7 Best Valentine’s Day Cocktails

Roses julep Valentine's day cocktail with red roses and hearts on a festive background

Stir things up with these Valentine’s Day Cocktails. This Valentine’s Day, many of us do not have the luxury of walking into our local bar and having a bartender whip us up a specialty craft cocktail. So, why not make it a date-night and craft these delicious treats from home this Valentine’s Day? Grab your best friend, family member, or lover, and make February 14th, 2021 a night to remember. Or not remember, we don’t judge. The cocktail police have the night off.

First up is a three-ingredient cocktail packed with flavor that is sure to impress your date-night guest.

1) Love Potion Vodka Cocktail

A vibrant orange-pink Valentine's Day cocktail known as love potion in a martini glass with a pink sugar rim garnished with maraschino cherries and one strawberry on a toothpick.
Photo Credit: TheChunkyChef.com

This stunning cocktail created by “The Chunky Chef” is a delicious Instagram-worthy standout. What we love most is how simple it is to make! But, we may or may not have spruced up this recipe with additional options to make it even more snazzy. Here is all you need:

Ingredients

MUST-HAVES:

  • 1/3 cup vodka
  • ¼ cup peach schnapps or peach liqueur
  • 1 cup ruby red grapefruit juice

ADD-ONS (for that “wow” factor):

  • Granulated sugar
  • Toothpick
  • Your choice of fresh cherries, strawberries or Maraschino cherries

Instructions

1) Rim the glass. First, use some of the peach liqueur (separate from the ¼ cup you need for the cocktail) to coat the cocktail glass rim. Pour some peach liqueur on a plate and spin the cocktail glass (face down) around in the liqueur until the rim of the glass is completely covered. Secondly, on a separate plate, place granulated sugar (about two tablespoons is enough), and now coat the rim of the glass with the sugar the same way you did with the liqueur. The sugar should stick to the peach liqueur, leaving a beautifully rimmed white cocktail glass.

2) Add all three must-have ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Cover shaker and shake, shake, shake it up.

3) Pour the chilled cocktail mixture (leave the ice behind) into your cocktail glass.

4) After that, garnish the cocktail with your fruit of choice. Place small pieces of cherries or strawberries on a toothpick and lay them across your cocktail glass.

5) Drink up and let us know how it tastes!

For the original recipe of this Valentine’s Day cocktail, please visit thechunkychef.com.

2)  Cupid’s Arrow

Pink strawberry Valentine's Day cocktail known as cupid's arrow which includes fresh strawberries, ice, a rim of pink crystal sugar and chocolate shavings in a stemless wine glass.
Photo Credit: thekitchenmagpie.com.

This advanced cocktail is brought to you by “Mr. Kitchen Magpie”. Although this cocktail requires more ingredients, we are sure the payoff is tenfold, as it is rated 5 out of 5 stars on thekitchenmagpie.com. Here is all you need to create this colorful masterpiece. Oh, did we mention it includes chocolate?!

Ingredients

  • 1.5 ounces vodka
  • .75oz blood orange liqueur
  • 1.5 ounces orange juice
  • 1 splash of lemon juice
  • 5 chopped berries of your choice. Recommended: A combination of raspberries and strawberries.
  • 1 teaspoon sugar or ½ packet of Splenda
  • ½ can lemon-lime soda. Recommended: Sprite.
  • 1 sprinkle of chocolate shavings for garnish
  • Sugar crystals for glass rim

Instructions

1) First off, have a cocktail shaker ready-to-go filled halfway with ice. Combine the vodka, blood orange liqueur, orange juice, lemon juice, and sugar into your cocktail shaker. Shake it up.

2) Now, you are ready to wet and dip glass rim in pink or red sugar crystals.

3) Thirdly, fill a cocktail glass with ice cubes.

4) Next up, pour the shaken mixture over ice. Add sprite and stir to mix.

5) Lastly, sprinkle the cocktail with chocolate shavings.

For the original recipe of this Valentine’s Day cocktail please visit: thekitchenmagpie.com.

3)  Chocolate Raspberry Martini

Chocolate raspberry martini Valentine's Day cocktail in a martini glass with a charcoal gray background. The milky brown chocolate martini is garnished with 5 fresh raspberries on a toothpick.
Photo Credit: honeyandbirch.com

Valentine’s Day is just not the same without chocolate. Give your sweet tooth something to rave home about. Indulge in this chocolate lover’s dream: a chocolate raspberry martini. It is bursting with loads of sweetness and a tangy twist. We’ve opted for a simple, yet delicious recipe brought to you by honeyandbirch.com. Although, once again, we have also gone the extra mile and made a couple of snazzy tweaks. Behold, here are all the ingredients you need to complete this delicious chocolatey treat:

Ingredients

Instructions

1) Start by combining the chocolate liqueur, raspberry liqueur, and vodka and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake it up until chilled, then strain into a chilled martini glass.

2) After that, garnish the drink with the fresh raspberries.

For the original recipe for this Valentine’s Day cocktail, please visit honeyandbirch.com.

4)  Kentucky Kiss

Strawberry Valentine's Day cocktail. An iced cold drink with ice and mint. Strawberry infused bourbon cocktail called Kentucky Kiss made with Maker's Mark. On Black dark background.
Photo Credit: Envato Elements

For all you bourbon lovers out there, this Valentine’s Day cocktail is meant to feature the classic Maker’s Mark Bourbon, established and produced in the heart of Kentucky. We pulled the original recipe from thespruceeats.com, but made a few JohnHart adjustments. Dazzle your date with this flashy cocktail that requires some muddling of strawberries. If you are a fruit lover, this whisky drink is sure to please your palate. Here’s all you need to make a mouthwatering Kentucky Kiss Cocktail:

Ingredients

  • 3-4 strawberries (fresh, not frozen)
    • 2-3 for muddling, 1 for garnish
  • ½ oz lemon juice
  • ½ oz maple syrup
  • 2 ounces (or 3 to make it strong) of Maker’s Mark bourbon whisky
  • A splash of club soda

Instructions

1) First, in an old-fashioned glass (if you have one), add 2 to 3 strawberries, the lemon juice, and the maple syrup and muddle well until the berries are thoroughly mashed.

2) Second, add the bourbon and fill the glass with ice. Stir well.

3) Next, add a splash of club soda to the top. Lightly stir again.

4) Lastly, garnish your Valentine’s cocktail with a strawberry on top.

For the original recipe of this Valentine’s Day cocktail, visit thespruceeats.com.

5) Between the Sheets

Between the sheets Valentine's Day cocktail. Orange cocktail in a cocktail glass with a gray gradient background.
Photo Credit: Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

The sultry title of this cocktail tells you all you need to know. This is one of those drinks that will tantalize your tastebuds and leave you wondering “is there any alcohol in this?” until it hits you later on. This tasty intoxicant is simple, sexy, and requires little-to-no-effort to create. It is a modern twist on the well-known “Sidecar” cocktail. We’ve poached this recipe from the trustworthy and fairly-named site: liquor.com. Here’s what you need:

Ingredients

  • 1 oz of Cognac
  • 1 oz Triple sec
  • ¼ oz Fresh lemon juice
  • 1 to 2 ounces of Light rum (depending on how daring you are)
  • 1 orange (will only need the peel)

Instructions

1) To kick things off, add all of your ingredients (minus the orange peel) into a shaker filled with ice. Then, shake.

2) After that, strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.

3) Next, flame an orange peel over the glass and discard before serving.

If we just lost you at “flame an orange peel” – we promise you, it’s very simple! All you need is an orange peel and a match and/or lighter. But if you’re still nervous, here is a quick video via Bon Appetit to show you how it’s done: How to Flame an Orange Peel for Cocktails. Moreover, this extra skillset will come in handy. Try it out to experience this Valentine’s Day cocktail in full-effect.

For the original recipe of this Saint Valentine’s Day cocktail, please visit: liquor.com.

6) Crimson Kiss

Crimson Kiss Valentine's Day Cocktail. A chilled red cocktail in a cocktail glass with condensation on a black background. Two glasses with one lemon zest.
Photo Credit: Lisa / garlicandzest.com

This crimson-red cocktail known as “Crimson Kiss” is brought to you by Lisa via garlicandzest.com. This recipe was originally published in 2017, and since then has earned several 5-star ratings and many complimentary comments and reviews. The people have spoken! This Valentine’s Day Cocktail is a must-try. The crimson-red vibrant color of this drink also has us believing this is the perfect February 14th cocktail to complement any Valentine’s Day themed tabled setting. Here’s what you need to complete a Crimson Kiss cocktail:

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces of pomegranate juice
  • 2 ounces of vodka (we recommend Tito’s)
  • 2 ounces amaretto (we recommend Disaronno)
  • ½ oz lemon juice
  • 6 drops of bitters (we recommend Angostura)
  • Lemon peel (optional – for garnish)
  • 1 fresh cherry OR maraschino cherry (optional – for garnish)

Instructions

1) In a shaker with ice, combine all ingredients with the exception of the optional garnish items. This includes pomegranate juice, vodka, amaretto, lemon juice, and bitters. Shake all ingredients thoroughly until chilled.

2) After that, pour your chilled cocktail into two coupe glasses.

3) Finally, it’s time to add your garnish. In addition to a twist of lemon (lemon peel), we recommend you also add a cherry (maraschino or fresh cherry) if desired.

For the original recipe of this Valentine’s Day cocktail, visit garlicandzest.com.

7)  Love Bird

Love Bird Valentine's Day cocktail. A orange-pink cocktail in a stout glass with white foam and garnished with a pink and blue bird on top. Rosehip grinds surrounding the glass on the table.
Photo Credit: flairprojectsb.com

After all, the holiday is all about love. We are rounding off our list of 7 Best Valentine’s Day Cocktails with this complex swain cocktail known as, “Love Bird”. This one is brought to you by the Flair Project. They have dubbed this drink the ideal “craft Valentine’s Day Cocktail.” This one, ladies and gents, requires more unique ingredients than the rest. Here’s what you need to accomplish a Love Bird cocktail to really “wow” your lover this Valentine’s Day:

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Rose Hip Infused Vodka
    • This may require you to plan ahead and infuse your own vodka. The process is simple: follow the instructions provided by boozedandinfused.com. You will need 2 tablespoons of dried rose hips and the vodka of your choice. Once again, we recommend Tito’s Vodka.
  • 1 ounce of Lychee Juice
  • .5 ounces of fresh Lime Juice
  • .5 ounces of Pink Peppercorn Syrup
  • 2-3 dashes of Creole Bitters
  • 1 Egg White

Instructions

  1. First and foremost, add all the ingredients (except Creole bitters) into a cocktail shaker without ice.
  2. Dry shake the ingredients (with no ice) for about 10-15 seconds. Add ice and then shake again for another 10-15 seconds until the solution is thoroughly chilled.
  3. Third, strain the mixture in a glass and garnish with a few drops of Creole bitters on the surface of the cocktail.
  4. Serve and enjoy!

For the original recipe, please visit flairprojectsb.com.

That’s all we’ve got, folks! Let us know which of these cocktail recipes you enjoyed, which ones you may not have, and any we may have forgotten that should be added to the list to celebrate Saint Valentine’s on February 14th.

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