8 Valentine’s Day Cocktails To Sip With Your Boo
You’ve bought the flowers, planned the perfect dinner and are ready for an amazing Valentine’s Day celebration. But what are you drinking? No worries, we got you. Here are eight great Valentine’s Day cocktails that are Cupid-approved.
Sweetheart
This first not so sweet treat comes from Ryan Reynolds’ Aviation Gin and is a riff on a Salty Dog.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Aviation Gin
- 1 oz grapefruit juice
- ¾ oz salted grapefruit syrup*
- ½ oz lime juice
Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin, add ice, and shake vigorously. Strain into a small beer glass and top with ice. *For salted grapefruit syrup: Add 2 cups of fresh grapefruit juice, 2 cups of granulated sugar, and 1 tsp of salt into a sauce pan and heat to medium low. Stir occasionally until all solids are dissolved. Simmer for 15-20 minutes. Store in an airtight, food safe container. Use within 7 days.
Make Me Blush
If you do have a sweet tooth, check out this tipple from Duke & Dame Salted Caramel Whiskey that’s both sweet and savory.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Duke & Dame Salted Caramel Whiskey
- ½ oz lemon juice
- ½ oz fresh grapefruit juice
- ½ oz red wine
- ½ oz agave
- ½ oz grapefruit soda
Method: Shake whiskey, lemon juice, grapefruit juice, red wine, and agave in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into coupe glass. Top off with a splash of grapefruit soda and garnish with dried lemon slide or edible flower.
Crystallized Cosmo
For the tequila drinkers, 1800’s new expression shines bright in their take on the classic Cosmopolitan.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ oz 1800 Cristalino
- ½ oz Agavero Orange Liqueur
- 1 oz white cranberry juice
- ½ oz Supasawa
- ¼ oz simple syrup
Method: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, add ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a sugared cranberry skewer. Garnish with powdered sugar cranberry skewer.
Lovers Lane
At California’s Graton Resort & Casino, mixologist Jessica Christensen has crafted a menu that includes this drink, inspired by her favorite Valentine’s Day treat, chocolate covered raspberries.
Ingredients:
- ¾ oz Charbay Vodka
- ¾ oz Mozart Chocolate Liqueur
- ¼ oz Chambord
- ¾ oz heavy cream
- 4-5 fresh raspberries
Method: In a shaker tin, add raspberries and muddle. Then add all other ingredients, ice and shake. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with dried rose petals.
Big Love
Looking for something a bit more adventurous? How about a cocktail with beet juice! This one is courtesy of Cointreau.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Cointreau
- 1 ¼ oz vodka
- ½ oz beet juice
- ¼ oz lemon juice
- 1 ½ oz strawberry shrub
Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker full of ice. Shake well until chilled. Strain it and serve it in a coupette or collins glass.
Down Thyme
Want something that will make you think of the beach, even if there’s snow on the ground? This rum cocktail from Mount Gay will do just the trick.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ oz Mount Gay Eclipse
- ½ oz lemon juice
- ½ oz raspberry syrup*
- 4 oz soda water
Method: Add rum, lemon juice and raspberry syrup into the glass and stir. Add ice, finish with soda and garnish with raspberry and/or thyme. *Raspberry Syrup: Muddle raspberries into simple syrup, strain and serve.
The Goji Martini
Not all martinis are espresso martinis. Rémy Martin puts a cognac twist on one with some sweet goji berries.
Ingredients:
- 1 ¾ oz Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal
- ⅔ oz sweet vermouth
- ⅓ oz goji berry liqueur or ⅙ oz Cointreau Noir
- 2 dashes Lavender Bitters
Method: Stir all ingredients with ice in a mixing glass. Strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with an orange twist and a lavender sprig.
Ruinart Rosé in Second Skin
When all else fails, there’s champagne like this Ruinart Rosé. A blend of the freshness of Chardonnay and the fruitiness of Pinot Noir, it is lush and delicate, with notes of pink grapefruit, red berries, and silk tannins.
