Valentine'S Cocktail Drinks

Not every Valentine's cocktail has to be pink.

A great Valentine's cocktail may be festively colored, or might be a drink with a flirty moniker. Or perhaps the best Valentine's Day cocktails are simply the ones that you enjoy with the love of your life. Whether your tastes run to the fruity or the smoky, exotic or classic, there are a number of cocktail recipes that are well-suited for a Valentine's Day celebration.

Amore Vietato

This cocktail's name means "Forbidden Love," an alluring name for a drink to be consumed on a romantic evening. The drink consists of 2 parts gin to 1 part moro, or blood orange, juice. Select a gin with a floral flavor profile, such as Hendricks, made with rose petals, or Magellan, made with iris flowers. Shake to combine, and float a few thin slices of cucumber and strawberry in the drink. Serve in a martini glass.

Canela y Chocolate

While most people think of cool, pink-colored cocktails for Valentine's Day, it's worth remembering that Valentine's Day is a winter holiday. If you plan to spend Valentine's evening curled up in front of a cozy fireplace with your significant other, you may prefer a warm cocktail instead of one that has been chilled. Aida Mollenkamp, star of "FoodCrafters" on The Food Network, suggests the Canela y Chocolate. Over medium low heat, combine 6 oz. of fine Mexican chocolate, 1/4 cup of half-and-half, the zest of an orange, and 4 tbsp. of unsweetened cocoa powder until warm and blended together. In two large serving mugs, place 2 oz. of tequila in each, and top each mug with the chocolate mixture. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and stir.

The Auld Alliance

A cocktail for more masculine tastes or for women who don't like cocktails that are too sweet, this drink combines scotch and Cointreau to make a festive beverage. In a Boston shaker, combine the juice of half a lemon with 1 oz. of scotch and 1/2 oz. of Cointreau or Grand Marnier, a dash of simple syrup and ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a tumbler.

The Chocolate Martini

Every year, boxes of chocolate are a popular gift for Valentine's Day, so a chocolate martini is the logical extension. Drizzle chocolate syrup along the inside of a martini glass. In a shaker, combine 2 parts vodka to 1 1/2 parts chocolate liqueur. Empty the contents of the shaker into the glass, and garnish with shaved chocolate or strawberry slices cut into heart shapes.

Tags: Canela Chocolate, made with, martini glass, scotch Cointreau, shaker combine