11 Cocktails to Make for Valentine’s Day

Champagne is a typical Valentine’s Day libation, but adding an extra ingredient can take it from special to unforgettable. For this ultra-easy (but still fancy) cocktail, simply add a splash of crème de cassis to a Champagne flute, then top with dry sparkling wine. A single lemon twist is the only garnish you’ll need.

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Your crush doesn’t have to actually live next door to you for them to love this cocktail. The light combination of vodka, pear liqueur, hibiscus-strawberry syrup, lemon juice, bitters and an egg white are reminiscent of spring and will leave anyone who sips it begging for more.

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Don’t want to shell out for overpriced chocolates? We have the cocktail for you. Made with espresso, Amaro Averna and Kahlúa, this drink isn’t as cloyingly sweet as other chocolate martinis. Instead, it’s a slightly bitter and caffeinated take that’s perfect for brunch or post-dinner imbibing.

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If things aren’t quite heating up the way you’d hoped, this cocktail should help. It’s a spicy hot chocolate spiked with tequila and ancho chile liqueur for a hot, creamy and boozy delight.

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Why eat chocolate-covered strawberries when you can drink them? This sparkling wine cocktail tastes just like the real thing but without making a mess in the kitchen. Strawberry shrub and white crème de cacao bring their dessert tastes to Champagne, so you can skip straight to after-dinner activities.

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If you’re hosting a lonely hearts club or Galentine’s Day shindig, this big-batch cocktail will make sure all your guests get a sip of something special. Homemade rosemary-infused Aperol and bourbon mix with honey syrup, grapefruit juice, dry sparkling wine and soda water to make a herbaceous and sweet sparkling sipper.

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Gin, prosecco and ginger join forces to make this romantic apéritif. The ingredients take on a little sweetness from grenadine, while fresh lemon juice adds a dose of brightness and acidity. A sugar rim and cherry garnish make it all extra special.

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Skip dessert in favor of this cocktail. The combination of vodka, chocolate liqueur, simple syrup, sweetened cocoa powder and egg white is sinfully delicious and the perfect way to end a romantic meal.

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Snuggle up with someone special and this drink, and who knows where the night will end? A twist on the classic Sidecar, the Between the Sheets combines cognac with triple sec, light rum and lemon juice to make a sour spirit-forward cocktail.

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Bitter, sweet and bracing, this Italian-inspired cocktail is good for those looking for something with a little intrigue. Fernet-Branca, crème de cacao and sparkling red wine are the boozy base for cold-brew coffee and vanilla syrup.

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See the bright side of things with this pretty-in-pink cocktail. Angostura bitters, lemon juice, simple syrup and rosé are beautiful on their own, but they’re taken to new heights when garnished with fresh red rose petals for some extra floral flare.

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