Every year, on February 14th, people all over the country give gifts of candy, cards, flowers and giant teddy bears to their “Valentine” to express their love. Valentines Day falls on a Saturday this year. This means that your loved one expects an even bigger, more loved filled day than usual.
Valentine’s Day has a long and mysterious history. It’s believed that the romance-filled day has its roots in ancient Rome. The Catholic Church has listed three different Saints with the name “Valentine” or a similar moniker, but it’s unclear which if any were the basis for the holiday. One story has Valentine helping Christians escape Roman persecution. For his good deeds, Valentine was imprisoned. During his time in jail, it is believed that he sent a love note to a woman who visited him. This, supposedly was the first ever Valentine. He even signed it “From your Valentine”.
Related: 10 Things She Craves for Valentine’s Day
We celebrate Valentine’s Day by expressing our love to someone special by sending them chocolate in a giant heart and a pre-written card because Hallmark knows just exactly how we feel about our better half.
If you happen to be single on V-Day, you are most likely either miserable or you just don’t care. Either way, you would probably enjoy a drink to take the edge off and drown out all the smiling faces that go hand in hand with love. CraveOnline picked out a few different, unique cocktails to make your Valentine’s Day a little more palatable.
Valentine’s Day is a Day For Drinkers
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The Valentine
The Valentine, from Dallas’ Oak restaurant, is the perfect drink for the most romantic of days. This festive drink utilizes vodka, elderflower liqueur, velvet falernum (a spiced-citrusy-sweet syrup), and rhubarb bitters. The romance is really ramped up by the rose pedals that are muddled with rose water and added into the beverage directly. It might contain a lot of ingredients, but it’s actually a very simple drink to make for the man who wants to wow his lady (or vice versa), or for anyone who just wants to start off a romantic evening with a bang (no pun intended).
Ingredients and Preparation:
- 1.5 oz. vodka
- .5 oz. St. Germain elderflower liqueur
- .5 oz. velvet falernum liqueur
- 2 dashes rhubarb bitters
- 1.5 oz. rose water
- 3-5 rose petals
Muddle rose petals with 1.5 oz. of rose water. Add all ingredients to a shaker. Shake and pour over ice.
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Strawberry Bliss Rhubarb Daiquiri
From the ‘21’ Club in New York City.
Ingredients and Preparation:
- 2 ½ oz. Bacardi Gold
- 2 oz. Strawberry Simple Syrup
- 2 oz. Lime Juice
- 1 oz. Rhubarb Purée
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and shake. Strain into a chilled Martini glass.
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HIM’ingway's Dry Martini
From Il Mulino Prime in New York City.
Ingredients and Preparation:
- 3oz. Absolut Elyx vodka
- 1 Drop of dry Dolin Vermouth De Chambery
- Lemon twist
Shake the ingredients in an ice-packed martini shaker until arctic cold. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a thick lemon twist.
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Cosmic Love No.2
From Il Mulino Prime in New York City.
Ingredients and Preparation:
- 1.5 oz. Cranberry-Infused Russian Standard Vodka
- ¾ oz. Cointreau Triple Sec
- ¾ oz. Lime Juice
- ½ oz. Lime Cordial
- Lime and marinated cranberry garnish
Vodka Infusion: Crush 24 oz. of fresh cranberries by hand or using a food processor, making sure the skin is broken on all the berries. Add 3L bottle of Russian Standard Vodka and let infuse overnight, for no more than 8-12 hours. Strain the infused vodka back into the bottle using a strainer and funnel.
Preparation: Shake the ingredients in an ice-packed martini shaker. Double strain into a chilled martini glass or coupe and garnish with a marinated cranberry and lime wheel.
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Tacuba La Chica Fresa
From Tacuba Mexican Cantina in Astoria, Queens.
Ingredients and Preparation:
- 2oz coconut infused tequila Baron blanco
- 1oz fresh strawberries purée
- 1oz basil light agave nectar syrup
- 3/4oz lime mix
- 3/4oz peach schnapps
Rim with dry shaved coco mix with tajin. Served straight up. Garnish with flower.
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Passiflora
From SD26 in New York City.
Ingredients and Preparation:
- 1.5 oz Svedka Citron Vodka
- 1.0 oz Passion Fruit Puree
- 1.0 oz Prosecco Lime slice
Passion fruit puree is mixed with citrus vodka, shaken with ice, and strained into a martini glass. This colorful cocktail is topped off with prosecco and garnished with a fresh slice of lime.
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Chocolatini
Sometimes, it’s difficult to remember the real meaning of Valentine’s Day. Every store and restaurant seems to be decked out in red and pink and overflowing with over-the-top gifts and decorations. Everyone feels an almost ridiculous, overwhelming need to find a way to go above and beyond what you did last year. Wild Turkey knows your pain. The folks at the famed Kentucky bourbon distillery came up with a few tasty cocktails to make to surprise your significant other. This year, instead of trying to find last minute reservations at the coolest restaurant in your city, stay in and enjoy some delicious cocktails from Wild Turkey. Nothing says Valentine’s Day more than chocolate, champagne and flowers, except for maybe bourbon.
Ingredients and Preparation:
- 2 oz. Wild Turkey® 101
- 1/2 oz. Carolans® Irish Cream
- 1/2 oz. of Irish Mist®
- 1 oz. Heavy Cream or Ice Cream
- Chocolate Syrup
Combine ingredients, shake with ice and serve in a chilled martini glass. Garnish with shaved chocolate.
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Bourbon Kiss
Ingredients and Preparation:
- 1 oz. Wild Turkey® Bourbon 101
- 1/2 oz. Peach Liqueur
- 3 dashes bitters
- Champagne
Combine Bourbon, peach liqueur and bitters in Champagne coup and top off with Champagne.
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Wild Heart
By Pamela Wiznitzer.
Ingredients and Preparation:
- 1-1/2 oz. Wild Turkey® 81
- 1 oz. Campari®
- 1 oz. Lillet® Blanc
- 2 dashes of orange bitters
- Spritz of orange blossom water
- Orange twist
Fill a shaker with ice and add 1 1/2 oz. Wild Turkey 81, Campari and Lillet Blanc. Stir gently and add two dashes of orange bitters. Discard the ice. Spritz orange blossom water into the glass. Strain the cocktail into the glass with fresh ice. Garnish with an orange twist.
