Based in Los Angeles, Vicki Arkoff is Editor at Large…
Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with that special someone or spending Galentine’s Day with friends, mixologists and winemakers have created irresistible specialty drinks to commemorate the season of love.
Sparkling Cherry
1 ½ oz Empress 1908 Gin
½ oz Cherry Juice
2 Drops Rose Bitters or Rose Water
5 oz Rosé Sparkling Wine
Cherry Candy Hearts
Method: Place cherry candy hearts on a plate lined with parchment paper and set in the freezer for 4 hours or until frozen. Then, place the frozen cherry hearts in a serving glass acting as ice cubes to chill the drink. Add the cherry juice, rose bitters, and Empress 1908 Gin into a shaker, stirring to combine. Pour over the chilled candy hearts, then top with rosé sparkling wine.
La Vie En Rose
1.5 oz Empress 1908 Gin
3-4 Cardamom Pods
1 tbsp Rose Water
2 tbsp Simple Syrup
Juice of Half of a Lemon
Sparkling Water
Method: Coat glass rim with lemon juice, and dip in cardamom sugar. Add crushed cadamom pods and Empress 1908 Gin. Rest for 5-10 minutes to let the flavors infuse. Add rose water, simple syrup, and lemon juice, and mix — enjoy the show watching the 1908 Gin color magically change. Add ice, and top with sparkling water. Garnish with dried rose petals.
Bésame
Recipe was created in collaboration by PATRÓN Tequila and “Bachelor” alum Tayshia Adams.
1.5 oz PATRÓN Silver
1 oz Lime Juice
.5 oz Agave Nectar
2 Slices of Jalapeno
4 Raspberries
Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake to chill. Add sparkles to rim of coupe glass. Strain ingredients into a coupe glass. Option: Garnish with edible sparkles.
Belvedere Cosmopolitan
1.5 oz Belvedere Vodka
1 oz Orange Liqueur
.75 oz fresh lime juice
.75 oz Cranberry juice
Method: Place all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake with ice, strain into a cocktail shaker and garnish with a lime wheel.
Whale You Be Mine
2 oz Gray Whale Gin
5 oz blood orange juice
Method: Shake ingredients with ice. Strain over fresh ice into coup glass. Top with soda water. Garnish with blood orange slices.
Winter Fling
2 parts Redemption Rye
.25 part Cinnamon Syrup
.75 oz. Sweet Vermouth
1 dash Angostura Bitters
3 dashes Pimento Bitters
Rinse of Dry Curaçao
Method: Rinse chilled couple glass with Dry Curaçao. Stir all other ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain ingredients over chilled coupe glass.
Whispering Angel Rose
The best-selling rosé in the US, Whispering Angels’ sophisticated yet uncomplicated style is credited with launching a “rosé Renaissance” 15+ years ago. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, the fruit-forward, creamy palate is balanced with a crisp acidity and notes of red berries, florals and discreet hint of spice.
Beau Joie Brut Natural
Nothing Sets the mood like champagne. The $99 Beau Joie Brut Natural is a particularly elegant choice, fermented the natural way for six years, which allows the 60/40 Pinot Noir/Chardonnay blend to maintain its acidity and natural aromas.
Juliet Wines
Show your refrigerator some love by placing a chic bottle-quality boxed wine front and center. Juliet’s Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rosé dance on the tongue while putting your mind at ease with 100% recyclable packaging that’s better for the environment than glass bottles. The Eco Magnum size goes anywhere, dresses up any table, and lasts up to six weeks after opening.
Based in Los Angeles, Vicki Arkoff is Editor at Large for Pursuitist and a founding editor for Holiday Goddess, the online destination for chic women travelers from the editors of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Grazia, Conde Nast Traveler, and BBC. Her travel and lifestyle reports can also be been seen in Atlas Obscura, The Awesomer, DaySpa, The Chicago Tribune, CNN Travel, JustLuxe, Lonely Planet, Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, Toronto Star, WellSpa 360, WestJet Magazine, Where Traveler, Where Guestbook, Yahoo News, and dozens more. She's co-author of the bestselling Holiday Goddess books (HarperCollins and iTunes) including 'The Holiday Goddess Guide to Paris, London, New York, Rome,' a travel Top 10 staple. As editor, Vicki's other books include 'Sinatra' (DK), 'Inside Mad' (Time-Life) and 'Virgin Los Angeles' (Virgin Books). She is one of the Usual Gang of Idiots for MAD Magazine, an entertainment reporter (Daily Variety, Entertainment Weekly, Los Angeles Magazine, CREEM), and authorized biographer for pop culture icons from the Beach Boys to Beastie Boys, Paul McCartney to MC Hammer.