20 Cocktails to Make for Valentine’s Day

Pink Lady cocktail — Pink Lady Image:
Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

Love is worth celebrating any day of the year, but February 14 is an especially good occasion to swap your usual Martini or Manhattan for something a little more special. Whether you’re looking to break out the bubbly, shake up a pretty pink drink, or consume chocolates in liquid form, you’ll find the perfect drink on this list.

Chocolate Martini

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

You could buy your loved ones a box of chocolates…or you can make them this drink. The decadent concoction of vodka, chocolate liqueur, creme de cacao, and half-and-half doubles as dessert.

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Very Sexy Martini

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

This fruity combination of citrus-flavored vodka, muddled raspberries and mint leaves, lime juice, simple syrup, and rosé Champagne may share more in common with a Cosmopolitan or a Lemon Drop than a Martini. But as its name implies, it’s very sexy.

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Rumplesnuggler

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Keep the warm and fuzzy feelings alive with a boozy take on hot chocolate. This one gets spiked with Baileys and Rumple Minze peppermint schnapps for the perfect after-dinner treat.

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Pink Lady

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A two-spirit punch of gin and applejack makes this egg-white cocktail more serious than it appears. A touch of grenadine lends its tart, fruity sweetness and gives the Lady its classic good looks.

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Continue to 5 of 20 below.
Tootsie Roll

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This Manhattan riff is a decidedly grown-up twist on the classic candy, thanks to rye whiskey, sweet pedro ximénez sherry, and chocolate bitters. As is the case with its namesake, it’s hard to limit yourself to just one.

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Guava Rose

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Wherever in the world you might currently be, evoke the tropics with this frozen blend of the Brazilian spirit cachaça, lime juice, and guava puree. Rose syrup adds an unexpected floral note, echoed by a lovely rose petal garnish.

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Between the Sheets

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This Prohibition-era cousin of the Sidecar includes the same cognac, orange liqueur, and fresh lemon juice. A splash of rum adds extra intrigue.

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Love & Murder

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Campari and green Chartreuse both evoke passionate emotions. And they work surprisingly well together in this cocktail from Porchlight’s bar director, Nick Bennett, where the two are joined by lime juice, simple syrup, and a few drops of saline solution to highlight their complementary characters.

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Continue to 9 of 20 below.
Hot Caramel Buttered Rum

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This Hot Buttered Rum variation has an extra-sweet twist: an ounce of caramel-flavored vodka. It also yields two servings, so it’s made for sharing.

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Rose

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If your sweetheart would prefer a creative cocktail to a bouquet of roses, mix up this cocktail from drinks pro and distiller Allen Katz. Dry vermouth is the unexpected primary ingredient, accented by cherry brandy and a homemade raspberry syrup.

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Blinker

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As far as pink cocktails are concerned, gin and vodka seem to have all the fun. We raise you this rose-hued classic whiskey cocktail, which combines rye with grapefruit juice and raspberry syrup.

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Toblerone

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Try the classic candy in decadent liquid form with this rich and nutty combination of Baileys, Frangelico, Kahlúa, and heavy cream. The secret to replicating the chocolate’s almond-honey nougat: a homemade honey syrup.

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Continue to 13 of 20 below.
Colletti Royale

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Break out the bubbly (rosé) for this citrusy and floral spritz from New York City bar pro Julie Reiner. She tops a mixture of reposado tequila, Cointreau, St-Germain liqueur, blood orange and lime juices, and orange bitters with rosé Champagne.

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Kiss

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This combination of gin, sweet vermouth, and maraschino liqueur is similar on paper to the classic Martinez. But aromatized wine Dubonnet adds a certain bittersweet complexity, not unlike some kisses you may have shared.

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Bitter Hearts Know Better

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This twist on a Gimlet gets a boost from flavorful gentian amaro, or Italian bitter liqueur. A hibiscus-infused gin pulls double duty, adding floral notes and giving the drink its gorgeous pink shade.

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Pink Squirrel

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This old-school drink relies on white creme de cacao for deep cocoa notes and creme de noyeaux, a bitter almond liqueur with similarities to amaretto, for its pastel hue. A hefty splash of heavy cream makes it suitable for dessert.

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Continue to 17 of 20 below.
Sparkling Rose

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What happens when a French 75 meets a Watermelon Margarita? This fruity and refreshing drink, which combines tequila, watermelon and lemon juices, simple syrup, and sparkling rosé.

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Rose-Colored Glass

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This festive yet low-ABV drink falls somewhere between a French 75 and a Champagne Cocktail. Bar pro Katie Stipe tops a mixture of lemon juice, simple syrup, and aromatic bitters with rosé Champagne.

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La Violetta

Adele’s

If you can’t choose between cocktails and red wine for your special evening, allow this drink to make your decision easier. The earthy and elegant cocktail tops a mix of gin, crème de violette, and lemon juice with the Italian sparkling red wine lambrusco.

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Bit of Tongue

Erin Trimble

This cava drink looks the part of a typical sparkling wine cocktail. But it also lives up to its cheeky name, thanks to a split base of bittersweet Aperol and a surprisingly large splash of absinthe, plus a vinegary grapefruit shrub.

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