Valentine’s Day Cocktails for Every Kind of Love (Yes, Even Self-Love)
Waterloo Gin - Pink Negroni
Roses are red, violets are blue, here are a few cocktails you should sip with your boo. Or without! Honestly, I've come to love Valentine's Day. And it has absolutely nothing to do with having, or not having, a significant other.
I love seeing people celebrate all kinds of love this time of year, whether they’re showing appreciation for themselves, family, friends, romantic partners or even that random Tinder fling. For me, part of the fun is having an excuse to get dressed up, even if it just means hitting up my fave Mexican restaurant for frozen margs and queso dip. And I especially love the camaraderie that comes along with celebrations like Galentine’s Day.
With all that dang love in the air, we’re gonna need some cocktails to match the mood. Lucky for us, I’ve compiled a list of Valentine’s Day cocktails that are absolutely Cupid-approved.
Pink Negroni
Ingredients
1 ½ oz Waterloo Gin Prickly Pear & Rose Gin
1 oz Pink vermouth (la fuerza mend primavera)
1 oz Lillet Rose
Grapefruit bitters
Grapefruit peel, to garnish
Directions
In a mixing glass add all ingredients with ice. Stir until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a grapefruit peel.
Young Hearts
Broken Shed Vodka
Ingredients
1.5 oz Broken Shed Vodka
0.75 oz elderflower liqueur
0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz simple syrup
1 dash orange bitters
1 egg white
1 strawberry
Garnish: 1 freeze-dried strawberry
Directions
In a shaker, muddle the strawberry. Add the remaining ingredients, dry shake, then shake again with ice. Double strain into a coupe. Top with a freeze-dried strawberry.
Raspberry Collins
Wyoming Whiskey
Ingredients
1.5 oz Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch
0.75 oz lemon juice
0.50 oz raspberry syrup
0.25 oz Triple Sec
2 oz soda water
Directions
Combine all ingredients besides soda water in a shaker. Shake and strain into a collins glass over ice. Add soda water. Garnish with a lemon wheel and raspberry on a garnish pick.
Love Stinks!
Crystal Head
Ingredients
1 ½ oz. 45 mL Crystal Head Onyx
½ oz. 15 mL Cointreau
¾ oz. 25 mL Lime Juice
1 oz. 30 mL Hibiscus Tea
Directions
Steep hibiscus tea for five minutes or as directed. Set aside and let it cool for a few minutes. Once tea is cooled, build ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake on ice. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Sweetheart Sangria
Crystal Head
Ingredients
1 oz. 30 mL Crystal Head Onyx
½ oz 15 mL Aperol
½ oz 15 mL Amaro Montenegro
¼ oz 8 mL Fresh Lemon Juice
3 oz 90 mL Lambrusco Red Wine
Directions
In a wine glass, add all ingredients and stir over ice for a few seconds. Garnish with frozen cranberries, orange slices and a cinnamon stick.
The Midnight Cherry Martini
Albero d’Oro
Ingredients
2 oz vodka
1/2 oz coffee liqueur (e.g., Kahlúa)
1/2 oz espresso (freshly brewed and cooled)
1/2 oz Albero d’Oro cherry syrup
Albero d’Oro marasca cherry (for garnish)
Directions
Shake vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso, and Albero d’Oro Cherry Syrup with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with an Albero d’Oro marasca cherry.
LALO ‘KISS ME’ PALOMA
LALO Tequila
Ingredients
2 oz LALO Tequila
1.5 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
3 oz Sparkling Water
.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
.5 oz Agave Syrup
Pinch of Salt
Garnish: Lime Wedge
Directions
Add LALO, fresh juices, agave syrup, and a pinch of salt to an ice-filled shaker tin. Shake and strain into a salt-rimmed, ice-filled collins glass. Top with sparkling water, and garnish with a lime wheel or wedge.
Angel’s Envy Amore Manhattan
Angel’s Envy
Ingredients
2 oz Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
2-3 dashes Chocolate Angostura® bitters (to taste)
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir until well chilled and properly diluted. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with raspberries and edible flowers.