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Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and everyone is making plans. Whether or not you are going to celebrate with a loved one, anyone can enjoy good Valentine’s Day cocktails. For the ladies who want to have an amazing night with their girlfriends, Galentine’s Day cocktails are a total must!
Whether you are a bar or restaurant owner, or maybe you want to host a party at home, you probably need drinks inspiration. Building a beverage menu, especially for special occasions like Valentine’s Day or the Super Bowl watch party may be challenging. But that’s why we are here!
In this article, we want to share with you some amazing recipes for Valentine’s and Galentine’s Day cocktails, which you can make either for your business or at home. They will be a perfect fit for the occasion and will leave your guests satisfied. But first, let’s talk about the ingredients you are going to need.
Essential Ingredients for Valentine’s Day Cocktails
Love and romance are all around us during February. Stores and restaurants are decorated with hearts in red and pink and chocolate is on everyone’s “to buy” list. But what should you buy for drinking? If you want to invite your friends over for Galentine’s Day cocktails, you will have to stock up on some essentials.
Business owners in the hospitality industry will also have to look into their beverage inventory and prepare their special Valentine’s Day offers. There are some ingredients we recommend everyone gets so they can make delicious festive drinks. Here’s our essentials list:
- Craft vodka
- Gin
- Champagne or sparkling wines
- Red and pink liqueurs
- Fruit juices (preferably red ones)
- Sweeteners - simple syrup, honey, agave syrup
- Herbs and different botanicals
- Bitters
- Cream or milk - you can also get plant-based milks
- Floral waters or syrups
- Chocolate liqueur or syrup
- Fresh fruits
- Club soda or tonic water
- Coffee or cold brew
- Edible flowers
- Ice - with herbs and flower petals or in a heart shape
Of course, you may not need all of these cocktail ingredients, especially if you want to make Galentine’s Day cocktails at home. However, these are the most common ones that will allow you to create a huge variety of Valentine’s Day cocktails for your bar and restaurant. Now let’s see what drinks you can create!
Key Takeaway: Don’t forget to add Valentine’s Day cocktails to your menu this February! Your customers will enjoy diving into the romantic atmosphere and enjoying sweet, delicious cocktails with their other halves or their friend groups.
10 Valentine’s Day Cocktails to Make This February
You can make numerous delicious cocktails, especially if you get the help of a professional mixologist. They can create signature cocktails for your bar or restaurant. But if you want to get inspired for your Valentine’s Day cocktails this year, read our list below.
1. Classic Champagne Cocktail
To make this classic wine cocktail that will appeal to most of your guests, you need:
- 1 sugar cube
- Angostura bitters
- Champagne or sparkling wine
Garnish with a lemon twist or raspberry. You can choose to use a rosé sparkling wine to stay within the color palette of Valentine’s Day.
2. Strawberry Basil Martini
Anything with a strawberry is a great choice for this occasion. However, we want to suggest you make a Strawberry Basil Martini. You are going to need:
- 2 oz of vodka
- 1 oz of strawberry liqueur or fresh strawberry puree
- 0.75 oz of simple syrup
- Fresh basil leaves
To garnish this drink, get a beautiful strawberry or a basil leaf. You can always come up with your own cocktail garnish, too.
3. Raspberry Rosé Fizz
This super pretty pink drink definitely deserves a spot on your menu this February! The ingredients needed are:
- 2 oz of gin
- 0.75 oz of rose water
- 0.5 oz of raspberry syrup
- Club soda
Garnish with fresh raspberries to finish up the look. It’s not only a delicious cocktail but a beautiful one. If you have a marketing campaign that encourages people to take a picture of their drinks and post it on social media, this cocktail will be a hit!
4. Pomegranate Martini
Pomegranate is a good fruit to use for any Valentine’s Day cocktails because of its red color. That’s why we suggest you try the Pomegranate Martini. To make this one, you can use either craft or regular vodka. Here’s the full ingredients list:
- 2 oz of vodka
- 1 oz of pomegranate juice
- 0.75 oz of triple sec
- Splash of fresh lime juice
The simplest way to garnish this drink is by using pomegranate arils.
5. Chocolate Covered Strawberry Martini
Chocolate-covered strawberries are among the most popular sweets for Valentine’s Day. They are such a special treat and almost everyone would like to get that even for themselves. So why don’t you take advantage of this and make Chocolate Covered Strawberry Martini? You will need:
- 2 oz of chocolate vodka
- 1 oz of strawberry liqueur
- 1 oz of cream or milk
For garnish use a chocolate-covered strawberry. This drink will be one of the best sellers, for sure!
6. Passionate Kiss
This red cocktail will be another crowd favorite for sure. Just see the ingredients:
- 1.5 oz of raspberry vodka
- 0.5 oz of Chambord (black raspberry liqueur)
- 0.75 oz of cranberry juice
- Splash of lime juice
This super delicious drink can be garnished with a raspberry. You can add a pop of gree but garnish with lime or mint, but for Valentine’s or Galentine’s celebration, we recommend sticking to the red color.
7. Love Potion No. 9
Another great drink with raspberry vodka that will leave your guests happy. To make this potion, you are going to need:
- 1 oz of raspberry vodka
- 1 oz of peach schnapps
- Cranberry juice
- Club soda
Garnish this cocktail drink with a twist of orange. It’s one of the best Galentine’s Day cocktails to make!
8. Vanilla Rosewater Latte Cocktail
More vodka cocktails over here! For this one, you will need a different vodka as a base, but the result will be as good as the other vodka Valentine’s Day cocktails. Here’s what you need to get:
- 2 oz of vanilla vodka
- 0.5 oz of rose water
- 1 oz of cold-brew coffee
- 1 oz of cream or milk
The best way to garnish this drink is with edible rose petals.
9. Cupid’s Arrow
If you want a unique combination, you need to make this cocktail. The flavors of the different ingredients mix so well together that everyone will fall in love with the cocktail. You should mix up:
- 1.5 oz of strawberry vodka
- 0.5 oz of elderflower liqueur
- 1 oz of pineapple juice
- Splash of sparkling water
To garnish this cocktail, you should use a pineapple wedge.
10. French Kiss
What a great name for a Valentine’s drink, right? Add this cocktail to your menu this February, but just make sure you have:
- 1 oz of Chambord (black raspberry liqueur)
- 1 oz of raspberry vodka
- Champagne or sparkling wine
Garnish with a simple lemon twist and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions about Valentine’s Day Cocktails
To be even more helpful, we’ve decided to answer some of the most common questions about Valentine’s Day cocktails. Here are our answers!
Can I Make Non-alcoholic Valentine’s Day Cocktails?
Absolutely! Non-alcoholic options like Virgin Strawberry Mojitos, Sparkling Berry Lemonades, or alcohol-free versions of classic cocktails can be just as delightful. It’s a great idea to give nice options to the people who can’t or don’t want to drink alcohol.
What’s a Good Champagne Alternative for Valentine’s Day?
Prosecco, sparkling rosé, or even sparkling water with a splash of fruit juice can serve as excellent champagne alternatives. You can garnish any of these drinks with a strawberry or raspberry to add to the flavor and visual appeal.
Are There Any Low-Calorie Valentine’s Day Cocktails?
Yes! You can create lighter versions of cocktails by using low-calorie mixers, fresh fruit, and opting for spirits with fewer calories.