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The 12 Best Valentine’s Day Cocktail Recipes to Make

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Flowers are fine, and gifts are great, but nothing says romance like a little DIY. And there’s no need to bust out the tool belt for this one — save the big projects for the nice weather and set the mood this Valentine’s Day with a cocktail party for two. Whether you go all-out on a home-cooked meal or leave it to the pros and order in, take the time to make one (or five) of these gorgeous Valentine’s Day cocktails that will be sure to impress.

We’ve compiled a list of 12 sexy cocktails to make at your home bar for all palates and preferences. From bitter to sweet, vodka to mezcal, and simple to complex, you’ll find plenty here to shake things up for your Valentine this year (or for yourself; we’re not here to judge).

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Crystal Head Vodka Night Cap

Crystal Head Vodka.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz. Crystal Head Vodka
  • 1 oz. fresh espresso
  • .5 oz. coffee liqueur
  • .25 oz. simple syrup

Method: 

  1. Add Crystal Head Vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice.
  2. Shake vigorously over ice for 10-15 seconds.
  3. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
  4. Garnish with grated dark chocolate and three espresso beans.

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Tanteo Tequila Jalapeño Watermelon Margarita

Tanteo Jalapeno Tequila.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ingredients: 

Method: 

  1. Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice.
  2. Shake well and strain into a coupe glass.
  3. Garnish with a watermelon slice.

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High West Whiskey Devil’s Eye
High West Whiskey.

Ingredients: 

  • 1.5 oz. High West Whiskey Double Rye!
  • 1 egg white
  • .25 oz. Amaro CioCiaro
  • .25 oz. Averna
  • .25 oz. crème de cacao
  • 1 oz. cold brew coffee concentrate
  • .25 oz. cinnamon syrup
  • 3 dashes coffee cherry bitters

Method: 

  1. Add all ingredients to shaker tin and dry shake for 10 seconds without ice.
  2. Add ice, shake vigorously until chilled, double strain into an 8oz mason jar.
  3. Express orange peel over the drink before serving.

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Tanteo Tequila Chipotle Smoke & More Margarita
Tanteo Chipotle Vodka.

Ingredients:

Method:

  1. Muddle blackberries in a tin.
  2. Combine remaining ingredients in a shaker with ice.
  3. Shake well and strain into an ice-filled rocks.
  4. Glass (smoky salt rim optional).
  5. Garnish with a blackberry or a lime wedge.

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Humboldt Organic Vodka Sage the Date

Humbodlt Vodka Organic.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ingredients: 

  • 2 oz. Humboldt Vodka
  • .5 oz. lemon juice
  • 1 oz peach purée
  • 1 oz. sage simple syrup
Method:
  1. Combine all ingredients in a tin, add ice, shake and strain into a chilled coupe glass.
  2. To make sage simple syrup: In a small pan, combine 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar.
  3. Bring to simmer, and stir until sugar is dissolved completely.
  4. Add 8-10 sage leaves, remove from heat, and let leaves steep for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

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Averna Amaro Black Manhattan

Amaro Averna.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ingredients: 

  • 1 oz. Averna Amaro Siciliano
  • 2 oz. bourbon or rye whiskey
  • 1 dash angostura bitters
  • 1 dash orange bitters
  • For the garnish: cocktail cherry or luxardo cherry

Method: 

  1. Combine the whiskey, amaro and bitters in a cocktail mixing glass (or any other type of glass).
  2. Fill the mixing glass with 1 handful ice and stir continuously for 30 seconds.
  3. Strain into a coupe or cocktail glass.
  4. Garnish with a cherry and serve.

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Curamia Tequila Booster

Curamia tequila.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz. Curamia Tequila Blanco
  • .25 tsp. grated ginger
  • .25 tsp. turmeric
  • .25 oz. fresh lime juice
  • 3 oz. ginger beer
  • Lime wheels for garnish

Method:

  1. Combine all but ginger beer in a shaker and shake lightly to combine.
  2. Pour into tall glass and fill with ice.
  3. Top with Ginger Beer.

Humboldt’s Finest Hemp Infused Vodka Pom Pom
Humbodlt Hemp.

Ingredients: 

  • 1.5 oz. Humboldt’s Finest
  • .75 oz. fresh organic lime juice
  • .75 oz. Cointreau
  • .25 oz. simple syrup
  • 1 oz. pomegranate juice
  • Sparkling white wine
  • Garnish: Rosemary sprig

Method:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a tin, add ice, shake, and strain into a chilled coupe glass.
  2. Top with sparkling wine, and garnish with a rosemary sprig.

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Cazadores Tequila Cantarito Familiar

Cazadores tequila.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ingredients:

  • 1 bottle Tequila Cazadores Reposado
  • 25 oz. orange juice
  • 10 oz. fresh lime juice
  • 25 oz. grapefruit juice
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 12 oz. grapefruit soda

Method:

  1. Combine tequila, orange juice, grapefruit juice, lime juice, grapefruit soda, and salt.
  2. Stir and pour over ice.
  3. Garnish with orange, grapefruit, and tamarind candy.

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Josh Cellars Chardonnay Sparkling Pomegranate Fruit Sangria

Josh Chardonnay Wine.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ingredients

  • 1 bottle Josh Cellars Chardonnay
  • 1 apple (sliced)
  • 1 orange (sliced)
  • .5 cup peach nectar
  • 1 can club soda (or Sprite, or diet Sprite)
  • .5 cup pomegranate arils (fresh)

Method:

  1. Mix together.

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Licence IV The Anna Rose

Licence IV Rose.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
  • 1 oz. Licence IV Rosé 
  • 2 oz. bourbon
  • .75 oz. fresh-squeezed orange juice
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tbsp cherry syrup
  • Some orange zest

Method:

  1. Chill your glass – add ice cubes to your glass then add water. Let this sit while you make the cocktail.
  2. Fill a cocktail shaker ¾ of the way with ice cubes.
  3. Add the bourbon, wine, orange juice and egg white to the shaker.
  4. Shake for at least 30 seconds, you want to get the egg white whipped up.
  5. Empty the water and ice from the prepared glass and strain the contents of the shaker into the cocktail glass.
  6. The drink should be foamy and the egg white will start to separate from the rest of the drink and sit on top.
  7. Slowly and carefully drizzle the cherry syrup over the top of the egg white.
  8. Twist the orange zest over the top of the drink to release the essence and then set it on the edge of the glass on top of the egg white.

Drifter Craft Cocktail

Drifter craft cocktail.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you are not in the mood to DIY (it’s okay to be exhausted!), consider Drifter Craft Cocktails, a new canned cocktail collection. these canned cocktails have been produced in collaboration with bartenders behind the cocktail programs at destination bars such as Mace in New York, Danico in Paris, Kaido in Miami, Wynn in Las Vegas, and The Cottonmouth Club in Los Angeles. The cocktails come in Spicy Margarita, Passion Fruit Caipirinha, Moscow Mule, and Nordic-style Gin &  Tonic. A cool bonus is that Drifter’s packaging pays homage to 1950s and 60s air travel artwork, calling to mind a time when Pan Am soared the sky.

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Latifah Al-Hazza
Latifah Al-Hazza
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Latifah is an Emmy Award-Winning travel journalist and documentary filmmaker, as well as the Cofounder of Femscape Sojourns… Read Full Bio
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