Category Archives: Valentine’s & Lover’s Cocktails

Lure Him in for a Midnight Rendezvous

Posted on February 7, 2010 | Leave a comment

We have all seen THAT woman, THE one who walks into a bar and attracts the eye of every man in the room. She never pays for a drink, collects more business cards and phone numbers than the Yellow Pages and only leaves alone if it was her intention from the get go. She is a man magnet. Christie Griffin, writer for Cosmopolitan Magazine and wingwoman extraordinaire, gives six tips on How to Be a Total Man-Magnet for the woman who is genuinely interested in delving a little deeper than the average pick up line. This isn’t for the gold digger, bubble head or those who think small talk is permission to rat out the faults of all the other women in the joint. Ms. Griffin’s guide just might be the perfect starter guide for those looking for a Midnight Rendezvous with the choicest hottie at the bar.

Midnight Rendezvous

Blackberries

1 Meyer Lemon

1 ounce Averna Amaro

1 ounce Orange Flavored Vodka

2 ounce Ginger Beer

Orange Wheel Garnish

Muddle blackberries in bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add juice of one Meyer lemon, Averna and vodka with ice. Shake to chill. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice. Top off with ginger beer. Garnish with orange wheel.

Cheri Loughlin is a leading cocktail and photography resource for beverage companies, event planners, businesses and individuals. High resolution cocktail and beverage stock photography images are available in downloadable digital format in the newly redesigned Stock Photography Gallery at www.cheriloughlin.com.

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2012 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

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Posted in Valentine's & Lover's Cocktails

Tagged Amaro, Averna, Blackberries, Fresh Lemon, Ginger Beer, Premium Orange Liqueur, Valentine's Day

Plan a Happily Ever After Date Night

Posted on February 5, 2010 | Leave a comment

Men usually take the heat when Valentine’s Day rolls around. It is high time the tables turn and the ball lands in the ladies court for a change. Ashley Womble of Cosmopolitan magazine suggests eight ideas for dates guys will remember forever. While some might sound a bit cheesy (ie: renting a Vespa – Go for a Harley if you’ve got the dollars and expertise) the idea is take control, be the bad girl he desires and turn the Hallmark moment day into one he’ll never forget. Purchase tickets to his favorite sporting event, join him for an afternoon out at the shooting range and then hit a beer and food pairing dinner. Don’t forget the appropriate attire and smooth moves to assure your Happily Ever After Valentine’s Day ending.

Happily Ever After

1-3/4 ounce Rhum J.M. Blanc

3/4 ounce Cynar Artichoke Liqueur

3/4 ounce Cherry Heering

1/4 ounce Averna

2 Dashes Rhubarb Bitters

1 Dash Whiskey Barrel Bitters

Combine all ingredients except bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill. Strain into a cocktail glass filled with fresh, crushed ice. Drop bitters on to. Stir and serve.

Plan ahead. March 16 is National Artichoke Heart Day.

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Posted in Valentine's & Lover's Cocktails

Tagged Artichoke Liqueur, Averna, Cherry Heering Liqueur, Cynar, Rhubarb Bitters, Rum, Valentine's Day, Whiskey Bitters

Hit the G’Spot Jackpot

Posted on February 4, 2010 | Leave a comment

Women often say men don’t share enough about themselves, but Ryan Barnett from Cosmopolitan magazine sets the record straight on a particularly touchy subject; the bedroom. Men from AskMen.com chimed in to clarify the parallel universe of what she said/what he hears in 10 Things Men Don’t Want to Hear in Bed. The innocuous goes from irritation to obnoxious in the time it takes to say “My ex used to…” Don’t be that girl if you want to hit the jackpot with your guy.

The G’Spot cocktail recipe makes the perfect drink for Valentine’s Day for obvious reasons with its ideal name. It hits the spot with refreshing taste, too. G’Spot is balanced between the flavors of sweet and tart with the underlying unique character of G’vine Gin coming through in the finish.

G’Spot

1-1/2 ounce G’Vine Floraison Gin

1/2 ounce Raspberry Liqueur

1/4 ounce Simple Syrup

1/4 ounce Fresh Lime Juice

3/4 ounce Lemon Juice

Lemon Twist Garnish

Combine all liquids in a mixing glass with ice. Shake to chill. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon twist.

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Posted in Valentine's & Lover's Cocktails

Tagged Fresh Lemon, Fresh Lime, G'vine Gin, Gin, Raspberry Liqueur, Simple Syrup, Valentine's Day

One Good Pinch Punch & Other Secret Signals

Posted on February 3, 2010 | Leave a comment

Keeping the spark alive in relationships is a full time task. Though it is difficult at times, the reward is in knowing the embers still glow bright beneath all the responsibilities of life. Poker players have subtle ‘tells’ that give away when they are bluffing or have a fabulous hand. Men have the same slight signals that let their partner know their value and importance. Perhaps it is as gentlemanly as holding doors open or as charming as bringing morning coffee in bed. It might be as obvious as a pinch on the fanny or full on playful butt grab in public for the heck of it. Reading your man’s secret signals is like having an ace up your sleeve. Glamour.com gives twelve more gestures men make that might indicate the level of their commitment.

One Good Pinch Punch – created by Phil Ward

2 ounces Flor de Caña 7 year-aged rum

1 seedless Watermelon

One good pinch of Cayenne Pepper

4 Sugar Cubes

1 ounce Lime juice

1 ounce Club soda

Dissolve sugar cubes in club soda. Add watermelon to mixture. Muddle. Add remaining ingredients one at a time and stir. Chill. Multiply recipe to fill a traditional size punch bowl if desired.

Flor de Cana Rum is the only rum from Nicaragua. Flor de Cana rums are naturally aged for the number of years printed on the bottle. There are never additives used to accelerate the aging process.

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Posted in Valentine's & Lover's Cocktails

Tagged Cayenne Pepper, Club Soda, Flor de Cana Rum, Fresh Lime, Rum, Valentine's Day, Watermelon

White Chocolate Bliss is Pure Indulgence

Posted on February 2, 2010 | Leave a comment

NAVAN created a blissful treat sure to please the vanilla and chocolate lover. The NAVAN White Chocolate Bliss plays on the seductive flavor of natural vanilla, decadent richness of white chocolate and tops things off with edible gold to indulge the senses. This cocktail pairs perfectly with an assortment of white, milk and dark chocolate truffles.

White Chocolate Bliss

2 ounces Vanilla Liqueur

2 ounces White Chocolate Liqueur

Shaved White Chocolate

Oro Fino Edible Gold

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with shaved white chocolate and edible gold if desired.

Recipe courtesy representatives of Navan.

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Posted in Valentine's & Lover's Cocktails

Tagged Chocolate, Edible Gold, Navan, Valentine's Day, Vanilla Liqueur, White Chocolate Liqueur

Sweeten the Valentine’s Day Honey Pot

Posted on February 1, 2010 | Leave a comment

Ah, the sweet beginnings of love, love, love… They start with cute grins, fluttering eye lashes, stolen glances and then pet names roll off the tongue like Wookums, Pookie, Love Nugget and Cuppy Cake. Such manifestations of love are better left to the privacy of one’s own home…Sugar Britches! Keep it simple…Honey. It’s perfect. Not too over the top sweet, natural, with just a hint of edginess to it if you put a deep roll to it from the recesses of your throat. Give your Babylicious Poohbear your sexiest kitten eye flutter and he’ll know he’s just the Bee’s Knees in your book without all the Gummie Bear Doll Face names.

Bees’ Knees

2 parts Gin

1/2 part Bärenjäger Honey Liqueur

1/4 part Simple Syrup

1/2 part Fresh Grapefruit Juice

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled coupe glass.

Barenjager Honey Liqueur is a honey flavored liqueur with vodka base bottled at 70 proof. It is made in Germany using honey from the Mexican province of Yucatan. This liqueur is a mix of honey and botanicals. The bottle cleverly represents a honeycomb.

The Bären Pear

1 part Barenjager

1 part Pear Vodka

3/4 part Triple Sec

1/2 part Lemon Juice

10 Mint Leaves

1/2 part Simple Syrup

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with floated mint leaves on top of drink.

Honey Tea-ni

1-1/2 parts Sweet Tea Vodka

1 part Bärenjäger

1/2 part Lemon Juice

Lemon Wheel Garnish – optional

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon wheel if desired.

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Posted in Valentine's & Lover's Cocktails

Tagged Barenjager, Fresh Lemon, Gin, Grapefruit Juice, Honey Liqueur, Mint Leaves, Pear Vodka, Simple Syrup, Sweet Tea Vodka, Triple Sec, Valentine's Day

Fun & Flirty Cocktail Recipes

Posted on January 16, 2010 | Leave a comment

Be still my heart…

There are movies, men and moments in life that make a woman weak in the knees, but as the saying goes; “there’s nothing quicker, than liquor.” All kidding aside words of romance strike whimsical fancy in some people’s book while strumming a chord of cheesy Hallmark moment in another. Allow the world of fanciful daydream filled with starry nights and fluttering eyelashes collide.

Whether your chosen moment is Valentine’s Day, Girl’s Night Out, Bachelorette Party or Couple’s Night In, enjoy the moment with a few cocktails that capture moments of love and romance in a fun, flirty sort of style.

Passion – strong emotion, adoration, love, intensely powerful emotion, craving, amorous affection and desire felt by lovers for each other

Passion Rouge – created by Francesco LaFranconi

1 measure Premium Orange Liqueur

1 measure Passion Fruit Liqueur

3/4 measure Passion Fruit Puree

3/4 measure Orange Juice

2 dashes Classic Bitters

1/2 measure Egg White

1 measure Champagne

Orange Twist & Grated Nutmeg Garnish

Combine liquids except champagne in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Add champagne. Swirl to blend. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with grated nutmeg and orange twist.

Kiss – buss, osculation, smack, graze, butterfly, French, to touch or caress with the lips, especially as a sign of ardor or affection

Cherry Kiss Martini – created by Jim Hewes

2 measures Vodka

1/4 measure Godiva Chocolate Liqueur

Maraschino Cherry

Coat chilled martini glass with chocolate liqueur. Place maraschino cherry in well of coated glass. Pour chilled vodka into prepared glass.

Midnight – bewitching hour when all enchantment begins, temptation arises, enticement wins out and fascinating tales begin to weave charming stories of excitement and pleasure

Between the Sheets

1 measure Brandy

1 measure Rum

1 measure Premium Orange Liqueur

1/2 measure Lemon Juice

Simple Syrup – to taste

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

Heart – essence, character, soul, compassion, tenderness, zest, moxie, spirit

Peg o’ My Heart

2 measures Dark Rum

1 measure Lime Juice

1/2 measure Grenadine

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

Flutter – tremble, oscillate, throb, shiver, flitter, dance, to move quickly, lightly and unsteadily as if with wings

Liquid Joy

2 measures Rum

3 measures Pineapple Juice

3 measures Ginger Ale

Build in highball glass over fresh ice. Stir with sip straw.

Love – adoration, rapture, enchantment, ardor, fervor, yearning, fascination, ardent affection, desire felt by lovers for one another

Lover’s Moon

1-3/4 measure Bourbon

1-1/2 measure Macadamia Nut Liqueur

1 measure Heavy Cream

Maraschino Cherry Garnish

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with maraschino cherry. Double recipe to share under lover’s moon.

Smitten – infatuated, stricken, intense romantic attraction, lust

P.S. I Love You

3/4 measure Irish Cream

3/4 measure Amaretto

1/2 measure Rum

1/2 measure Coffee Liqueur

3/4 measure Heavy Cream

Grated Chocolate Garnish

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with grated chocolate.

Rendezvous – affair, tete-a-tete, tryst, love nest, secretly unite

Ritz of New York

1 measure Cognac

1/2 measure Premium Orange Liqueur

1/8 measure Maraschino Liqueur

1/2 measure Lemon Juice

2-1/2 measure Brut Champagne

Orange Peel Garnish

Combine liquids except champagne in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into champagne flute or coupe. Top with champagne. Garnish with orange twist.

Heaven – bliss, ecstasy, rapture, Utopia, nirvana, harmony, elated pleasure

Honeymoon Cocktail

1-1/2 measure Applejack

1 measure Benedictine

2 teaspoons Orange Curacao

3/4 measure Lemon Juice

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2011 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

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Posted in Valentine's & Lover's Cocktails

Tagged Amaretto, Applejack, Benedictine, Bourbon, Brandy, Champagne, Chocolate, Chocolate Liqueur, Classic Bitters, Coffee Liqueur, Cognac, Egg White, Fresh Lemon, Ginger Ale, Girl's Night Out, Godiva, Grenadine, Heavy Cream, Irish Cream, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, Macadamia Nut Liqueur, Orange Curacao, Orange Juice, Passion Fruit Liqueur, Passion Fruit Nectar, Pineapple Juice, Premium Orange Liqueur, Rum, Simple Syrup, Valentine's Day, Vodka

Kiss Me You Fool

Posted on February 14, 2009 | Leave a comment

Kiss Me You Fool

3 ounces Chocolate Vodka

1 ounces Black Raspberry Liqueur

Fresh Raspberries Garnish

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with fresh raspberries; floated or skewered.

Recipe courtesy Three Olives Vodka

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Posted in Valentine's & Lover's Cocktails

Tagged Black Raspberry Liqueur, Chocolate Vodka, Kiss Me You Fool, Raspberries, Three Olives Vodka, Valentine's Day

Passiontini

Posted on February 12, 2009 | Leave a comment

Passiontini

1-1/2 ounce Passionfruit Vodka

1-1/2 ounce Orange Vodka

1/2 ounce Triple Sec

1 ounce Cranberry Juice

Maraschino Cherry & Lemon Twist Garnish

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with maraschino cherry and lemon twist.

Recipe courtesy Three Olives Vodka

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Posted in Valentine's & Lover's Cocktails

Tagged Cranberry Juice, Orange Vodka, Passionfruit Vodka, Passiontini, Three Olives Vodka, Triple Sec, Valentine's Day

The Amarula Cream Proposal

Posted on February 9, 2009 | Leave a comment

Boxes of chocolates, long stem roses and pristine dinner reservations don’t quite seal the deal for some when Valentine’s Day rolls around. A handful of women wait for the little square box covered with silken lining and sparkling treasure. They eagerly wait in sweaty palm anticipation for their man to propose on the most romantic day of the year – because obviously he didn’t drop to his knee in front of the family at Thanksgiving dinner, or have that box tucked in her stocking on Christmas morning or pop the question when the ball dropped New Year’s Eve. He must be waiting for Valentine’s Day. Right?! Brenda Della Casa, writer for Glamour.com, addresses the question of why a man waits to propose with an illustrative guide and real interaction from men around the country who chime in with their reasons for putting the brakes on setting a wedding day.

Amarula & Eve

1-1/2 ounce Amarula Cream

1/2 ounce Citrus Vodka

2-1/2 ounce Lychee Juice

3/4 ounce Ruby Red Grapefruit juice

Lychee Fruit Slice Garnish

Place liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with slice of lychee fruit on the rim.

Amarula Cream comes from the marula berry found on the Marula tree. This tree is referred to in African legend as the ‘Marriage Tree’ due to its characteristic male and female trees and fertile fruit. The Marula tree stands as a symbol of fertility and is part of a cleansing ritual before wedding ceremonies.