Cocktail recipes from sweet to spicy to make at home for Valentine's Day
Mix things up with a couple creative cocktails for your special someone!
A toast to you this Valentine's Day: Rosé is pink, flowers will do, but why not make drinks or a cocktail for two?
"Cocktails are great way to elevate a typical Valentine’s Day occasion, and there’s nothing like a fresh hand-crafted cocktail to set the mood, especially in an intimate setting," cocktail expert and mixologist Dominic Alling told "Good Morning America."
Valentine's Day cocktails to make at home
Whether you reach for a flute, a high ball or a coupe-id (get it!?) these libations are perfect to raise a glass and propose a toast to that special someone.
Spice things up with a red pepper infused cocktail or sweeten up the evening with a royale champagne punch topped with fresh berries with the full recipes below.
The M+M
Amaro Montenegro, an iconic Italian liqueur made with a top-secret recipe since 1885, is the base of this simple and balanced beverage beloved by bartenders and in-the-know consumers.
Ingrediets
1 part Amaro Montenegro
1 part mezcal
Orange peel
Garnish with an olive
Directions
Fill rocks glass with ice, preferably 1 large cube. Pour ingredients into glass and stir to mix.
Cafe Martini
For fans of the popular espresso martini or want a wake up to kick off the evening, this riff from Robert Krueger -- Beverage Director of Smith & Mills -- adds a rich sweetness from Amaro Montenegro to balance out the bitter espresso.
"Don't overlook the Cafe Martini for an afternoon pick-me-up or after-dinner treat," he said. "Vecchia Romana represents the underappreciated category of Italian Brandy, having more in common with Cognac than its rustic compatriot spirit, grappa. It brings far greater complexity to an Espresso-based drink than Vodka, harmonizing with the bittersweet, citrusy tones of Amaro Montenegro in this recipe, providing a warm, lengthy, and satisfying finish to the cocktail."
Ingredients
1 ounce Amaro Montenegro
1 ounce Veechia Romagna Etichetta Nera
1 ounce fresh espresso coffee
1/2 ounce sugar syrup
Directions
Fill coupe glass with ice and set aside to chill. Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake well. Double strain into the empty chilled coupe glass. Garnish with ground black pepper.
The Botanist Clover Club
Ingredients
2 oz The Botanist Islay Dry Gin
0.5 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
0.5 oz raspberry syrup
1 egg white
Fresh raspberries
Directions
Add The Botanist, lemon juice, raspberry syrup, and egg white into a shaker and shake vigorously for five seconds. Add ice and shake until well-chilled, approximately ten seconds. Strain into a child cocktail glass. Garnish with three speared raspberries.
A Divine Duo
Similar to the notes of a classic Manhattan -- which would be made with bourbon and vermouth -- this special Valentine's Day drink has a sweet and rich finish.
Ingredients
1.5 oz Angel's Envy Bourbon, finished in port barrels
1 oz Martini & Rossi Rubino Reserva Vermouth
.5 oz Raspberry Liqueur
5 dashes chocolate bitters
Directions
Combine all and stir to chill and dilute
Strain into a coupe glass
Garnish with grated dark chocolate and a fresh raspberry
Q-pid Spritz
Ingredients
1.5oz of your favorite spirit
1 can of Q Hibiscus Ginger Beer
Garnish with a dehydrated lime
Directions
Combine all ingredients in your favorite glass over ice. Stir to combine. Top with dehydrated lime.
Punch Royale
Ingredients
8 ounces Chambord Liqueur
8 ounces Cranberry juice
2 cold bottles sparkling wine
Raspberries and/or blackberries
Directions
Take two bottles of cold champagne, cranberry juice and Chambord. Pour into a punch bowl or large pitcher.
Stir and garnish with raspberries or blackberries (or both, up to you). Serve as soon as the clock is ready!
Red Lady
Ingredients
2 ounces The Botanist Gin (or substitute your gin of choice)
2 ounces Cointreau
1 ounce Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
6 strips Julienned Red Bell Pepper
3 drops Orange Bitters
Directions
In a cocktail shaker, muddle red bell pepper.
Add remaining ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
Shake without ice then add ice and shake again.
Double strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a strip of julienned red bell pepper.
Smoke Show
Ingredients
2 ounces The Botanist Gin (or substitute your gin of choice)
1 ounce Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
1 ounce Ginger Syrup
.25 ounces Mezcal
4 drops Orange Bitters
Directions
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker.
Fill with ice and shake.
Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a ginger slice.
Rosé Fizz
Ingredients
1.5 ounces The Botanist Gin (or substitute your gin of choice)
.75 ounces Fresh Lemon Juice
.75 ounces Honey Syrup
2 Rosemary Sprigs
2 ounces Sparkling Rosé
Directions
Add gin, honey syrup and one rosemary sprig into a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake.
Fine strain into a champagne glass.
Top with sparkling rosé and garnish with a rosemary sprig.
The Playful Paloma
Ingredients
2 parts Avion Silver
1 part Grapefruit Juice
1/2 part Lime Juice
1/2 part agave nectar
Splash club soda
Directions
Build ingredients over ice in a glass, stir ingredients to chill and garnish with a lime wedge.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story was originally published on Feb. 5, 2019.
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