These Valentine’s Day cocktails and drinks feature shades of pink and red and festive flavors of chocolate, raspberry, and strawberry. Find the perfect romantic cocktail or Galentine’s Day drink!
Nothing says “I love you” quite like a good Valentine’s Day cocktail! I’ve tested many of the years, and I’ve found that the best drinks are in one of three categories: fruity with berries or citrus, rich with chocolate and cream, or bubbly with champagne.
Here are my favorites in each category, with classic cocktails and spins on drinks with flavors like raspberry, pomegranate, strawberry, blood orange, and more. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re making a romantic dinner or hosting a Galentine’s Day party for friends.
25 Valentine’s Day Cocktails and Drinks
This fun red cocktail has a vibrant color and pure berry flavor thanks to homemade raspberry syrup! It's the key to avoiding that artificial taste you get from store-bought mixes. It's sweet-tart and balanced, with just enough vodka to keep it pleasantly sippable.
Vying for my other favorite Valentine's Day cocktail is this Chocolate Martini! This drink is rich and creamy, basically a dessert in a glass. It’s got Irish cream and creme de cacao and tastes like the liquid version of your favorite chocolate bar.
What's better for Valentine's Day than the fabulous Cosmo? It’s got a brilliant pink color and tangy, refreshing flavor. This great cocktail is ready to spice up your Valentine's Day dinner: this version has a few twists that make it infinitely better than what you'd order at a bar.
This playful berry vodka martini has a sweet berry flavor and a red sugar rim. If you like go over the top, add a cube of dry ice for those fun potion-like smoke effects!
Here’s a sophisticated cocktail that’s calling your name: the French martini! It’s fruity and balanced, featuring a fancy French black raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice. Each sip is intriguing and nuanced!
You might think of the frozen milkshake at chain restaurants, but a proper Mudslide is shaken with coffee liqueur and Irish cream, then served up in a cocktail glass! I've tested it both ways, and the shaken version is much more sophisticated, with a rich, chocolaty flavor that's ideal for Valentine's Day.
This pre-Prohibition classic has a stunning pink color and sophisticated flavor that feels perfect for a special occasion. Raspberry syrup with gin and lemon makes a balanced sweet-tart drink, while the egg white foam adds a creamy texture and beautiful frothy top to each sip.
The Espresso Martini has vaulted into major popularity, and it’s easy to see why. Bittersweet coffee pairs perfectly with the rich sweetness of Kahlua. Add vodka and the trio makes a full-flavored sophisticated drink that’s cool, frothy, and bittersweet.
Try this tasty and refreshing Valentine's Day cocktail: a Strawberry Margarita! This one is frosty and fruity, full of berry flavor but complimented with tangy lime and tequila. You'll fall in love with its vibrant red color and sweet tart flavor. Slice the berry into a heart shape as a fun garnish!
This crisp, sweet tart, fruity drink is closer to a Cosmo than the classic martini. But instead of cranberry juice like the Cosmopolitan, it’s made with pomegranate juice! Serve it up in a martini glass and you’ve got a sophisticated cocktail that’s refreshing and easy to drink.
An easy Valentine's Day drink that’s bubbly and sophisticated is the Kir Royale! This famous French cocktail stars black currant liqueur and sparkling wine: and the berries and bubbles suit each other perfectly. This 2 ingredient combination is ideal for the holiday.
This Spanish-style sangria stars fresh strawberries in a dry rosé base that lets the fruit shine without becoming overly sweet. I serve it with a splash of sparkling water and a skewer of fruit, which makes it feel festive for Valentine's Day.
Another fun bright red margarita is the Cranberry Margarita! Its sweet tart flavor is crisp and refreshing. It’s got all the character of the classic margarita, but a beautiful new look and nuance to the flavor! It's ideal as a bright, vibrant red cocktail for Valentine's Day.
This classic balances sweet and tart with a boozy edge from Cognac and citrus essence from orange liqueur. The drink is complex and layered: warm, crisp, and rich all at once, making it great for sipping slowly with someone special.
Want for a Valentine's Day cocktail with bourbon? Try this Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail! It’s balanced, sweet tart, and complex, fruity with intriguing notes from sweet vermouth. It's a fun red bourbon drink for the holiday!
Winter is blood orange season, so blood orange drinks are great for Valentine's Day! Its vibrant red orange color and sweet flavor make it this fruit so special. This tasty citrus makes a brilliant bright festive cocktail that’s balanced and sweet tart.
What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than a drink that says "I think you're the Bees Knees!" It’s got a cute 1920’s name and a smooth flavor to match. Making a honey syrup instead of simple syrup adds a rich depth to the fresh lemon and gin.
When it comes to Valentine's Day cocktails, there’s no dessert drink more unique than the Pink Squirrel! Creme de noyaux liqueur gives it the delicate pink color and an almond essence. It’s a bit of a specialty splurge, but it tastes like melted ice cream!
This unique creamy drink balances vodka, amaretto and Kahlua that results in a flavor that’s surprisingly similar to toasted almonds. Something about the coffee liqueur adds in a roasty flavor that makes this drink both balanced and intriguing, all at once.
Last up in my favorite Valentine's Day cocktails: the Pomegranate Gin Fizz! The Gin Fizz is one of my favorite classic cocktails, and I love adding pomegranate juice: it elevates the sweet tart flavor and gives the drink a brilliant jewel-toned color!
Try the modern classic Naked and Famous cocktail! This mezcal and Aperol drink balances with smoke, sunshine, spice, and citrus with layers of unexpected complexity.
The Paloma is a lighter pink drink that's perfect for Valentine's Day! If you're looking for a tequila-based drink that's citrusy and refreshing, this is ideal: especially when pairing with food.
The French 75 is a classic cocktail made with gin, lemon, and champagne. This drink recipe is classy and perfect for celebrations of all kinds: especially V Day!
I love a good Lemon Drop Martini for any occasion, and it's great for Valentine's Day. It's bright, refreshing, and perfectly sweet-tart, made with fresh, simple ingredients for an easy, bar-quality cocktail at home!
I love the idea of a pitcher of strawberry daiquiris for a Galentine's Day party! This recipe is made with frozen strawberries, fresh lime, and white rum, and it's deliciously fruity.
Non-Alcoholic Valentine’s Day Drinks
For those who don’t drink alcohol, there are plenty of festive and delicious mocktails to enjoy! With its red color, this Cranberry Mocktail or a Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri would a great choice as a Valentine’s Day drink.
My popular Pomegranate Mocktail would work perfectly, or a Virgin Margarita or a Cherry Lime Rickey.
Pairing Valentine’s Cocktails with Food
Lighter drinks like the Paloma or Strawberry Margarita pair well with meals. Rich chocolate cocktails like a Mudslide or Espresso Martini work best as a dessert or after-dinner drink.
For a full Valentine’s dinner menu, try my Valentine’s day dinner ideas or these romantic dinner ideas that pair well with festive cocktails. I also like serving chocolate desserts with coffee-based cocktails as a fun ending to the evening.
If you’re cooking for two, try my easy dinner ideas for two that are also perfect for a romantic dinner.
from A Couple Cooks https://ift.tt/O3dSw1j
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