I’ve got friends celebrating February 14th every which way this year – some are going to dinner with their sweethearts, some are spending time with their families, others are being dramatic and having a Nicholas Sparks movie marathon, and a few of them are planning on getting, well, wasted. As for me? I plan on partaking in a variety of activities in order to give myself a well-rounded and love filled Valentine’s Day. This includes kicking back with my favorite girls and sipping on a drink or two. In preparation, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite Valentine’s Day cocktails that are sure to taste sweet on your lips – just like a kiss from the one you love!
The Chocolate-Lovers Margarita (courtesy of Cosmopolitan)
3 parts chocolate milk
1 part Silver Tequila (the recipe calls for Sauza, but just make sure it’s silver)
1 part strawberry puree or daiquiri mix
Stir together chocolate milk, tequila, and strawberry puree in a glass. Garnish with a chocolate covered strawberry.
Strawberry Kiss (courtesy of Cosmopolitan)
1 1/2 oz. Absolut Vanilla
1/2 oz. strawberry liqueur
Splash of CranPineapple juice
Splash of champagne
Mix the Absolut, strawberry liqueur, and juice. Top it off with champagne.
Strawberry Punch (courtesy of Cosmopolitan)
3 fresh strawberries
3 slices canned pineapple
1/2 oz. pineapple syrup (from the can)
1/4 oz simple syrup (simply dissolve 1 part sugar in 1 part boiling water and let cool)
2 oz white rum
Muddle fruit. Pour over ice, along with other ingredients. Shake. Garnish with fruit if you’d like.
Pomegranate-Champagne Punch (courtesy of Martha Stewart)
1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice
1 cup pear nectar
1/4 cup orange-flavored liqueur
1 bottle of champagne or sparkling wine
In a large pitcher, mix everything but the champagne/wine. Slowly add the champagne/wine and serve over ice. This recipe is great if you’re trying to serve a group!
Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about the collegiettes who don’t drink alcohol!
Cherry Bombs (courtesy of Martha Stewart)
1 cup grenadine
- 1 liter clear citrus soda, or seltzer
- 18 maraschino cherries
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add grenadine, stirring to combine. Pour into ice-cube trays, and freeze.
When the ice cubes are ready, fill a glass with them and top with soda. Garnish with cherries.
Pink Grapefruit “Margaritas” (courtesy of Martha Stewart)
2 table spoons colored sanding sugar
1 lime
6 teaspoons grenadine
1 1/2 cups pink grapefruit juice
Put sugar into a shallow dish/plate. Rub a lime wedge around glass rims, and coat each in sugar. Pour 1 teaspoon of grenadine into the bottom of the glasses.
Place grapefruit juice and 2 cups of ice into a blender, and blend. Pour into glasses, and stir. Garnish with lime rounds.
Happy love day, collegiettes! And please – drink responsibly!