The Amaro Mio. Photo: Dulin, Getty Images.
Valentine’s Day comes but once a year. With it also comes the trusty Hallmark cards and the giant heart-shaped boxes of chocolate. It’s a day that nobody really cares for. Even if you’re in a happy, committed relationship, it’s just an excuse to overspend for a bouquet of flowers and go out to dinner during the week instead of lounging around in your sweats watching Netflix. Maybe we’re just bitter, but we don’t really need a day to tell people we love them.
Lovelorn single people are no more enthusiastic about Valentine’s Day. They don’t need a day to mope around feeling sorry for themselves because they aren’t in a committed relationship. (Though maintaining simultaneous relationships with Hulu, Netflix, HBOGo and Amazon Prime memberships is no easy task, either.)
Couples and single people all deserve some lovey-dovey, Valentine’s Day-themed mixed drinks. Even though the day is completely unnecessary, we should all get a drink (or three) out of it. Drink up, buttercup.
The Perfect Valentine’s Day Cocktails:
Amaro Mio
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ ounces Amaro Montenegro
- ½ ounce cherry liqueur
- ½ ounce sweet vermouth
- Egg white
- Chocolate extract
Preparation:
Shake all ingredients over ice and garnish with a few drops of chocolate extract.
(From Jessica Dure of Chumley’s.)
The Mulled Monte
The Mulled Monte. Photo: Holiday Cocktail Lounge.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 ounces Amaro Montenegro
- 1 1/2 ounces Cabernet
- 1/2 ounces Cocktail & Sons spiced demerara syrup
- 1 ounce Framboise syrup
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- 1 ounce water
- Cinnamon stick
Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a mug and stir with the cinnamon stick. Heat and serve.
(From Danny Neff of the Holiday Cocktail Lounge.)
Also: 10 Edible Ways to Tell Valentine’s Day to Eff Off
Love on the Rocks
Love on the Rocks. Photo: Svedka.
Ingredients:
- 2 parts SVEDKA Raspberry
- ½ part simple syrup
- Splash of club soda
- 9 mint leaves
Preparation:
Build in a rocks glass. Muddle mint lightly and add SVEDKA Raspberry and simple syrup. Fill with finely crushed ice. Garnish with a mint leaf and/or raspberries.
(From Svedka Vodka.)
Heart Throb
Ingredients:
- 2 parts Ruffino Sparkling Rosé
- 1 part vodka
- 3/4 part lemon juice
- 3/4 part pear nectar
- 1/2 part simple syrup
Preparation:
In a shaker, place all ingredients except for the Ruffino Sparkling Rosé. Shake and strain into a highball glass with some ice. Top with the Ruffino Sparkling Rosé and garnish with sprigs of thyme.
(From Ruffino Wines.)
Mighty Aphrodite
Mighty Aphrodite. Photo: Alan Battman.
Ingredients:
- 5 – 7 muddled mandarin segments
- 4 Thai basil leaves
- 1 1/2 ounces Belvedere vodka
- 1/2 ounce agave
- 3/4 lime
Preparation:
Shake, strain over fresh ice. Garnish with Thai basil.
(From Avra Madison.)
Wet Dream
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 ounces Grey Goose Cherry Noir vodka
- 3/4 ounces pineapple juice
- 3/4 ounces white cranberry
- 1/2 ounce St. Germain
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
Preparation:
Vigorously shake all ingredients in iced cocktail shaker and strain into martini glass. Garnish with 2 or 3 blueberries.
(From PHD at Dream Midtown.)
Valentino
Ingredients:
1 1/2 ounces house-made Valentino Mix (3/4 quart passion fruit puree, 3 ounces vodka, 1 1/2 ounces Fragoli wild strawberry liqueur, 1 ounce Grenadine)
Preparation:
Top with Varichon dry sparkling wine. Garnish with strawberry leaf and serve in champagne glass.
(From Cocktail by Avenue GM/Director of Operations Thierry Carrier.)
Young Lust
Young Lust. Photo: The Electric Room.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 ounces Skyy vodka
- 1 ounce Pama pomegranate liqueur
- 3/4 ounce lime juice
- 1/2 ounce agave
Preparation:
Shake and pour over ice in rocks glass. Top with ginger beer and lime wheel.
(From The Electric Room at Dream Downtown.)
Any Which Way But Left
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce Jägermeister
- 1 ounce Aperol
- 1 ounce Brovo Amaro
- Chocolate molé bitters
- Grapefruit peel
Preparation:
Combine all ingredients together, stir and strain into rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with chocolate molé bitters and a grapefruit peel.
(From Matt Friedlander of Fools Gold.)
Maria Linda
Maria Linda. Photo: Laurel Hardware.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces La Niña del Mezcal “Espadin”
- 1 1/2 ounces infused Pavan
- 1/2 ounce lemon juice
- 1 ounce ginger beer
- 2 orange bell peppers
- 6 Thai chili peppers
Preparation:
Shake all ingredients except ginger beer and strain over fresh ice into rocks glass. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with Thai chili pepper. For infused Pavan: Blend 2 orange bell peppers and 5 Thai chili peppers per 750 milliliter bottle of Pavan, then fine strain. Keep refrigerated.
(From Cole Apodaca of Laurel Hardware.)
