What’s even better than strawberries dipped in chocolate? Valentine’s Day cocktails of course! Whether you’re planning a romantic night on the town with your very own Christian Grey or a “Fifty Shades of Grey” movie night in with the girls, delicious cocktails are must. Here’s a few aphrodisiac recipes bound to awaken your inner Anastasia Steele.
Cupid’s Arrow
2 oz. Van Gogh Acai-Blueberry
4 oz. Pink Lemonade
Serve on the rocks
Pour vodka into a rocks glass with ice and top with pink lemonade. Garnish with an arrow, created by a cocktail pick with blueberries and small strawberry ‘arrow’ on the tip.
Dolce Vita
1 ½ oz. Van Gogh Coconut
½ oz. Vanilla liqueur
½ oz. Orange syrup*
2 Strawberries
Splash of Rosé Champagne
1 Chocolate covered strawberry
Muddle strawberries with the syrup, add ice, vodka and liqueur. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Top with Champagne. Garnish with chocolate covered strawberry. (*Orange syrup: 1 cup orange juice to 1 ½ cups sugar. Boil until dissolved, let cool)
French Kiss
1 oz. Van Gogh Espresso
1 oz. Chocolate liqueur
1 oz. White Chocolate liqueur
Splash of cream
Pour ingredients in a shaker over ice. Shake and serve in a chilled martini glass.
Whether you’re single or taken, there’s no better time of the year than Valentine’s Day to drink a sexy vodka cocktail. Though a cocktail’s flavor can stand alone, like love, you experience a cocktail with all five senses. The perfect cocktail filled with bold aromas and flavors, starts with the perfect vodka. Flavored vodkas good enough to drink straight are ideal for cocktails. After discovering Van Gogh Vodka‘s collection of vivid vodka flavors and colors, I don’t think I can drink anything else. As the first to introduce flavors such as chocolate, coffee, pomegranate, and acai-blueberry, Van Gogh Vodka is a pioneer in the flavored vodka category. Imported from Holland and crafted by second generation Master Distiller, Tim Vos, Van Gogh Vodka is perfect for the home bartender who wants to create delicious drinks without the fuss. Their portfolio of 22 vodka flavors (Pomegranate being my favorite), even includes PB&J for a touch of nostalgia.
Just in time for February 14th, Jonathan Pogash of The Cocktail Guru created a series of Valentine’s Day-themed cocktails crafted around Van Gogh’s vibrant flavored vodkas. I’ve tried all of them. So I can tell you from personal experience that they’re delicious and perfect to enjoy either during a night on the town with your girlfriends or on an intimate dinner with your lover. Here are his fab recipes:
My Honey Valentine
1-1/2 oz. Van Gogh Pomegranate Vodka
3/4 oz. pomegranate juice
1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice
1/4 oz. honey syrup (equal parts honey and hot water stirred until the honey dissolves)
Directions: Shake ingredients very well with ice and strain into martini glass or over ice into a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Cool Peach Bellini
1 oz. Van Gogh Cool Peach Vodka
1-1/2 oz. Peach Puree
3 oz. Prosecco
Directions: In a mixing glass stir the vodka and puree well. Add the Prosecco with ice and gently fold the ingredients (without stirring too much, as this will remove bubbles). Strain into a chilled champagne flute. Top off with extra Prosecco and garnish with a fresh peach when in season.
Spice It Up
1 1/2 oz. Van Gogh Rich Dark Chocolate Vodka
3/4 oz. milk
1/2 oz. cinnamon syrup
Directions: Shake well with ice and strain into martini glass.
Garnish: pinch of chili powder sugar (equal parts cayenne pepper and sugar)
When Carrie Bradshaw wrote freelance at Vogue in an episode of Sex and the City she once proclaimed to her overly critical editor that she may not know men, but she certainly knows shoes. All over the world, there are countless women who feel the exact same way. For millions of years, humans have been trying to make sense of the complex world of love and we don’t seem to be any closer to understanding relationships. For the third year in a row, Match.com surveyed thousands of men and women throughout the country and compiled a study on how Americans today really perceive dating, relationships, and of course the casual hook up. The sample was chosen was based on the U.S. Census and included 5,000 single men and women as well as 1,000 married people. They included people from every age, race, ethnic background, and area of the country.
Over the weekend, I attended a Match.com event on the Upper West Side where the online dating site’s very own cultural anthropologist, Dr. Helen Fisher, who conducted the study presented her findings over cocktails. I must say that the findings were incredibly powerful and unexpected. Though Americans seem to be experimenting more than ever, the overwhelming majority of both men and women ultimately still want a committed monogamous relationship. The study even showed that men on average tend to be more romantic than women, fall in love faster, and want to move in together sooner. However, what Dr. Fisher thought was the most interesting of her findings was that the modern-day “Friends with Benefits” phenomenon seems to have become a new and important part of the courtship process. In fact, 50% of the singles surveyed who said they had been in a friends with benefits relationship, said that it resulted in a deeper relationship. Click here to check out the rest of the study and have an amazing Valentine’s Day.
This is a sponsored post, but the opinions are all my own.
Whether you’re single or taken, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate your love of fashion, pink hearts, and radiant red lipstick. It’s also a great time of year to either get sent or send yourself a lovely bouquet of flowers. That is of course if you even remember it’s Valentine’s Day in between viewing the latest Fall Collections at New York Fashion Week which runs from Feb. 7th-14th. So before I get caught up in the glamour of viewing the next fall season at Lincoln Center, I’m putting together an amazing lists of Valentine’s Day gifts for every budget without the typical corniness that tends to follow this holiday. So treat yourself or a friend to some Valentine’s Day fabulosity. Or if you’re super subtile, send your significant other a link to this post.
Just found the perfect His and Hers Valentine’s Day gift for the classiest of upwardly mobile couples. They’re also great for stylish singles such as myself. March LA.B.‘s 1805 Timepiece Collection comes in two distinct styles – a pocket watch for men and pendant necklace for women. When your love is bound to stand the test of time, you should probably have matching watches. To seal your past, present, and future make them a vintage tribute.
