Valentine’s Day is the notorious Hallmark holiday where a fat, little cherub cheeked imp is supposed to create love connections in the most violent of ways…hitting us with his arrow. I have a much more “spirit”-ual way to achieve exactly the same result…incredible cocktails created by some of the most talented mixologists around. And I could not think of a more apropos day than Valentine’s Day to highlight the fact that bartenders and mixologists around the world, and throughout history, are infamous for creating love connections.
LOVE POTION NUMBER 9
(Available at Hard Rock New York’s Sessions Restaurant & Bar) We all know the song. We all know the myth. Now experience a legendary cocktail of the same name. It is sure to help you make that love connection!
Ingredients:
• 1.5 oz Vodka
• .5 oz Lemon juice
• .5 oz Chambord
• .25 oz simple syrup
• Sparkling Rose
• Pink Cotton Candy
Instructions: Mix the vodka, lemon juice, Chambord, simple syrup and sparkling rose in a glass over ice, add cotton candy to a coupe glass, and pour over the top.
ROSALITA
Celebrate Cupid’s arrow at
America’s first fine dining
restaurant which just re-opened after a three-year pandemic closure.
Ingredients:
• 1.5 oz Blanco Tequila or White Rum (Bacardi Superior preferred) • .75 oz Cocchi Rosa
• .25 oz Campari
• .75 oz vanilla syrup
• .25 oz pomegranate syrup
• .75 oz fresh lime
• 1 dash burlesque bitters
• 3 dashes fee foam (or egg white)
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and give it a dry shake (without ice). Then add ice and give it another shake until cold. Double strain into a coupe glass.
ADULT STRAWBERRY
EGG CREAM
By Sara Jimenez, Somm in the City
The Egg Cream profile mixed with strawberry makes for
a perfect Valentine’s Day
and throwback-inspired cocktail!
Ingredients:
• 2oz Mozart Chocolate
Strawberry Liqueur
• 1.5oz Coconut Milk
• 5oz Seltzer Water
• Ice
• Garnish: Dehydrated rose petals
Instructions:
In a highball glass, combine strawberry liqueur and coconut milk. Add ice, and then top with seltzer. Top with dehydrated rose petals.
DIAMOND JUBILEE
At The Regency Bar & Grill (Loews Regency Hotel New York) You can’t go wrong with this beautifully crafted, upscale love-inspired cocktail made by The Regency Bar & Grill, famous for their “power breakfast” and incredible fare.
Ingredients:
• 1oz Patron El Alto Tequila
Reposado
• .5 oz Aperol
• .5 oz Lillet Blanc
• .5 Oz Fresh Lemon Juice
• .5 Oz Citrus Honey
• 1 Oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
Instructions: Mix all ingredients together, pour in a rocks glass, top with champagne and dust with gold flakes.
SPARKLING STRAWBERRY
By NOEL Tequila Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best. And this one delivers on simplicity and flavor for that love rendezvous!
Ingredients:
• 1.5 oz NOËL Reposado Tequila
• 0.5 oz Lemon Juice
• 0.5 oz Strawberry Syrup
• Champagne
Instructions: In a cocktail shaker with ice, add Reposado Tequila, lemon juice, and strawberry syrup. Shake and strain into a champagne flute and top with champagne. Garnish with a fresh strawberry.
MIDNIGHT KISS
Steal away to that midnight rendezvous with your loved one topped with a beautiful kiss to celebrate Cupid’s day!
Ingredients:
• 1 part Hudson Whiskey Bright
Lights Big Bourbon or Short Stack
• .5 part triple sec
• 2 parts apple cider
• 3 parts chilled Champagne
Instructions:
Mix the whiskey, triple sec and cider in Champagne flute and top with chilled Champagne. Garnish with apple slice.
THE PINK LADY
By Tequila Komos
This cocktail is certain to deliver on its name. Pink, frothy and packed with flavor…now THAT is a cocktail to celebrate love!
Ingredients:
• 2 oz Tequila Komos Reposado Rosa
• 1/2 oz Cointreau
• 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 oz simple syrup
• 1 egg white
Instructions:
Hard shake all ingredients together over good ice in a shaker tin until the egg white is frothy and emulsified. Double strain into a coupe and garnish with raspberries.
ENTREBESOS SPRITZ
By ENTREMANOS Tequila: (Between Kisses)
You have to love a creative cocktail from a tequila that understands the art of love…Brilliant.
Ingredients:
• 50 ml ENTREMANOS Tequila
• 20 ml of lemon juice
• 30 ml of honey syrup
• 20 ml pomegranate juice
• 5 drops of saline solution
• 50 ml whole milk
• 40 ml Prosecco
• 1 – 2 dashes of Peychaud’s
Instructions:
1. In a container, mix the Entemanos Tequila, lemon juice, honey syrup, pomegranate juice, and saline solution to obtain your clarified liquid.
2. Filter this mixture though a coffee filter and refrigerate. The mixture should have a light red hue from the beginning; if it´s not clear, pass it through the coffee filter again.
3. Put whole milk in another container. Add the 150ml of clarified liquid to the container with whole milk and mix.
4. Add 40 ml of Prosecco and 1 or 2 dashes of Peychaud´s to the mixture of clarified liquid with whole milk.
5. Mix in a glass with ice and enjoy!
