Words by Simon Difford
Photography by Dan Malpass
Valentine's Day cocktail names tend to be as corny as the Valentine's cards, and due to strawberries being uncannily heart-shaped, many Valentine's cocktails have a strawberry garnish. Handily, strawberries also impart the desired shade of red, so they are often also an ingredient. Rather than a dozen red roses on Valentine's, here are 20 cocktails to surprise your loved one.
Angel Face
With: Gin, calvados, apricot brandy and chilled water.
We say: Rich apricot and apple with a backbone of botanical gin. Balanced rather than dry or sweet.
Dunderstruck
With: Jamaican rum, Campari, strawberry syrup, pineapple juice and absinthe.
We say: Fruity in every sense of the word - not to mention eatery with namesake dundery rum notes takes centre stage. (Flavours are somewhat reminiscent of a Reggae Rum Punch.)
Elle Loves
With: Light rum infused with vanilla, rosé wine, pineapple juice and grenadine syrup.
We say: Fruity, very slightly sweet and suitably pink in colour.
Hanky Panky
With: Gin, rosso vermouth, fernet liqueur, orange juice and saline solution.
We say: Made well, and this classic is "is the real hanky panky!
Kiss
With: Gin, rouge aromatised wine, rosso vermouth and maraschino liqueur.
We say: Gin-forward with a kiss of aromatised wine and maraschino.
Loved Up
With: Reposado tequila, triple sec, black raspberry liqueur, lime juice, orange juice, and sugar syrup.
We say: A berry and infused loved-up Margarita.
Love Heart
With: Vodka, parfait amour liqueur, strawberry liqueur and brut champagne.
We say: This lavender pink drink is everything you (or your partner) might want for a Valentine's tipple. It is the right colour, includes parfait amour liqueur (meaning perfect love) and the all-important champagne sparkle. Good luck.
Lovelight
With: Cognac/brandy, bitter red liqueur, sweet vermouth, cinnamon syrup and chocolate bitters.
We say: Reminiscent of a cognac-based Negroni with a hint of cinnamon spice.
My Tequila Valentine
With: Blanco tequila, red bitter liqueur, rosso vermouth, dry vermouth, and blood orange juice.
We say: Beautifully balanced tequila and blood orange with a herbal vermouth.
Old Flame
With: Gin, triple sec, sweet vermouth, Campari and orange juice.
We say: Bittersweet, orchard fresh orange charged with gin.
P.S. I Love You
With: Irish cream liqueur, amaretto, golden rum, coffee liqueur and single cream.
We say: P.S. You'll love this creamy, slightly sweet desert cocktail.
Passion Fruit Martini
With: Passion fruit, vodka and passion fruit syrup.
We say: Simple but tasty, harnessing the flavour of passion fruit.
Rosé 75
With: Gin, raspberry syrup, lemon juice and rosé sparkling wine.
We say: Raspberry fruitiness, rosé sparkling wine and a coupe glass serve set this French 75 apart.
Rossini
With: Strawberries, strawberry liqueur and prosecco.
We say: Strawberries seem to complement prosecco even better than white peaches so perhaps order this in preference to a Bellini.
Sidecar Named Desire
With: Calvados, apple schnapps, lemon juice and sugar syrup.
We say: Take a classic Sidecar and add some love interest - apples!
Strawberry Margarita
With: Strawberries, blanco tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and sugar syrup.
We say: Fresh strawberries combine well with tequila in this fruity margarita.
Stupid Cupid
With: Citrus vodka, sloe gin, lime juice, sugar syrup, saline solution.
We say: A citrus vodka lime sour with hints of sloe berry fruitiness.
Sweetheart
With: Vodka, rose petal liqueur, cranberry liqueur and lime juice.
We say: A floral riff on a classic Cosmopolitan. The quality of rose liqueur used makes or breaks this romantically themed cocktail.
Valentine's Martini
With: Vodka, strawberry liqueur, dry vermouth, and rose water.
We say: Appropriately strawberry-and-rose flavoured, this Vodkatini is surprisingly dry.
Valentini
With: Strawberries, raspberry flavoured vodka, Benedictine, strawberry syrup, lemon juice and sugar syrup.
We say: A rich ripe strawberry and raspberry riff on the Porn Star Martini with lemon freshness and faint saffron.
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