ROMANTIC COCKTAILS

You have classic cocktails like the Manhattan or the Tom Collins, but they don’t quite scream romance like a sweet Cosmo or a good old glass of bubbly. Here’s a run-down of our favorite drinks that’ll liven up any Valentine’s Day, whether you decide to go out or stay in.

French 75

Gin or cognac, champagne, lemon juice, and sugar

The drink dates back to WWI, and was named because its potent kick was said to feel like the French 75mm field gun. But the inclusion of champagne appealed to female drinkers, and the drink is mentioned prominently in “Casablanca,” which is considered by many to be the most romantic movie of all time.

Pink Lady

Gin, grenadine, egg white

While the exact origin is unclear for the Pink Lady, it’s said that the name itself was taken from the eponymous 1911 Broadway musical. It was especially popular during Prohibition—the limited access to good gin meant the best way to prepare it was to mask the gin with sweet grenadine.

Sex On The Beach

Vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice and cranberry juice

It’s only appropriate that this drink, which emerged in the 1980’s, was coined by a bartender in Florida, our country’s (arguably) beachiest state. He named it after what he considered to be the two main draws of spring break, and soon enough it became a widespread favorite. You might be thinking that the real act is your next step after three or four of these fruity concoctions.

Sangria

Gin or cognac, champagne, lemon juice, Red wine, a variety of chopped fruits

Widely considered to be Spain’s most famous alcoholic export, Sangria literally means “bloodletting.”

Although this name has roots dating back to the 1700’s, an earlier Caribbean version called Sangaree was just as popular. If you’re not quite ready to take a bullet for your love, serve them some Sangria instead—they’ll get the idea.

Cosmopolitan

Vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, triple sec

We simply can’t have a list of iconic, romantic cocktails without getting into this one. As Carrie Bradshaw’s drink of choice on “Sex and the City,” the Cosmo is a citrusy, cranberry-forward choice that’ll make you feel like a Carrie (even when you’re definitely a Miranda).

Negroni

Gin, vermouth rosso, campari, orange peel

If you haven’t seen the viral video of “House of the Dragon” star Emma D’Arcy slyly touting her usual order of a Negroni Sbagliato with Prosecco in it, you might not get the recent hype. Without the extra bits, though, the negroni actually originated in 1919 when the Negroni family founded a distillery in Italy, producing ready-made versions of the cocktail.

Bellini

Prosecco, peach puree

Invented in the 1930’s or 40’s by Harry’s Bar founder Giuseppe Cipriani, this drink was originally a seasonal offering before occupying the menu full-time. Cipriani named it after a painting by Venetian artist Giovanni Bellini after noticing color similarities in the drink. What’s more romantic than art?

The Rose

Vermouth, cherry brandy, strawberry or raspberry fruit syrup

Parisians are known to have the best taste in the world, whether it concerns food, drinks, art, or fashion. That might explain this cocktail, which was incredibly popular in 1920’s Paris where it was invented by Hotel Chatham barman Johnny Mitta. It might have been a little light for Hemingway, but its elegance would’ve been a perfect fit for Coco Chanel.

Margarita

Tequila, triple sec, lime juice

There are several disputed origins of this drink, but we like the ones that attribute its name to showgirls, bar patrons, socialites, or singers all named Margarita. Any girl named Maggie or Rita is sure to feel special when she takes a sip of this Mexican favorite.

Ros Aperol Spritz

Sparkling rosé, passion fruit juice, aperol, lime juice, sugar

Interestingly, the word “spritz” comes from the German for spray; newcomers to Veneto during the reign of the Habsburgs weren’t accustomed to the high alcohol content of the local wines, so they’d request to have their drinks spritzed with water. For this variation on the Aperol Spritz, we’re swapping out Prosecco for Rosé, giving the drink a romantic, pink hue.

Cocoatini

Chocolate liqueur, vodka, grated chocolate

Cocoatini, Chocolatini, Chocolate Martini— whatever you want to call this, it’s pretty much just a variation on a classic martini. The effortlessly romantic touch chocolate gives to anything is reason enough to crank one out this Valentine’s. Adding that grated dark chocolate on top is one of the few cocktail garnishes that add to the taste just as much as the aesthetic.

Espresso Martini

Espresso, coffee liqueur, vodka

One of the newer drinks on our list, it’s claimed that this caffienated favorite was made up in 1980’s London, when a young clubber asked for something that would “wake her up then f&$k her up.” The supposed inventor has said that the coffee machine was right next to the bar, so coffee was obviously on the mind. We’re certainly awake.