Just because Covid-19 will keep most people home this coming weekend does not mean that we cannot enjoy some great Valentine’s Day cocktails. Here are a dozen love-inspired mixed libations that we like for Cupid’s holiday in 2021.
Cupid’s Hope
3 oz. Ballykeefe Vodka (or premium brand)
1 oz. Amaretto
6 oz. Cranberry juice
1 oz. Vanilla essence
Combine ingredients with a scoop of ice in a cocktail shaker and shake for 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled Martini glass rimmed with sugar. Garnish with Wild Cherry and Love Heart candy.
David Pedro, master mixologist at the Kilkea Castle hotel resort in County Kildare, Ireland, created this recipe.
Hibiscus Kiss
1 oz. Vodka
1 oz. Ramazotti
2 oz. Strawberry puree
¾ oz. Lemon juice
Edible flower for garnish
Add all ingredients into a shaker. Shake and strain into a glass. If you want to get fancy, add an edible flower as garnish.
The mixologists at Joia Beach in Miami created this recipe.
The Lover’s Touch
1 ¼ oz. Ketel One Vodka infused with hibiscus and rose
½ oz. Sugar syrup
⅓ oz. Fresh lemon juice
½ oz. Egg white
Dry shake all ingredients. Shake all the ingredients with ice. Strain into an ice filled glass. Garnish with a dried rose bud.
The mixologists at Ketel One created this recipe.
Blushing Rhum
2 ¼ oz. Rhum Barbancourt Réserve Spéciale
1 oz. Fresh lemon juice
1 ¼ oz. Simple syrup
1 ½ oz. Diced cucumber
1 large Strawberry
Muddle cucumber and strawberry in cocktail shaker, then add the remaining ingredients and shake vigorously with ice. Strain over fresh ice into Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with a strawberry slice.
The mixologists at Rhum Barbancourt created this recipe.
Lychee Rose Petal Martini
1 ¾ oz. Vodka or gin
2 oz. Lychee puree
¾ oz. Lemon juice
⅕ oz. Rose syrup
1 pinch Salt
1 Rose petal for garnish
Combine vodka or gin, lychee puree, lemon juice, rose syrup and salt in cocktail shaker. Shake and double strain into a chilled Martini glass. Garnish with a rose petal.
The mixologists at Zuma Las Vegas created this recipe.
The Love Buzz
1 ½ parts Absolut vodka
½ part Creme de Cacao
1 part Raspberry puree
1 part Room-temperature espresso
Shake all ingredients and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a chocolate-raspberry tuille.
The mixologists at Absolut created this recipe.
Strawberry Ice Cream Float
2 oz. Mozart Strawberry White Chocolate liqueur
2 oz. Rum
1 scoop Vanilla ice cream
¼ cup Strawberries
Blend Mozart, rum, and the fruit in a blender until smooth. Pour into a Martini glass and garnish with a fresh strawberry.
The mixologists at Mozart created this recipe.
Berry In Love
1 ½ parts Courvoisier VSOP Cognac
¾ parts Strawberry syrup
½ part Lime juice
½ part Ancho Reyes ancho chile liqueur
Build in shaker, add ice, shake and strain over crushed ice into poco grande glass. Garnish with a strawberry and lime wedge.
The mixologists at Courvoisier created this recipe.
Strawberry Coconut Fizz
1 ¾ oz. Beefeater Dry gin
3 ¼ oz. Coconut water
Strawberries
3 Mint Leaves
¼ oz. Agave syrup/honey
Soda
Muddle strawberries and mint leaves. Add gin and coconut water and shake with ice. Fine strain into glass and top with ice and soda water. Garnish with strawberries
The mixologists at Beefeater created this recipe.
Takes Two To Mango
1 ½ oz. Aberfeldy 12 Years Old Single Malt Scotch whisky
¼ oz. Italicus liqueur
½ oz. Lemon juice
½ oz. Honey syrup (honey syrup = 1 part honey, 1 part water)
1 oz. Mango puree
Float Angostura bitters
Combine all ingredients apart from the Angostura bitters in a cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a rocks glass over block ice. Float the Angostura bitters and garnish with a mango spear.
The mixologists at Aberfeldy created this recipe.
Love Struck
1 ½ oz. Vodka
1 ½ oz. Passoã passion fruit liqueur
1 oz. Cranberry juice
½ oz. Lemon juice
½ oz. Simple syrup
¾ oz.Prosecco
Combine all ingredients except prosecco with ice and shake. Strain into a coupe or Nick and Nora glass and top with prosecco.
The mixologists at Morton’s The Steakhouse created this recipe.
Burnin Love Martini
2 oz. RumChata
1 oz. Cinnamon whiskey
1 oz. Vanilla vodka
Pour ingredients over ice in a shaker. Shake and pour. Garnish with cinnamon heart Red Hots.
The mixologists at RumChata created this recipe.
Melissa Dowling is editor of Cheers magazine, our on-premise sister publication. Read her recent piece, How Important is Sustainable Alcohol?
