Valentine Cocktail Ideas

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, there are plenty of ideas for meals to cook or luxurious venues to take your loved one.  But sometimes life doesn’t leave enough time for these time-consuming events.  If you are one of the people who never have time for a sumptuous meal together or to spend the night at the theatre, then why not create a special cocktail for the evening to drink and relax together at the end of the day?

The perfect sip

The great thing about cocktails is that they can be tailored to any taste, including those who don’t drink alcohol.  Serving the cocktail can even be the centre of a short but sweet Valentine’s Day event by picking up a pair of personalised glasses to share the drinks in.  So here are some recipe ideas to get you started on cocktails designed for two.

The Maxwell Cocktail

• ·         1.5 oz. Cucumber Vodka
• ·         .75 oz. cucumber juice
• ·         .25 oz. Cointreau
• ·         .5 oz. lemon juice
• ·         .25 oz. agave nectar

Mix the ingredients above in a large shaker with ice then shake for around 10 seconds.  Take two champagne glasses and split the content of the mixer between the two.  Fill to the top with champagne and keep the bottle chilled to add more as needed.

Tiki Bowl

• ·         2 oz. orange juice
• ·         1.5 oz. lemon juice
• ·         .5 oz. almond orgeat
• ·         1 oz. light rum
• ·         1 oz. dark rum
• ·         1 oz. brandy

Put all of the ingredients into a blender along with a scoop of shaved ice.  Blend until thoroughly mixed and service into a tiki bowl or a hurricane glass.  To garnish, add ice cubes and decorate with a gardenia.

Chocolate Strawberry Martini

• ·         3 strawberries, sliced
• ·         1 oz. milk
• ·         4 oz. vodka
• ·         2 oz. chocolate liqueur

Put the strawberries and milk into a shaker and mix then add the rest of the ingredients and fill with ice.  Shake again then add to an oversized martini glass that two can share.

The Rose

• ·         2 oz. dry vermouth (Martini)
• ·         1 oz. cherry brandy
• ·         1 tsp raspberry syrup

Add all the ingredients into a mixing glass and fill it with ice.  Give it a good stir then strain into a chilled cocktail glass for each and garnish with a brandied cherry.

Little touches

If your loved one isn’t a fan of cocktails, then why not get a bottle of their favourite wine but add something a little different?  Try a personalised plaque that says something from your heart that you can hang around the neck of the bottle and give them on Valentine’s Day when they are ready to relax at last.

Or for one of the simplest of all cocktails that is filled with glass, invest in a bottle of Chambord and a bottle of champagne.  Take those special champagne flutes you bought and add .25 oz. to each glass of Chambord before topping with the champagne.  This turns the drink a beautiful deep red colour and can be garnished with a twist of lemon for a simple drink that says ‘I love you’.