valentine's day cocktails

No meal is ever complete without drinks. And the right beverage can do wonders for a dish. If you’re in need of Valentine’s Day cocktails, here are the best ones to enjoy.

 

Valentine’s Day Cocktails to Up the Romance

Drinks have a peculiar power in that they can either elevate or spoil your entire evening. This Valentine’s Day, plan a memorable date night and impress your partner by making a homemade cocktail. Spice things up with these recipes for Valentine’s Day cocktails.

 

1. Bee’s Knees Cocktail

Ingredients:

  • For the honey syrup:
    • 1/2 cup honey
    • 1/4 cup water
    • 5 sprigs thyme
  • For the cocktail:
    • 2 oz gin
    • 3/4 oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed
    • Lemon peel
    • Thyme sprig

 

Directions:

  1. Place honey, water, and 5 sprigs of thyme in a small saucepan. Cook this mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes. Make sure to bruise the thyme leaves to impart the flavor. Set aside and allow the honey syrup to cool to room temperature before discarding the thyme sprigs. Place in an airtight container and chill in the fridge. You can keep this for up to 2 weeks.
  2. To make the cocktail, mix gin, lemon juice, and 3/4 oz of the honey syrup in a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously until the shaker turns cold.
  3. Strain the cocktail and pour it into a coupe. Top with thyme and lemon.

 

2. Spiked Hot Chocolate

When it comes to Valentines cocktails, you can’t go wrong with chocolate.

Ingredients:

  • For the hot chocolate:
    • 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 3 cup whole or nut milk, divided
    • 4 oz semisweet chocolate chips
    • 1/4 cup bourbon whiskey
    • 2 tbsp Kahlúa
    • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
    • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
    • Whipped cream (optional)
  • For the Kahlúa marshmallows (optional):
    • 1/4 cup water
    • 3 1/2 tsp unflavored gelatin powder
    • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
    • 1/3 cup powdered sugar
    • 2 tbsp cornstarch
    • Cooking spray
    • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
    • 1/3 cup light corn syrup
    • 1/4 cup Kahlúa

 

Directions for the Hot Chocolate:

  1. Combine cocoa powder and 1/4 cup milk in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat while whisking. Then, pour the remaining milk, whisking constantly. Once hot but not simmering, add the chocolate and stir to melt. Pour whiskey, vanilla, and Kahlúa. Add salt. Mix well.
  2. Pour the hot chocolate into mugs. Top with whipped cream and Kahlúa marshmallows (optional).

 

Directions for the Kahlúa Marshmallows:

  1. Using a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, combine water, gelatin, and salt. Set aside for 10 minutes.
  2. In a bowl, sift together cornstarch and powdered sugar. Grease an 8-inch square span with cooking spray. Dust the pan with the cornstarch mixture, making sure to remove the excess into a separate bowl.
  3. In a saucepan, heat granulated sugar, corn syrup, and Kahlúa over medium heat. Cook until a thermometer reads 240°, making sure not to stir or disturb the mixture. Once it reaches the right temperature, turn off the heat.
  4. Back to the gelatin mixture, turn on the stand mixer and beat on medium speed. Gradually pour in the hot sugar syrup while beating. Turn up the speed to medium-high and beat until light and airy.
  5. Meanwhile, grease an offset spatula and a rubber spatula with cooking spray. Transfer the marshmallow mixture into the greased pan using the rubber spatula. Then, smooth the top into an even layer using the offset spatula. Let it set for 3 to 6 hours.
  6. Once set, dust a knife with the excess cornstarch mixture. Slice the marshmallows into the desired sizes and shapes. Place in an airtight container and store at room temperature until ready for use.

 

3. Pomegranate Martini

This pomegranate martini is guaranteed to be one of the best Valentines Day cocktails you’ve ever had.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz fresh pomegranate juice
  • 1/2 oz Cointreau
  • 1 1/2 oz vodka
  • 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 1 lemon, halved
  • 1 tbsp sanding sugar
  • Ice
  • Pomegranate seeds
  • Rosemary sprig

 

Directions:

  1. Put a martini glass in the freezer and let it cool for 15 minutes. This step is optional.
  2. On a shallow plate, pour sanding sugar. Rub half a lemon on the rim of the martini glass. Dip the glass, rim-side down, into the sanding sugar to coat it.
  3. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the Cointreau, vodka lemon juice, and pomegranate juice. Shake vigorously until the outside turns cold.
  4. Pour into the prepared martini glass, straining along the way. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and a sprig of rosemary.

 

4. Chocolate Martini

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz chocolate liqueur
  • 1 oz creme da cacao
  • 1/2 oz half-and-half
  • 1 oz vodka
  • Cocoa powder

 

Directions:

  1. Pour a tiny amount of chocolate liqueur into a rimmed plate. Pour a tiny amount of cocoa powder into a separate plate. To prepare the glasses, dip the rim of a martini glass into the chocolate liqueur before promptly dipping it into the cocoa powder. Set the glass aside.
  2. In a shaker filled with ice, add the chocolate liqueur, vodka, half-and-half, and creme de cacao. Shake vigorously until the outside is cold.
  3. Pour and strain the chocolate martini into the prepared glass.

 

5. Valentine’s Day Mimosas

There are tons of Valentine’s Day cocktail recipes to try, but these mimosas are certainly a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients:

  • 1 bottle Champagne, chilled
  • Strawberries
  • Grenadine

 

Directions:

  1. Cut the strawberries into heart shapes using a paring knife. Stick skewers through the middle, with 2-3 strawberries per skewer.
  2. Pour Champagne into a flute and fill it about two-thirds of the way. Add about 1 tablespoon of grenadine. Top with strawberry skewers.

 

6. Rose-Colored Glass

Rose-flavored Valentine’s Day cocktails are always a hit, and they make the mood even more romantic.

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz simple syrup
  • 3/4 oz lemon juice
  • 1/4 oz Angostura bitters
  • Crémant d’Alsace rosé sparkling wine, to top
  • Red rose petals, for garnish

 

 

Directions:

  1. In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine the lemon juice, bitters, and simple syrup. Shake vigorously until chilled.
  2. Pour the lemon juice mixture and strain into a coupe glass.
  3. Top with sparkling rosé wine.
  4. Garnish with red rose petals.

 

7. Sparkling Rose

You can’t have too many Valentine’s Day drinks with a rose theme. Here’s another one that incorporates watermelon juice and tequila instead of bitters.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz brut rosé sparkling wine, to top
  • 1 1/2 oz silver tequila
  • 3/4 oz watermelon juice
  • 1/2 oz lemon juice
  • 1/4 oz simple syrup

 

Directions:

  1. In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine the lemon juice, watermelon juice, tequila, and simple syrup. Shake vigorously until chilled.
  2. Pour the lemon juice mixture and strain into a coupe glass.
  3. Top with sparkling rosé wine.

 

8. La Violetta

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz Boodles London dry gin
  • 1/2 oz lemon juice
  • 1/2 oz Rothman & Winter crème de violette
  • Lemon twist (fresh) or lemon wheel (dehydrated)
  • 1 oz Lambrusco

 

Directions:

  1. In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine the lemon juice, gin, and crème de violette. Shake vigorously until chilled.
  2. Pour into a coupe glass, making sure to strain twice.
  3. Top it off with Lambrusco. Stir briefly until just combined.
  4. Garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel or fresh lemon twist.

 

9. Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour

If you like your Valentine Day mixed drinks pretty strong, this whiskey sour can’t do you wrong.

Ingredients:

  • 4 oz whiskey
  • 4 oz ginger beer
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1/2 cup cranberry juice
  • 1/4 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1/4 cup simple syrup
  • Ice

 

Directions:

  1. Fill two whiskey glasses with ice.
  2. In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine the cranberry juice, orange juice, lime juice, whiskey, and simple syrup. Shake vigorously until chilled.
  3. Pour the whiskey sour through a strainer and into the glasses.
  4. Top with ginger beer before serving.

 

Drink Up!

Drinks don’t have to be boring. Make your romantic dinner more interesting with these Valentine’s Day cocktails. Your partner will surely appreciate the time and effort you put into making them.

 

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