Top Five Red Cocktails for Valentine's Day

Mixing up a few cocktails for Valentine’s Day is a great idea whether you’re making cocktail for just the two of you or making lots for a Valentine’s Day (or anti-Valentine’s Day) Party.   The color of Valentine’s Day seems to be red – think of red roses, red heart shapes and you can’t deny that red cocktails are simply the best ones to serve on Valentines.....although pink ones can be good too!

What cocktails to choose though, something like a Bloody Mary is red, but doesn’t really sound very romantic does it?   I’ve found my top five red cocktails for Valentine’s Day picks and listed them here for you.

The Strawberry Martini is delicious (if you like gin) and is the required color, you will need –

30 ml gin

dry vermouth

strawberry syrup

If you’re not a gin lover then do not make this as it has a very strong flavor, if you do enjoy gin however – this one is a winner.

Pour the gin into a mixing glass with cracked ice and add just a dash each of dry vermouth and strawberry syrup.   Stir gently until the drink is ice cold and then strain into a martini glass to serve.

A fresh strawberry cut slightly so that it can be put onto the rim of the martini glass makes a great garnish for this Strawberry Martini.   I like to make up some chocolate strawberries for Valentine’s Day however.   If you have some chocolate strawberries then place the martini glass on a saucer or small bread and butter plate with a chocolate strawberry (or 2) next to it.

This cocktail is a twist on the classic Cosmopolitan which is a Valentine’s day classic because it tastes great and is the perfect color!   The twist is the use of raspberry vodka and grenadine to take the red color deeper.   You will need –

60 ml cranberry juice

30 ml raspberry vodka

lime juice

grenadine

Pour the cranberry juice and vodka into a cocktail shaker with cracked ice add a splash each of fresh lime juice and grenadine.   Shake well and strain into a martini glass to serve.   If you’re able to find some fresh raspberries then a single raspberry on the rim of the glass makes a great garnish, but don’t worry if you can’t find any as this cocktail looks stunning enough ‘naked.’

Valentine’s Day without Champagne?   I think not!   This delicious cocktail combines the red color of Valentine’s Day with the bubbles of love….I mean Champagne :)

You will need the following –

45 ml raspberry vodka

30 ml raspberry schnapps

lime juice

Champagne

Fresh raspberries

Pop the vodka, schnapps and a splash of lime juice into a cocktail shaker with cracked ice and shake.   In the bottom of a Champagne flute put 2 or 3 fresh raspberries, strain the vodka/schnapps combo into the glass.   Now top the glass up gently with chilled Champagne and enjoy.

This cocktail combines a couple of my favorite liqueurs – Kahlua and Frangelico, yum!   You will need –

60 ml Frangelico

15 ml grenadine

15 ml Kahlua

Combine the Frangelico and grenadine in a cocktail shaker with cracked ice and shake well.   Strain into a martini glass and then use a dime spoon or cocktail spoon to float the Kahlua on top.   This doesn’t need any garnish if you manage to float the Kahlua…..if you don’t manage that then don’t worry it still tastes delicious!

A friend of mine served this up for me last year and it was delicious, I would never have thought of using blood oranges to get the color.   You will need –

1/3 cup blood orange juice (approximately 3 blood oranges)

30 ml Campari

Champagne

This cocktail is basically just one that you’re going to build.    As the title suggests it makes two drinks so get out two cocktail flutes and pour half of the blood orange juice into one of the glasses and then the remainder into the second.   Next pour 15 ml Campari into each glass and top both glasses up with Champagne.

Check out the link below for more Valentine’s Day Cocktail ideas.