Cocktails

Skip the Champagne: Serious Cocktails for Valentine’s Day

By smwomen on | From singlemindedwomen.com

Seriously, how much champagne is a girl supposed to drink? Sure, bubbles are fun, but sometimes, it’s a real drink we want. Ditch the coupe this Valentine’s Day and indulge in a drink that is sure to create some sparks!

Courvoisier Rosé

Launched last summer by the house of Courvoisier, this new Rosé, is a blend of cognac and premium French wine grapes. The flavor profile features notes of blackberry, black currant and a touch of cherry, complemented by vanilla, honey and vine-peach flavors. So, not only does it taste and smell delicious, it is ideal for mixing.

Rosé Kiss

Created by Moses Laboy of Red Rooster in NYC

Ingredients:

·         Muddled pineapple and mint
·         2 parts Courvoisier Rosé
·         ½ part French Dry Vermouth
·         ½ part Fresh Lime Juice
·         ¼ part simple syrup
·         3 splashes of Peychaud bitters
Directions:
Start by muddling pineapple & mint in a cocktail shaker.
Add the remaining ingredients, shake well and pour into a rocks glass.
Garnish with a fresh pineapple chunk.

C ² (Cupid’s Cocktail)

Available at Millesime at The Carlton Hotel, NYC

·         1 part Courvoisier Rosé
·         1.5 parts Courvoisier VSOP
·         .25 parts Agave nectar
·         .5 parts Fresh lime juice
·         Splash of Aromatic bitter
·         Flamed orange peel garnish

Purity Vodka

Thomas Kuuttanen spent the last ten years formulating Purity Vodka, so, no, this is not your run of the mill vodka. Hand-crafted at Ellinge Castle in Southern Sweden, Purity is made with using a customized distillation process with a unique still made of copper and gold that help the spirit retain the flavors of the wheat and barley. The heart of the vodka is distilled 34 times in a small-batch, craft distillation process, remaining unfiltered. Purity Vodka’s unique full-bodied flavor is a direct result of the organic wheat and grain and mineral-rich artisanal water from which it is made. This dedication to using quality ingredients is what distinguishes Purity from the competition, even making it the most award-winning vodka in the world. The Swedish brand has created monthly “What’s In Season” cocktails that use the freshest ingredients based on when they are at peak ripeness. This February, the featured cocktail is the Purity Tangerine Rose. It combines the juice of in-season tangerines, rosewater, lime juice, rose syrup, Peychaud’s bitters, and tangerine-infused Purity Vodka. How exactly do you infuse vodka? with an iSi canister, available at Williams Sonoma. This method allows for the essence of natural ingredients to enhance the vodka without the addition of artificial flavors.

The perfect complement to a romantic dinner, showcasing sweet citrus with the delicate floral notes of roses, Italian eatery Baraonda in Atlanta will be serving The Tangerine Rose. The Pied Piper at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco is the West Coast location it and if you’re a New Yorker, head to Dick & Jane’s in Brooklyn to give it a try. Or give it a go yourself!

Fill an iSi canister with fresh tangerine slices and juice and 3oz of Purity vodka, making sure that they do not exceed the fill line. Put the lid on the canister, load N₂O charger into the charger holder, and screw onto canister until the sound of gas releasing can be heard. Agitate (but do not shake) for 30 seconds, let infusion stand for two or three minutes, and while holding the canister upright, rapidly discharge the gas by squeezing the lever fully. Unscrew the top and let stand until the carbonation subsides. Pour liquid into a basket strainer over a mixing glass, add ice, and stir until cold.

For similar results at home without the necessary iSi equipment, muddle ingredients with Purity Vodka and soak for a minimum of four hours (preferably overnight). Pour this liquid into a basket strainer over a mixing glass, add ice, and stir until cold.

Limoncello di Capri

If you’ve traveled to Italy, you’ve had limoncello. And you’ve been missing it ever since. Limoncello di Capri to the rescue! Made exclusively with IGP lemons from Sorrento and Capri, Limoncello di Capri is a lemon liqueur with an incomparable flavor that is the result of its exclusive production process rooted in tradition. Made with a single cold infusion of lemon peels purchased directly from Italian farmers and screened through an intensive selection process, Limoncello di Capri is produced without added colorings, stabilizers or aromas. Drink it chilled or mix it for a delicious Italian style cocktail.

Lemon Pop

Limoncello di Capri
Fresh Lemons
Simple Syrup
Fresh Lime Juice
Topped with Prosecco
Garnish Lemon Twist

Directions: Combine Limoncello, lemons, syrup, and lime juice in a mixing glass and shake well. Pour into a flute or martini glass and top with Prosecco and lemon twist.

Tequila Partida

Tequila Partida is an authentic, estate-grown premium tequila, made from 100% blue agave in the heart of Mexico’s historic tequila region. Partida Añejo is aged 18 months in once-pass Jack Daniels American oak barrels and exhibits a depth of flavor that is clean and full bodied. It is an intense golden color with ochre and copper tones and should be savored slowly, with a fruity aroma and flavors of spices and dried fruits and almond.

The extraordinary dark cocoa inside of your favorite chocolate highlights the cinnamon and butterscotch flavors of Partida Añejo. With perfect pairing combinations like this, your loved one will fall in love with you all over again!

Añejo Kiss, by Marita Leonard of Tequila Partida

1 1/2 oz. Partida Añejo
1/2 oz Creme de Cacao (white)
1 oz. Amarula Cream
Mix ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

“When sipping on the Añejo Kiss you can experience the warmth of the South African sun through the flavor of the Partida Añejo and a kiss of sweetness from the Amarula Cream,” says Marita Leonard

CASCAL Fermented Soda

CASCAL Fermented Soda in Ripe Rouge has notes of cherry, chocolate, and rose – perfect for Valentine’s Day!

INGREDIENTS