Cocktails

The Best Valentine’s Day Cocktails

It’s that time of year again. Roses and chocolates are in order, and so are on-theme cocktails. Here are our favorites.

By 

Meyme Nakash

 |  January 30, 2024

Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day, or any other day of the year, nothing says “I love you” more than preparing dinner and drinks for a loved one. Looking for inspiration on making the occasion extra special? We’ve rounded up some of our favorite cocktails for a romantic evening at home. 

The Best Valentine’s Day Cocktails

Cantera Negra’s Love Paloma

Cantera Negra’s Love Paloma is a great tequila cocktail to get the evening started. It has a hint of spice that’s reminiscent of the chilly season, and its sweet but sour palate will energize you for an evening out. Add all ingredients except the soda into a shaker filled with ice. Shake and then strain into a Collins glass with fresh ice in it. Then, top with soda water and garnish with a blood orange slice. 

Ingredients

1.5 parts Cantera Negra Silver Tequila

0.75 part pomegranate juice

0.75 part allspice dram

0.25 part fresh lime juice

Top with soda water

Blood orange slice for garnish

The Glenfiddich Highlander Cocoa Recipe

Chocolate is considered to be one of the oldest known aphrodisiacs. After you’ve had a night out on the town, Glenfiddich’s hot chocolate recipe is just what you need to cozy up in bed. It’s really easy: All you have to do is make your favorite hot chocolate (the richer, the better), add Glenfiddich 14-Year-Old, and stir! If you’d like, top it off with whipped cream. 

Ingredients

1 part Glenfiddich 14-Year-Old 

4 parts hot chocolate

Optional: Top with whipped cream and dark chocolate shavings

Elderflower Rose 75

If you’re looking for a cocktail that’s as pretty as it is delicious, then the Elderflower Rose 75 is for you. With a delicate pink appearance and a light floral scent, it’s a dinner drink that’s pleasing to both the eye and the nose. Combine all the ingredients except for the sparkling wine in a shaker filled with ice. Shake and then pour into a chilled flute. Then, top with your loved one’s favorite sparkling wine — we recommend Cava — and garnish with a lemon twist.

Ingredients

2 oz Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin

0.75 oz fresh lemon juice

0.5 oz simple syrup 

Sparkling wine

Lemon twist for garnish

Date Night Old-Fashioned

Just because it’s a classic doesn’t mean it gets old. Bib & Tucker’s Date Night Old-Fashioned is the perfect cocktail to spice up your Valentine’s Day with seasonal flavors such as maple syrup, pecans, and walnuts. To make this drink, add the bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters to a mixing glass with ice. Stir for about 30 seconds until the liquid is cold. Strain into a new glass with fresh ice, and garnish with an orange peel.

Ingredients

2 parts Bib & Tucker Double Char Bourbon

0.25 part maple syrup

2 dashes coffee pecan bitters

2 dashes black walnut bitters

Orange peel for garnish 

Código 1530 Rosa Gimlet

What better way to toast to love than with this reddish-pink cocktail? The sweet tartness of raspberries creates a perfect balance with the Código Rosa, a tequila that ages in red wine barrels and has floral notes. To make this concoction, add all the ingredients to a shaker. Then, shake vigorously and strain into a glass. Finally, garnish with raspberries. 

2 oz Código Rosa Tequila

1 oz lime juice

0.75 oz simple syrup

3 raspberries (muddled)

Raspberries for garnish

The Balvenie Roses and Chocolates 

The Balvenie found inspiration to create this cocktail in the most quintessential Valentine’s Day gifts: roses and chocolates. It marries the floral aroma of Champagne with the rich flavor of chocolate bitters. Just add the Balvenie whisky, red wine syrup, and chocolate bitters to a mixing glass. Then, add ice and stir briefly. Finally, strain your drink into a flute glass and top with Champagne.  

Ingredients 

0.75 oz The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Year Whisky 

0.25 oz red wine syrup 

4 dashes chocolate bitters 

Champagne

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