8 Cocktails That Scream ‘I Love You’ for Valentine’s Day

You might love it, you might hate it, but Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so whether you’re on course for a Valentine’s, a Galentine’s or posting a card to yourself, you’ll want something to make it special. These 8 cocktails scream ‘I love you’ because let’s remember, Valentine’s Day isn’t a day for couples, it’s a day for love!

Pink Gimlet

This is a wonderfully harmonious cocktail, bringing fresh grapefruit tang and lime zing, but also delicious fruity sweetness using pink gin. It’s full of flavour, beautifully fresh and looks stunning too.

Ingredients
50ml pink gin
15ml syrup
50ml lime juice
75ml pink grapefruit juice
Rose petals (garnish)

Method
Fill a shaker with ice, add all the above and get shaking. Once nicely chilled, strain into a glass (you might want to double strain if you used fresh fruit for a super smooth cocktail). A few rose petals to finish and it’s perfect.

Bramble

Brambles bring such a delicious combo of rich berries, bright lemon, and tart blackberries, and all with crisp juniper at the heart of it. It’s also got a really cosy feel and looks seductive too.

Ingredients
50ml gin
25ml lemon juice
1 tbsp blackberry liqueur (Crème de Mûre or Crème de Cassis)
1 tbsp sugar syrup
Fresh blackberries (garnish)

Method
Shake everything with ice, and strain over more ice in a rocks glass. If you want some fresh blackberry taste, you can garnish with them, or even muddle them in the bottom of the glass before pouring. Enjoy!

Spicy Margarita

Bringing some spice to your Valentine’s – the Spicy Margarita. And be aware, you might never go back to the regular version. It doesn’t lose the classic essentials and retains the balance of sweet, sour, and earthy notes. There are all kinds of different variations, using different chillis in different amounts, but this is a good amount of heat to start with.

Ingredients
50ml reposado tequila
25ml fresh lime juice
15ml agave syrup
1 slice of chilli (muddled)
2/3 slices of jalapeno (garnish)

Method
Muddle the chillis (however many you enjoy really), in the shaker, and include tequila. Lime and agave syrup. Shake well with ice and strain. Scatter some jalapenos on top, kick back and feel the heat.

Elderflower Cosmopolitan

A standard Cosmo is near perfect for Valentine’s, but we think this floral twist is even better. It’s a delicious, wintery concoction with the cranberry tang out, and the elderflower liqueur in, for a mellow, fragrant florality that dresses the vodka steel nicely. This in one hand, a bunch of flowers in the other – you’re sorted.

Ingredients
45ml vodka
20ml elderflower liqueur
20ml pineapple juice
Dash of lemon
Dash of rose water (optional)
Basil (garnish)

Method
This is all about putting the work in with the shaking. Once it feels icy cold, strain over ice and serve to your Valentine!

Mudslide

A dessert style cocktail is always welcome on Valentine’s Day. We were going to go for chocolate, but how about a Mudslide instead? It’s a 70s adaptation of the White Russian that is now super popular in America, often mixed with ice cream. We think that the ingredients here are too delicious to be drowned in ice cream, but it’s up to you of course. Rich indulgence at its finest.

Ingredients
50ml vodka
50ml coffee liqueur (Kahlúa)
50ml Irish cream liqueur
Grated chocolate (garnish)

Method
Shake all three very well because the vodka needs to be well mixed within the thicker liqueurs. Include ice and stop when it feels cold to the touch, before straining into a Martini glass and going the extra mile with some grated chocolate on top. Mouthwatering

Kir Royale

Champagne is a go to when celebrating, and this French serve embraces all the magic of the city of love. It’s so simple but feels elegant and special. Dreamy blackcurrant liqueur Crème de Cassis brings the berries, and if you don’t want to splash out on a Champagne, a Crémant or Cava will do just fine. If you’re making a meringue dessert, then this is incredible alongside too.

Ingredients
1 tbsp crème de cassis
Champagne
Blackberry or raspberry (optional garnish)

Method
Liqueur first with this cocktail, before topping up your Champagne flute to the top with your fizz. A blackberry or raspberry garnish is a must, and that’s it – a simple but delicious serve.

Love and Murder

For a taste of Valentine’s gone wrong, how about this intriguing cocktail? It’s not for everyone, but you might just absolutely adore it. Bitter Campari and herbaceous green Chartreuse combine with the vibrant zip of fresh lime for a cocktail that forces you to pay attention. The harmony of balance is surprising, but with the subtle salt enhancing the sweetness and balancing out the bitterness slightly, it works a treat.

Ingredients
30ml Campari
30ml green Chartreuse
30ml lime juice
10ml syrup
4 drops of saline solution (kosher salt 1:5 water)

Method
The saline solution is a simple case of dissolving a little salt in water, and remember you only need tiny amounts here to make an almost imperceptible difference. Shake everything with ice and strain into a chilled coupe.

Strawberry Daiquiri

We couldn’t leave this one out. Fully embracing our favourite heart shaped fruits, strawberries are synonymous with love and romance. It’s a misconception that the Daiquiri has to be a sickly-sweet slush puppy. Instead, it can be classy with warming rum, fresh lime, cooling mint and succulent, sweet berries.

Ingredients (jug)
60ml rum (light ideally )
50g fresh strawberries
20ml lime juice
15ml syrup
Strawberry or lime (optional garnish)

Method
Blenders out for this one, but don’t start thinking this is a load of work because we’re just chucking everything in, before a double strain for silky smoothness. If you can use crushed ice to show some love to your blender too that will help. Go for a lime wedge or strawberry with a slice up the middle for garnish. Delicious.

Cocktail syrups are an essential mixology skill, and surprisingly easy to pull together so if you need any for the above recipes click here!

10 Must Try Irish Cream Liqueur Cocktails

Autumn is in full-flow, winter, Christmas, and a New Year are on the horizon, and the nights have drawn in before dinner is even cooking. One thing is in order and that’s Irish Cream liqueur! Indulgent, creamy, and delicious, it’s the perfect pick-me up and that’s why we love putting it in as many cocktails as possible. Below we have winter warmers, wake-me up Martinis and unusual pairings that will blow you away. There’s something whatever your mood!

Irish Cream Coffee

Irish Coffee is made by adding sugar, whiskey, coffee and cream separately, so why not go direct by using Irish Cream? It’s the perfect cozy cocktail for a winter pick-me-up, with warming coffee and whiskey flavours, and super indulgent cream. The definitive hug in a mug.

Ingredients
50ml Irish cream liqueur
80ml coffee
Whipped cream (optional)
Grated nutmeg (garnish)

 Method
Pour in your chosen Irish Cream, and slowly stir in your freshly brewed coffee, making sure to combine them thoroughly. If you want even more cream and extra sweetness you can add a bit of lightly whipped cream at the end. Oh, and let’s not forget a bit of grated nutmeg on top to finish. Nom!

Mudslide

The Mudslide was adapted from a White Russian in the Cayman Islands in the 70s - not what you might expect from such a tropical place! It’s since become an American stalwart, often being mixed with heaps of ice cream for a boozy dessert. Ours doesn’t include ice cream, instead focusing on the spirits and liqueurs at play because they’re too good to be drowned in ice cream (no matter how nice that may be).

Ingredients
40ml good quality vodka
60 ml Irish cream liqueur
40ml coffee liqueur (like Kahlua)
Chocolate (to garnish)

Method
Add everything bar the chocolate to a cocktail shaker and shake really well with ice. Strain into a chilled glass and grate a generous amount of choc over the top! Top Tip: If you want to make them look that bit more special for a party, melt the chocolate and dip the rims of the glasses into it. Then stand them upright and return them to the fridge for gorgeous chocolate stalactites!

Irish Cream Hot Chocolate

Next. Level. Indulgence. This is a wonderfully warming treat to perk you up whilst the nights are drawing in fast. It’s creamy, smooth and just perfect for fireside sipping if you’ve got a sweet tooth.

Ingredients
60ml Irish cream liqueur
100ml hot chocolate
Whipped cream
Grated chocolate (optional)

 Method
You’ll want to make the hot chocolate separately here, and how you make that is up to you. Some mix powder with water, others use milk, so choose depending on how lean you’d like this cosy cocktail to be. Simply pour it over your Irish cream, add some whipped cream on top, and grate some chocolate to complete the look!

Irish Cream Martini

This is a luscious adaptation of a classic Martini, with crisp vodka cutting through the velvety cream beautifully. It has more of a backbone than other options on this list, and if you pick out a vodka that’s particularly smooth, with a touch of sweetness or creaminess (Black Cow, Ketel, Tito’s for example), it’ll be a match made in heaven.

Ingredients
50ml vodka
70ml Irish Cream liqueur
Espresso shot
Coffee beans (optional garnish)

 Method
It’s ridiculously simple once you’ve got your espresso shot. Just shake everything well with ice, and strain it into a classic martini glass! Coffee beans sit on top gorgeously if you want to go the extra mile!

Irish Cream White Russian

This Irish Cream White Russian packs a bigger punch than the original, replacing most of the milk and cream with Irish Cream instead. It’s delightfully decadent and so smooth that it’s dangerously moreish.

Ingredients
60ml Irish Cream liqueur
30ml coffee liqueur (like Kahlua)
30ml vodka
20ml milk (optional)

 Method
Add the vodka and coffee liqueur to your glass, preferably a lowball. Fill it with ice and pour your Irish Cream liqueur over the top. Stir gently until cold and watch the beautiful swirls as the colours mix! Top Tip: For those wanting to taper the boozy edge a touch, top up with a little bit of milk.

Irish Cream Espresso Martini

If you haven’t guessed by now, we love Espresso Martini and all the spin offs. Introducing the Irish Cream to this classic takes it to the next level, swapping any sharpness for sweetness and of course, pulling everything together with an easy drinking creamy texture. A nice autumn/winter makeover of the original we think.

Ingredients
50ml vodka
35ml Irish Cream liqueur
Espresso shot
25ml coffee liqueur
1 tbsp of syrup (optional)
Coffee beans (optional garnish)

 Method
Half fill your shaker with ice and add everything, shaking until it’s cold to the touch. If you like it sweeter, add a dash of syrup. This can be a simple homemade syrup (sugar and water), or agave will do.

Irish Cream Chocolatini

Chocoholics, all eyes here. This Chocolatini is sweet, creamy, and oh, so delicious. Original vodka works well as a sturdy base, but vanilla vodka would also pair well with the chocolate and Irish Cream. Maybe avoid a chocolate flavour though unless you really just can’t get enough.

Ingredients
35ml vodka (vanilla optional)
30ml Irish Cream liqueur
20ml chocolate liqueur (like Godiva)
Grated chocolate (garnish)

 Method
Pour your vodka and liqueurs into a shaker and fill it with ice. Shake well and strain into a martini glass. Grate some chocolate over the top and eat what’s left of the bar. Yes, that is part of the recipe.

Irish Cactus

Tequila lovers rejoice - this one is for you. This is a cocktail that blends an unusual duo to create something very intriguing indeed. The agave flavour of the tequila lurks in the background, with the sweetness and fruitiness providing a really enjoyable second layer behind the delicious Irish Cream. Getting the right balance is important with this one, so experiment and see which does it for you.

Ingredients
30ml tequila
60 ml Irish Cream liqueur

 Method
First, fill your glass with ice, and then pour over the stars of the show. Stir well to combine and enjoy!

Irish Slammer

Now, this is a St. Patrick’s Day drink if ever we’ve seen one. Malty Guinness with its notes of chocolate and coffee pairs so nicely with Irish Cream, not that you’ll have much time to savour it, because this is supposed to be guzzled down.

Ingredients
25ml Irish Cream liqueur
25ml Irish whiskey
½ pint Guinness

 Method
Combine the Irish cream and whiskey in a shot glass and prepare your Guinness. Allow the foam to settle, and then drop the shot glass into the dark depths and enjoy!

Greenbeard

Another slightly unusual pairing with this rum and Irish Cream cocktail. The rum brings out the warming subtle autumnal spices of the liqueur really nicely, and despite being two very different characters, they blend to create something totally distinctive with lots of oomph.

Ingredients
25ml Irish Cream liqueur
25ml spiced rum
Whipped cream (optional)
Grated chocolate (garnish)

 Method
Simple again – just shake with ice and strain into a tumbler. Cream and chocolate sprinkles to top it off.  

We’ve just used generic ‘Irish Cream’ in these recipes, but each has its own subtleties of course... and it’s the star of these cocktails so it’s gotta be spot on! Explore some of the best options to use in these cocktails by checking out our Best Cream Liqueurs guide here!

Words by Calum Ecroyd