5 Valentine’s Day Cocktails You’re Going to Love

Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with friends or a special someone, a cocktail is bound to give your evening a significant upgrade. And just because you’re celebrating the big day with your sweeties doesn’t mean that everything you have has to be sweet (although a sweet cocktail or two never hurts!).

If you’re looking for a little inspiration on what to whip up this V Day, here are a few delicious options.

The Love Boat
Cold Storage, Chicago, IL

Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Ketel One Vodka
.5 oz. Lillet Blanc
1 oz. Passionfruit/pear syrup*
.75 oz. Fresh Lemon juice
1.5 oz. Passion fruit La Croix

Directions: Combine all ingredients except the La Croix in a cocktail shaker, adding ice. Shake and strain liquid into a glass. Add passionfruit LaCroix (or other flavored club soda of your choice). Garnish with a mint sprig and a dehydrated lime wheel, or a fun, fresh garnish of your choice.

Passionfruit-pear syrup recipe
1 cup pear juice
1 cup passionfruit juice
1 cup granulated sugar

Directions: Combine and heat until sugar dissolves.

Strip and Go Naked
Three Dots and a Dash, Chicago, IL

Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Martin Miller’s Westbourne Strength Gin (Don’t Substitute)
.75 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
1 oz. Tangerine Juice
.5 oz. Passion Fruit Puree (Preferably Borion)
.75 oz.  2:1 Evaporated Cane Sugar Syrup
2 oz.  Kona Brewing Hanalei Island IPA   (Don’t Substitute)

Directions: Combine Ingredients (except IPA) in mixing tin. Add 10 1’‘X1’’ ice cubes. Shake vigorously. Dump unstrained into a prepared tiki mug (or cup of your choice!). Gently pour 2 ounces of Hanalei Island IPA over the cocktail. Garnish with pineapple leaves, lemon wheel, swizzle and cocktails pick (or garnish of your choice).

Bubbly Kisses Goblet
Available at Sugar Factory Ocean Drive

Ingredients:
6 oz. Brut Champagne
3 oz. Strawberry Rum
3 oz. Strawberry Peach Schnapps
2 oz. Grenadine
2 oz. Strawberry Puree
6 oz. Sprite

Directions: Add all ingredients to a mixing glass and stir. Pour over fresh ice in a large goblet.

Garnish: 4 gummy kisses cut to fit on glass, 4 gummy kisses inside glass, strawberries on glass?.

Love on the Rocks
Available at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar and Grill at Plymouth Miami Beach

Ingredients:
1 oz. Well Bourbon
.5 oz. Creme de Cassis
.5 oz. Aperol
.5 oz. Lemon juice
2 Dash Reagans’ Orange Bitters?
Garnish: Lemon Twist?

Directions: Combine all ingredients over ice and shake. Strain over fresh ice and top with Cava.

Chocolate Covered Raspberry Martini (Serves 2)

Ingredients:
4 oz. Van Gogh Raspberry 
2 oz. Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate 
1 1/2 oz. Crème de cassis

Directions: Shake ingredients very well with ice. Strain into two chilled martini glasses. Garnish with raspberries on a pick.