Valentine cocktails seem to center on the theme of what women prefer as does the entire holiday of Valentine’s Day itself. In a world where the sexes are constantly striving to figure one another out, I thought it was time to ask the men what they found sexy…as it pertains to cocktails that is.

The questions: What drink do you find most sexy for a woman to order at a bar? Be specific. Why do you find that particular drink sexy?

Scotch is Sexy

“The sexiest thing a woman can order at a bar is whisky, preferably something brilliant from Scotland with a f**ked up name like Bruichladdich… which, of course, she can pronounce correctly. That’s as hot as it gets.” – Dan Dunn www.TheImbiber.net Radio personality and contributing writer for Playboy, Maxim, The Tasting Panel and other high-profile publications

The story behind the Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine – Intoxicologist Note: You won’t learn how to pronounce Bruichladdich here ladies, but you will learn a little story behind the Yellow Submarine on the label that may shock, wow and amaze the gentlemen standing nearby. But don’t just tell a good story. Try the whisky for adventure; stick with it because you love it!

Bruichladdich creates several artisanal Single Malt Whiskies. Visit their site at www.bruichladdich.com for an idea of all they have to offer. Among their “mood malts” are two you might consider for Valentine’s Day for lingering after dinner (The Eighteen) or even later in the evening as a night cap (The Twenty).

You Can’t Beat Bourbon

“The most sexy drink a woman can order at a bar has to be a specific bourbon on the rocks. When I say “a specific” bourbon, it really doesn’t matter which brand, but she needs to name the brand. The reason I find that sexy is that she knows what she wants and asks for it, sees through the marketing bullshit and knows bourbon isn’t just for men and also knows whiskey is better when it’s bourbon. That’s a woman you don’t want to mess with, but then again a woman that you’d love to.” – Jason Falls, www.socialmediaexplorer.com

Jim Beam Small Batch Bourbon Tasting – Intoxicologist Note: Basil Hayden is first. Pick up the rye and spiciness, yet ease on the palette. Excellent in champagne! Knob Creek is the number one ultra premium bourbon in the world. There is sweetness in the nose with a bit more bite than the Basil Hayden. A slight bit of water opens up the flavor sensation. Bakers Bourbon is aged for seven years and comes in at 107 proof. You will find more body in the Bakers such as you might expect in cognac. www.smallbatch.com

Baker’s Bourbon certainly has the Intoxicologist’s attention these days. Baker’s caramel and vanilla tones dominate but do not overwhelm. While bourbon may seem like a man’s drink, Baker’s paves the way for women to enjoy a slow sipper either on the rocks, with a little water or neat depending on your preference. My favorite is about an ounce and a half of Bakers with one small ice cube left to melt while the Bakers sits and warms back to room temperature again. There is really no need to rush sipping bourbon. Enjoy the heat.

Cocktail Savvy

“If I was at a bar and a woman sat down and ordered a nice, smoky Islay malt or a stirred, wet Gin Martini with an olive, I would be sufficiently sexified. It shows a certain level of aggressive sophistication and an enthusiasm for the art of the drink that I would find attractive.” – Dan Crowell, Libation Association

The Perfect Martini – CHOW – Esquire drinks correspondent (and Beard Award–winning author) David Wondrich profiles his perfect martini, the Pegu Club’s Fitty Fitty, which features equal parts vermouth and gin. Pegu Club co-owner Audrey Saunders adds her thoughts as she pours. Video by CHOW.com.

The Fitty-Fitty

1-1/2 ounces Gin

1-1/2 ounces Dry Vermouth

A few dashes of Orange Bitters

Combine liquids in a mixing glass with ice. Stir until well chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Ladies, just like scotch, whiskies, or bourbon, know your gin. Call it. Don’t just settle for the well brand. It is difficult to go wrong with Tanqueray 10 and Noilly Prat Vermouth.

“I think it’s really sexy when a woman orders a particularly strong drink. That impresses me. Something like a Maker’s Mark Manhattan or Old Fashioned, whisky/bourbon on the rocks or a strong, dark type of beer. I think it’s cool when a woman can handle such a strong drink. They mostly like the wimpy drinks like a Cosmo. Drinking bourbon tells me that she is a strong woman and likes her drinks stiff!” – Anonymous

Maker’s Mark Manhattan

1-1/2 ounce Maker’s Mark Bourbon

1/2 ounce Sweet Vermouth (we recommend Carpano)

1 teaspoon of Maraschino Cherry Juice

Maraschino cherry

Place liquids in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake or stir until well chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with maraschino cherry.

Maker’s Mark Old Fashioned

1-1/2 ounce Maker’s Mark Bourbon

2 Orange Slices

2 Maraschino Cherries

1/2 ounce Club Soda

1 teaspoon Sugar

Muddle 1 orange slice, 1 maraschino cherry and sugar in mixing glass. Add ice and bourbon. Stir or shake to integrate ingredients. Pour into a large rocks glass. Top with club soda. Garnish with remaining orange slice and cherry.

Here’s a little Maker’s Mark trivia to chat about while you’re sipping that Manhattan or Old-Fashioned: What is a Slam Dunk bottle? Slam Dunk bottles are those bottles which are dipped all the way down past the label. There are 2 slam dunks for every 90 cases. You can only find a Slam Dunk at your local retailer.

Become part of the Maker’s Mark family by becoming a Maker’s Mark Ambassador. There are a few simple requirements. Rather than giving you the run down, go to the Maker’s Mark site and see for yourself. Sign up truly is easy and there are special perks for those that take the time. www.makersmark.com

Environmentally Appropriate Brews

Some men’s answers were more specific in relation to the environment:

Sports Bar – Micro brew, preferably on tap, preferably local, fruit if you must. (NO Blue Moon it’s not a micro brew) Wear your blue jeans, sit and enjoy the game. Generate good conversation. It’s Sunday afternoon, no need to have too many, 2 or 3 over the course of the game.

Irish Bar -Old fashioned, Manhattan, some sort of whisky bourbon drink that is out of the ordinary for women to drink, but not too manly. Sip on it, take your time, enjoy the many tastes that a good bourbon or scotch can bring. Enjoy the music, clap, and sing along.

Steak House – A good red wine. Not too expensive, but not Yellow Tail. Some lesser known wine that she has done her homework on and takes a chance on. The chance works out and it’s GREAT. Then she recommends another one to me and it works out. That’s hot. Good steak or sashimi grade Tuna steak, seared melts in your mouth. The experience of a great steak dinner with a great red wine that you took a chance on is admirable. You know your stuff, but are not afraid to try something new. – Rob Masters, Distiller at Colorado Pure Distilling in Denver

Locally we have Upstream Brewing Company in the Omaha Old Market. This is a great place to take a date, family, friends or business clients for lunch or go out for dinner. Better yet, there are two bars; upstairs and downstairs with a place to play pool if you want to get your game on for a little fun. Upstream Brewing Company boasts a fabulous selection of cocktails put together by a few of the friendliest bar staff in the Old Market. I’ll add in here that the wait staff is phenomenal any given day of the week. Tim is the greatest! But back to the bar…

Upstream brews award-winning, hand-crafted beer on-site. Upstream offers tastings with a tasting mat that describes each style of brew. Two examples are the Blackstone Stout and Gold Coast Blonde.

Blackstone Stout – 4.4% ABV

Bold with a soft finish, our darkest beer has plenty of malt flavor with undertones of coffee and chocolate. The addition of oatmeal to the brew adds extra smoothness and a thick creamy head. Blackstone Stout takes its name from Omaha’s most prestigious hotel built in 1916.

Gold Coast Blonde – 4.4% ABV

Gold Coast Blonde is light in malt and hops and of course, golden in color. A great choice if you’re looking for true American beer flavor with a bit more malt than a light beer has to offer. Gold Coast Blonde takes its name from the Gold Coast Historic District, Omaha’s social hotspot from the 1920’s.

Last of all is a comment that had less to do with cocktails and more to do with the woman and what a man finds attractive.

Personality Please

“I am trying to answer candidly even though it may not be what you want. I draw no correlation between drink and sexy. That is, if she’s pretty and she orders Pabst — sexy. If she’s hot and she orders a Cosmo — sexy. If she’s plain and she orders a single malt Scotch — not sexy. I do not find the pink and cupid stuff sexy in the least. I don’t mean to imply that it’s always and primarily the looks, because it’s not. There is a recent movie where the lead woman is so attractive and yet not pretty. But again it has nothing to do with the drink, in my humble estimation.” – Robert

I found this comment intriguing, because it speaks volumes. You’ve read a variety of what men think is attractive and sexy in a drink. Ultimately it is the power behind the cocktail and what it suggests. Pronouncing a challenging whisky correctly, ordering a hard liquor cocktail and being able to consume it without difficulty, mastering the brands with distinction so you know what you like rather than settling on “any one will do,” doing your homework so you know some little known wine and can offer it up as suggestion and impress him, and not only consuming beer when in the appropriate surrounding, but making sure it’s artisanal from the tap. Men are not looking for average. They are looking for more; someone who has taken the time to enrich herself with knowledge. The drink a woman orders is sometimes the small detail that speaks of her personality. Ultimately personality is what men really find the most sexily interesting.

Woman’s Guide to What Drinks Men Find Sexy