14 Valentine’s Day Cocktails to Make Your Day More Memorable

The Rose (Courtesy Open Palette at the Sheraton Dallas)

By Jennifer McKee

From vodka and rum concoctions to tequila, bourbon and more, we’ve got celebratory drinks for every February 14th cocktail connoisseur. Read on for cocktail recipes.

By Jennifer McKee

The Rose
Courtesy Open Palette at the Sheraton Dallas

1.5 oz. Hangar 1 vodka
1 oz. Buddha’s Hand Citron Vodka
0.50 oz. lemon
0.50 oz. cranberry juice
0.75 oz. agave
4 drops of rose water
Dried roses and salt for the rim

Stir all ingredients together, salt the rim and add dried roses.

Kauai Sweetheart (Courtesy Koloa Rum)


Kauai Sweetheart
Courtesy Koloa Rum

1.5 oz. Koloa Kauai White Rum
0.50 oz. grenadine
2 oz. guava nectar
2 oz. lemon-lime soda
Garnish: Cotton candy and conversation hearts

Build in glass over ice. Gently stir in lemon-lime soda.  Add the cotton candy.

Chocolate and Roses (Courtesy Koloa Rum)

Chocolate and Roses
Courtesy Koloa Rum

1 oz. Koloa Kauai Cacao Rum
0.25 oz. fresh orange juice
0.50 oz Campari or bitter orange liqueur
0.25 oz. sweet vermouth
0.75 oz. hibiscus rose syrup
4 drops chocolate bitters
Garnish: orange slice

Build in shaker. Shake and strain into a glass with a rose ice cube or any large cube. Add an orange slice.

Will You Be Mine? (Courtesy Graton Resort & Casino)

Will You Be Mine?
Courtesy Graton Resort & Casino

In a shaking tin, add 4 raspberries and muddle. Then add 1.25 oz. Stoli Razberi Vodka, 0.75 oz. Chambord and 1 oz. of fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Squeeze in about a tsp. of agave, add a little more if you like it sweeter. Simple syrup works here too if that’s what you have on hand; go with 0.50 oz. to start. Add ice to your shaking tin and shake for about 10 seconds. Strain over fresh ice in a Collins glass and top it off with half lemonade and half soda water. Garnish with raspberries and a dried rosebud for a cute Valentine’s Day touch.

Straight From the Heart (Courtesy Graton Resort & Casino)


Straight From the Heart
Courtesy Graton Resort & Casino


In a shaking tin, add 2 strawberries cut into smaller chunks and muddle, then add 1.25 oz. Stoli Strasberi, 0.75 oz. X-Rated Passion Fruit liqueur and 1 oz. of fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Squeeze in about a tsp. of agave, add a little more if you like it sweeter. Simple syrup works here too if that’s what you have on hand; go with 0.50 oz. to start. Add ice to your shaking tin and shake for about 10 seconds. Strain over fresh ice in a Collins glass and top it off with half lemonade and half soda water. Garnish with a strawberry cut into the shape of a heart and stick a dried rosebud out of top side to create a sweet Valentine’s Day touch.

Velvet Espresso Martini (Courtesy Disaronno Velvet)

Velvet Espresso Martini
Courtesy Disaronno Velvet

2 oz. Disaronno Velvet Cream Liqueur
1 oz. Tia Maria Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
1 oz. vodka
Three coffee beans

Shake all ingredients well with ice until chilled and frothy. Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass and garnish with three coffee beans.

Cinnamon Toast Shooter (Courtesy Whiskeysmith)

Cinnamon Toast Shooter
Courtesy Whiskeysmith

1 part Whiskeysmith Salted Caramel
1 part Nooku Bourbon Cream (or bourbon cream of your choice)
1 part cinnamon flavored liqueur

Rim a shot glass with cinnamon sugar. Add all ingredients and enjoy!

Tennessee Rose (Courtesy Dickel Bourbon)

Tennessee Rose
Courtesy Dickel Bourbon

2 oz. Dickel Bourbon
1 oz. lime juice
0.75 oz. pomegranate grenadine (2 parts pomegranate juice: 1 part sugar)

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake, and fine strain into a coupe glass; garnish with a lime twist and fresh pomegranate slice.

Cherry Chocolate Manhattan (Courtesy Stranahan’s Whiskey)

Cherry Chocolate Manhattan
Courtesy Stranahan’s Whiskey

1.5 oz. Stranahan’s Original
0.75 oz. sweet Vermouth
0.75 oz. Italian bitters (Campari)
2 dashes chocolate bitters

Combine Stranahan’s Original, sweet Vermouth, Italian bitters and stir. Pour into coupe glass and garnish with brandied cherry. 

Cinnamon Sweetheart Old Fashioned (Courtesy Stranahan’s Whiskey)

Cinnamon Sweetheart Old Fashioned
Courtesy Stranahan’s Whiskey


2 oz. Stranahan’s Original 
1 brown sugar cube
2 dashes Angostura bitters 
Pinch grated cinnamon

Muddle sugar cube, cinnamon and Angostura bitters in base of shaker. Add Stranahan’s Original and shake with ice. Fine strain into ice-filled rocks glass and garnish with orange twist and cinnamon stick. 

ELIT Bubbles (Courtesy ELIT Vodka)


ELIT Bubbles
Courtesy ELIT Vodka

1 oz. ELIT Vodka 
1-2 tsp. orange marmalade
Top with champagne
Garnish with an orange peel

Combine ELIT Vodka and orange marmalade into a shaker and stir to combine, add ice and shake.  Strain into a martini glass, top with champagne and garnish with an orange peel.

Berry Be Mine (Courtesy Russian Standard Vodka)

Berry Be Mine
Courtesy Russian Standard Vodka

1.5 oz. Russian Standard Original Vodka
1 oz. Real strawberry purée
3 basil leaves
1 oz. fresh lemon juice
Splash soda water
Strawberries and basil leaf for garnish

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the strawberry purée, basil leaves, and lemon juice. Add Russian Standard Original Vodka and shake until combined. Strain into a Collins glass, add a splash of soda and garnish with strawberries and a basil leaf. Enjoy!

Bacardi Old Cuban (Courtesy Bacardi Reserva Ocho)

Bacardi Old Cuban
Courtesy Bacardi Reserva Ocho

2 oz. Bacardi Reserva Ocho Rum
2.5 oz. Martini & Rossi® Prosecco
4 mint leaves
1 oz. simple syrup
1 oz. lime juice
2 dashes of bitters 

Combine all the ingredients (except prosecco) in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously. Double strain, and top with prosecco. Garnish with a mint leaf float.

Kiss From a Rosa (Courtesy Codigo 1530 Tequila)

Kiss From a Rosa
Courtesy Código 1530 Tequila

1.5 oz. Código 1530 Rosa
0.50 oz. Cointreau
0.50 oz. raspberry syrup
0.50 oz. lemon juice
1 egg white

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker without ice. Shake hard for about 30 seconds to build the foam. Add ice to the shaker and shake until chilled. Strain into a glass and garnish with pink sugar or raspberries on a cocktail pick.

RSS Augusta Magazine’s Front Porch

  • Episode 11: Jay Jefferies
    Jay Jefferies stops by to deliver the weather and much more!
  • Episode 10 - Nesia Wright
    We had the pleasure of sitting down with Nesia Wright, owner and CEO of the Georgia Soul Basketball Team. Ashlee and Nesia discuss life as the owner of a basketball team, retirement and more.
  • Episode 9: Venus Morris Griffin
    Venus Morris Griffin, one of the top real estate agents in the Augusta area, stops by our front porch to talk about her success and her upcoming book. This episode is sure to set a fire in you to go for your dreams!
  • Episode 8: Michael Romano
    Michael Romano, self-proclaimed carbohydrate king and executive pastry chef for Edgar's Hospitality Group stopped by our front porch to chat with Ashlee.

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