Tag Archives: Valentine’s Day

Camarena’s Kiss

A kiss should be deep, full, rich and succulent. Camarena’s Kiss delivers with great lushness. The slight edge of blackberry flavor gives this drink an interesting tone that keeps you sipping for more. With its versatile twist from shot to champagne flute, Camarena’s Kiss can be enjoyed from Saturday evening to Sunday brunch. Pull up a shaker and stay a while.

Camarena’s Kiss – created by Cheri Loughlin

Camarenas Kiss - Cheri Loughlin Cocktail Development Services1/2 measure Camarena Silver Tequila

1/2 measure Blackberry Brandy

1/2 measure Lime Juice

1/4 to 1/2 measure Grenadine

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into shot glass. 1/4 measure Grenadine lends itself to less sweetness. 1/2 measure Grenadine makes the shot a little more sweet.

Variation: Use 1/2 measure Grenadine for full sweetness. Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled champagne flute. Top with 2-1/2 measures Brut Champagne.

Cocktail Recipe commissioned by Camarena Tequila Representatives

Cheri Loughlin Photography - Cocktail Development & Photography Services

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2012 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved.

Lady of Leisure

For those celebrating Valentine’s Day as a single’s event… Cheers!

Lady of LeisurePineapple Pina - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

1 measure Gin

1/2 measure Raspberry Liqueur

1/2 measure Premium Orange Liqueur

1/4 measure Lemon Juice

1 measure Pineapple Juice

Orange Zest Twist

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

Cheri Loughlin Photography - Cocktail Development & Photography Services

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2011 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved.

The Kiss

The Kiss photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

Sometimes a simple kiss says it all.

The Kiss – created by Cheri Loughlin

1-1/2 ounce Spiced Rum

1/2 ounce Premium Orange Liqueur

1/2 ounce Praline Pecan Liqueur

1-1/2 ounce Apricot Nectar

Fresh Ground Nutmeg Garnish

Orange Twist

Build liquid ingredients over ice in rocks glass. Stir. Garnish with fresh ground nutmeg and orange twist.

I used Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum and Grand Marnier while creating this cocktail.

Cheri Loughlin Photography - Cocktail Development & Photography Services

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2012 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved.

Valentine’s Day Massacre

Think your Valentine’s Day isn’t looking so good. Surely it doesn’t compare to the Valentine’s Day of some… February 14, 1929 – St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. The day warring mob gangs took passion to a twisted level of rage.

Valentine’s Day Massacre

Campari Margarita copyright Cheri Loughlin1-1/2 measure Vodka

1 measure Campari

1/2 measure Lime Juice

1 teaspoon Sugar

1 measure Cranberry Juice

Lemon Twist

Combine ingredients in large rocks glass over fresh ice. Stir. Garnish with lemon twist.

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 – ©2011 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

Night of Passion Cocktails

Every holiday serves a purpose. Many daily holidays are wink and nod as ‘reason’ to indulge in specific spirited choices served as straight pour or swirled in a cocktail glass. Other holidays tipple at the senses as occasions for gift giving times such as birthdays and Christmas. There are others still that cause great division of thought as to whether the holiday serves the world of commerce or the passion of the people. Valentine’s Day is one such holiday.

The cynical view of this puffy red hearted holiday is love is completely lost in the commercial gift swapping event for underlying motives of what men and women really want. Valentine’s Day isn’t about jewelry, chocolates, flowers or cocktails for that matter. When all is said and done, Valentine’s Day comes down to the love and sex factor.Love a cocktail at CWC - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

Passionate Pussy

1 measure Alize Gold Passion Liqueur

1/2 measure Cinnamon Schnapps

Dash Tabasco Sauce

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into shot glass or serve in small rocks glass over ice for slow, simmering sip.

Naïve Negligee

1 measure Citrus Vodka

1/2 measure Elderflower Liqueur

1 measure Pink Lemonade

2 measures Brut Champagne

Lemon Twist Garnish

Place ice in highball glass. Add vodka, liqueur and lemonade. Stir. Top with champagne. Stir. Garnish with lemon twist.

Doggy Style

1 measure Coconut Rum

1 measure Raspberry Vodka

2-1/2 measures Tonic Water

Lemon Slice Garnish

Place ice in highball glass. Add rum and vodka. Top with tonic water. Stir. Garnish with lemon slice.

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 – ©2011 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

French Kiss

French KissColorado Cherry 3 photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

1 measure Gin

1 measure Sweet Vermouth

1 measure Dry Vermouth

Maraschino Cherry Garnish

Combine liquids in mixing glass with ice. Stir or shake according to preference. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with maraschino cherry.

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 – ©2011 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

Kiss from a Rosé

Everyone knows one good kiss deserves another.  Delicious kisses often lead to much more exciting and adventurous things.  Barefoot Bubbly offers a ‘Bubbly Kiss’ from their Rosé Cuvée variety bringing a blush to the glass that just might extend further into the evening this Valentine’s Day.  Redbookmag.com compiled a Top 40 list of their steamiest tips for couples from bubbly kiss to sparkling bliss.  Tuck a few secret recipes for success in your pocket including the easy Kiss from a Rosé

Kiss from a Rosé

Champagne Imperial - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin1/2 measure Raspberry Liqueur

1/2 measure Créme de Cassis

4 measures Barefoot Bubbly Rosé Cuvée

Raspberry & Blackberry Garnish

Place liqueurs and berries in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled champagne flute. Top with Barefoot Bubbly Rosé Cuvée.

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 – ©2011 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

Thigh High

Stepping out single or calling it date night, dress the evening in style. Slip into sexy and dance the night away.

Thigh HighWhipped Strawberry Shortcake – created by Cheri Loughlin - photo property Cheri Loughlin

3 Muddled Strawberries

1 Teaspoon Strawberry Liqueur

1 measure Tequila

1 measure Crème de Cacao

1-1/2 measure Half & Half

Muddle strawberries and liqueur in mixing glass. Add remaining liquids with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with strawberry slice if desired.

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 – ©2011 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

Call it Kismet

Perspective, karma and fortuity intertwine within this champagne flute to ultimately dance upon the tip of the tongue.  That’s why it’s Call it Kismet.  Believe in Lady Luck, destiny, hard work or ordinary happenstance.  No matter how you call the future, once in a while everything comes down to the luck of the draw.  Call it Kismet utilizes Heering Cherry liqueur’s deep cherry flavor with subtle chocolate notes then laces in rich coffee and lush vanilla.  While it could have stopped at very simple, Brut Champagne adds the divine intervention of bubbly.

Call it Kismet – created by Cheri Loughlin

Call it Kismet - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin3/4 measure Heering Cherry Liqueur

1/2 measure Kahlua Especial

1/2 measure Navan

Brut Champagne

Cherry Garnish

Combine liqueurs in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill. Strain into chilled champagne flute. Top with champagne. Garnish with cherry. Wonderful deeply rich flavor of cherries kissed by hint of chocolate, rounded out by the essence of vanilla.

Cheri Loughlin Photography - Cocktail Development & Photography Services

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.

Let the Wine & Conversation Flow

For gift giving occasions I usually go in search of interesting wine labels for friends and family members. In past years I’ve given “Fourplay,” “Zinfatuation,” “Ménage a trios,” and any number of wines with labels giving the illusion of seduction for Valentine’s Day. Another year my search led to three easy labels as they sat in wire bins in the ever popular Target family shopping center. Yes, how romantic. Not so much. Then again for what it is worth my opinion of Valentine’s Day is this one special day a year should be multiplied by 365 (with the exception of leap year) and reenacted every day rather than only once a year. Our special someone should know how very special they are without all the stress and pressure Valentine’s Day places upon us to come up with something so extraordinary that says, “I love you,” when in fact it should be spoken each day whether in whispered breathlessness or in raucous outbursts of joyousness. The cynic in me rears her candid head yet again!Monogamy 2 - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

The three wines I chanced upon for Valentine’s Day were PromisQous, Interlude and Monogamy. Since each remains unopened for the moment, I cannot give a personal opinion on taste. However, in this instance the experience is more about the label as much as Valentine’s Day should be more about the ambiance and thought than the ultimate gift itself. Right?!

PromisQous – Read the label. It’s quite cute. In reference to people, we all come from many backgrounds, likes and dislikes. No matter how many people we ultimately dated, we all eyed a few more than we ever ended up with. Thus, the PromisQous thought or two has passed through many a mind whether carried out in reality or not. How fitting this wine materializes in time for Valentine’s Day. PromisQous is a red table wine blend as it takes from a little of this and that and mixes to become one wine of many samplings.

Interlude – The moment between dating and relationship. The Interlude. It is that time we experience great mental incapacity. Our friends think we have lost a grip on real life. Everything that flows from our tongue seems to speak of our lover and how utterly fascinating and wonderful they happen to be. Nothing in the world could possibly be remotely imperfect about their entire personality…until we reach the state of…

Monogamy. Bland? Plain? Ordinary? Never! According to this label Monogamy means “truly madly deeply.” Could it be so? Of course. Again, as the label plainly states one reaches this point after considering options and discovering likes and dislikes. How fitting Monogamy is a Cabernet Sauvignon which typically contains a deeper, richer more meaningful rounded out feel on the palate; satisfying in a broader sense.

Each of these wines retailed for $10 to $12.  With their witty labeling they are sure to create lots of interesting banter on Valentine’s Day.  Look for these labels or others with creative flair at a liquor store near you.

 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 – ©2011 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.