CLEVELAND, Ohio — Valentine’s Day revolves around the more romantic aspects of life such as flowers, chocolate, and, for those who appreciate a good drink, Champagne or cocktails.
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Elevating your dining experience with a sophisticated cocktail or a glass of wine can truly enhance the ambiance, whether you’re dining out at a restaurant or having a cozy evening at home. Don’t underestimate the power of a well-crafted cocktail for your at-home Valentine’s Day celebration this year.
To spark some creativity beyond the usual wine selection, here are 9 Valentine’s Day cocktail recipes to elevate your intimate date night. These recipes are sure to impress your sweetheart, even if your evening consists of ordering pizza and unwinding on the couch.
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Skrewball Peanut Butter & Jealous
This playful concoction combines raspberry liqueur with Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, creating a delightful peanut butter and jelly-inspired drink. It serves as a decadent post-dinner indulgence.
Ingredients
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1.5 oz. Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey
0.75 oz raspberry liqueur
1 oz. Half & half
Directions: Vigorously shake the ingredients, double strain, and pour into a coupe glass. Garnish with fresh raspberries.
Fraser & Thompson For My Honey
This classic cocktail blends Fraser & Thompson North American Whiskey with citrus fruits and honey simple syrup, offering a timeless flavor profile. The whiskey, endorsed by Michael Bublé, pairs perfectly with this romantic drink.
Ingredients
For honey simple syrup:
1⁄2 cup honey
1⁄2 cup water
For the cocktail:
1 oz. Fraser & Thompson North American Whiskey
1 oz. Cointreau
1.5 oz. Honey simple syrup
1.5 oz. Orange juice
0.5 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 dashes of bitters
Brandied cherries
Directions: To prepare the simple syrup, simmer honey and water in a saucepan, then let it cool. For the cocktail, mix all ingredients (except cherries) in a bowl or cocktail shaker with ice. Serve over ice and garnish with cherries.
Celosa Rose Margarita
Margaritas are always a crowd-pleaser, and this recipe, featuring soft pink tequila, is especially fitting for Valentine’s Day. With the addition of rose water and hibiscus tea, this cocktail exudes floral elegance.
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Celosa Tequila
1 oz. hibiscus tea
0.75 oz. Lime juice
0.5 oz agave nectar
2 dashes rose water
Mint for garnish
Directions: Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, strain, and serve over ice. Garnish with mint.
Gray Whale Valentine Cheers
For gin enthusiasts, this fruity twist on a French 75 cocktail is a must-try. Featuring pear juice, this recipe adds a vibrant touch to the gin, Prosecco, and lemon combination.
Ingredients
1.5 parts Gray Whale Gin
1 part pear juice
1⁄2 part simple syrup
1⁄2 part fresh lemon juice
3 parts Josh Prosecco
Green grapes and a rosemary sprig for garnish
Directions: Lightly muddle green grapes in a cocktail shaker, then combine with gin, pear juice, simple syrup, and lemon juice over ice. Shake well, strain into a Champagne flute, and top with Prosecco. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and grapes.
Italicus and Savoia’s Julietta & Romeo
This sophisticated cocktail combines Savoia Americano and Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto, resulting in a harmonious blend of Italian aperitivos. A sprinkle of gold dust and rose petals adds a touch of elegance.
Ingredients
1.25 oz Savoia Americano
0.5 oz. Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto
1.5 oz. Prosecco
Directions: Combine Savoia and Italicus in a tumbler or highball glass, then top with Prosecco. Garnish with gold dust and rose petals.
Starward Whisky Old Fashioned Sweetheart
This romantic rendition of an Old Fashioned combines the classic flavors of chocolate and cherry. With a perfect balance of sweetness and strength, it serves as an ideal nightcap for Valentine’s Day.
Ingredients
2 oz. Starward Nova Single Malt Whisky
0.25 oz. Maple syrup
2 dashes of chocolate bitters
Luxardo cherry for garnish
Directions: Mix all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice, stir, and pour over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry.
Ketel One’s Kinky Coupe
Adding a spicy twist to your Valentine’s Day, this cocktail features Ancho Reyes chile liqueur and Piquillo pepper syrup for a unique flavor profile.
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Ketel One vodka
0.5 oz. Ancho Reyes
0.5 oz Piquillo pepper syrup
0.75 oz. Lemon
Directions: Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass, and serve with piquillo powder on the glass rim.
Mount Gay Down Thyme
This refreshing rum-based cocktail gets its vibrant hue from raspberry syrup, enhancing its tart and fruity notes, perfect for a Valentine’s Day celebration.
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Mount Gay Eclipse
0.5 oz. Lemon juice
0.5 oz. Raspberry syrup
4 oz. Soda
Directions: Muddle raspberries in simple syrup and strain for raspberry syrup. Mix all cocktail ingredients (except soda) in a glass, add ice, top with soda, and garnish with raspberry and/or thyme.
Hiatus Tequila Cirus Serenade
Infused with floral hints, this tequila cocktail features grapefruit juice and elderflower liqueur, offering a refreshing and aromatic option for your Valentine’s Day soirée.
Ingredients
2 oz. Hiatus Tequila
1 oz. Grapefruit juice
0.5 oz. Elderflower liqueur
0.5 oz. Simple syrup
Grapefruit twist for garnish
Directions: Shake tequila, grapefruit juice, elderflower liqueur, and simple syrup with ice. Strain into a glass with ice, garnish with a grapefruit twist, and optionally top with sparkling water.
Alex Darus, a seasoned writer covering food, dining, and beverages for check out her latest articles . For story suggestions, contact her at. Follow her on Instagram @alexdarus.
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