strain the cocktail into the already garnished martini glass, and serve.
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The Perfect Gentleman
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
Method: Shake vigorously with ice and strain into a chilled stemless cocktail glass. Garnish with fresh shaved chocolate.
