So here we are, just one day until Valentine’s. Got the last minute gifts of flowers and candy purchased, the Isley Brothers softly cooing on the stereo in the background, and maybe one or five of these cocktails ready and waiting at your disposal for a romantic night in, or whatever. Even if you hate Valentine’s Day, there may be one or two recipes in this carefully considered list that may do just the trick to make this a memorable Valentine’s Day — or one where you blacked out alone.

Either way, at least it will be in good taste.

Courvoisier Crush
1.5 parts Courvoisier VSOP
0.75 parts Cruzan Guava rum
1.5 parts lemon sour mix
1 part pineapple juice
0.5 parts DeKuyper Strawberry Pucker (note: this is totally optional)

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain over fresh ice in a Hurricane style glass. Garnish with a pineapple/cherry stack on the rim.

Hearts on Fire
1.5 oz Santera Blanco tequila
0.5 oz Campari
0.5 oz fresh grapefruit juice
0.5 oz fresh lemon Juice
0.75 oz sage simple syrup
dried sage (for garnish)

Smoke treat the glass with dried sage smoke. Combine ingredients except Campari in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Float Campari on top and garnish with a small bunch of dried sage.

The Smoked Blossom
Created by Dudley Delhagen, 2015 DeKuyper Cocktail Master
1 part DeKuyper & Sons Fleur Elderflower liqueur
2 parts Connemara Irish whiskey
1/2 part fresh lemon juice
1/2 part simple syrup
2 dashes orange bitters

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Blood Orange Bellini
1 part Solerno Blood Orange liqueur
2 parts blood orange puree or juice
3 parts Prosecco or other dry, sparkling wine

Shake the Solerno and blood orange in a cocktail shaker with ice. Fine strain into a Champagne flute and fill with the Prosecco or other dry, sparkling wine.

Bloody Maria
2 oz Roca Patrón Silver
5 oz Bloody Mary mix, or build your own:
4 oz tomato juice
½ oz fresh lemon juice
dash each of Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco
1 tsp horseradish, optional
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Combine ingredients in a mixing tin or pint glass and “roll” the drink by pouring it back and forth between the two. Strain onto fresh ice in a Collins glass — if you prefer, rim the glass with kosher salt or a specialty spiced rim of your choosing. Garnish with a lemon wedge and celery stalk.

Sex on the Marina
1 oz Grey Goose vodka
1 oz PAMA pomegranate liqueur
0.75 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz grapefruit liqueur
splash of cranberry juice

Shake and double strain into a coupe glass. Garnish glass with a rim of pink rock sugar, and place a pink rock candy stick to finish.

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