12 Extra Special Valentine’s Day Cocktails to Sip & Serve this Year
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Love is in the air, honey, and that means it’s almost time to set the scene for romance with some gorgeous Valentine’s Day cocktails. We’ve rounded up 12 amazing drinks that give major heart-eyes energy. Treat yourself and your favourite human to one (or two) of these lovely cocktails this V-Day!
1. Pink Lady
This pretty Valentine’s Day cocktail makes such a lovely addition to any rose-tinged table setting, which makes it completely ideal for a romantic occasion. Combine 45ml Bulldog Gin (opens in new window), 15ml apple brandy, 15ml fresh lemon juice, 15ml grenadine, and one small egg white (15ml) in a cocktail shaker without ice. Shake for 30 seconds, add ice, then shake for 30 seconds more. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with Maraschino or Luxardo cherries.
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2. Chocolate Martini
Cocktails for Valentine’s Day do not come any more indulgent than the Chocolate Martini (opens in new window). The richness of crème de cacao, the intense flavour of chocolate liqueur, and the smoothness of vodka match perfectly in one of the most decadent dessert drinks ever invented.
3. Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour
A classic Whiskey Sour is a thing of beauty, and this Cranberry Orange version is absolutely wonderful as well. Add 30ml unsweetened cranberry juice, 90ml orange juice, 60ml whiskey, 15ml Grand Marnier, 15ml lemon juice, 15ml sugar syrup, and two sprigs of thyme to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds and strain into a chilled glass. Top it off with ginger beer and garnish with an orange peel and fresh thyme.
4. Mint Grapefruit Mimosa
The classic Mimosa is one of the world’s favourite bubbly cocktails, and this twist on the original is just as moreish. DIY some mint sugar syrup by infusing homemade syrup with mint (see our guide here), and pulverise one peeled grapefruit in a blender until it’s completely runny. Add a spoonful of the grapefruit pulp in a Champagne flute along with a drizzle of the mint syrup. Top off with your choice of Champagne or Prosecco, and serve.
5. Rose-Coloured Glass
If you lean towards effervescent drinks like the French 75, the Coloured Glass Cocktail will be right up your alley. There are quite a few variations of this Valentine’s Day Prosecco cocktail; we like to stick with 10ml oz bitters, 20ml lemon juice, and 30ml sugar syrup, which are combined in a shaker with ice. Strain this into a coupe glass, top it off with sparkling rosé and garnish with rose petals before serving.
6. Sweetheart Cocktail
Winter vodka cocktails (opens in new window) provide a tasty way to stave off the gloom of a cold February, and the Sweetheart Cocktail comes to the party with all the makings of a drink that’s poured with the intention of warming the proverbial cockles. Add 30ml SKYY vodka, 15ml Aperol (opens in new window), 15ml cranberry juice, 20ml limoncello, and 10ml lemon juice to a shaker with ice. Shake until cold, and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with fresh cranberries and serve.
7. French Rose
The French Rose Cocktail is a beautiful serve that adds a touch of whimsy to any occasion. The great thing about this three-ingredient cocktail is that it tastes exceptional, but takes very little effort to make. In fact, there are only two steps to its assembly, so it’s great to make when you want to spend the better part of the evening romancing your partner.
8. Strawberry Mimosa
Valentine’s Day cocktail recipes seldom come more picture-perfect than this. This tasty strawberry cocktail calls for a bit of prep, but it’s completely worth it. Add 2 fresh, hulled strawberries and 120ml orange juice to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour 120ml champagne into a flute by holding the glass at a 45-degree angle. Top off with orange-strawberry juice and add strawberry slices as a garnish if preferred.
9. Kir Royale
Arguably one of the best Valentine’s Day cocktails ever, the Kir Royale (AKA the French Champagne cocktail) is as easy to pour as it is to enjoy. The beauty of this simple, yet elegant, drink is that it features very few ingredients. After all, when you’re pouring stars (to paraphrase the always eloquent Dom Pérignon), you don’t want to dull their shine with a cacophony of flavours.
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10. Sex on the Beach
Naturally, we had to throw the OG naughty-but-nice drink in the Valentine’s Day mix! A Sex on the Beach serves all the tropical vibes. The first layer of the drink contains intensely fruity peach schnapps that are combined with orange and pineapple juice. Then, on top of this, the next layer contains SKYY Vodka (opens in new window) that is shaken with tart cranberry juice and a kiss of raspberry liqueur.
11. Strawberry Shortcake Daiquiri
The Strawberry Daiquiri (opens in new window) is super popular the world over, and this variation on the recipe is just fantastic and perfect for someone who loves a boozy milkshake. To make a Strawberry Shortcake Daiquiri, combine a quarter cup of frozen, hulled strawberries (thawed), 40ml amaretto liqueur, 15ml SKYY vanilla-flavoured vodka, 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, a dash of vanilla extract, and half a cup of crushed ice in a blender. Blend until smooth, pour into a glass, and garnish with whipped cream and a strawberry.
12. Between the Sheets
The Sidecar cocktail has inspired a great many variations in its day, of which this beguiling mixed drink is one. Add 30ml cognac, 30ml Wray & Nephew rum, 30ml Grand Marnier, and 10ml lemon juice to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with an orange twist and serve.
Which of these 12 stellar Valentine’s Day cocktails will you be pouring this year? We can’t wait to see! Tag us in your Instagram pics (opens in new window), and remember to sign up for our newsletter to have all the hottest cocktail trends delivered straight to your inbox.
