5 easy Valentine’s Day cocktail recipes
Valentine’s Day is near, and it looks like some of us will be spending it at home with our special someone. If it’s not COVID-19 that’s keeping us locked up at home, then it may be the thought of waiting an hour for a table at a restaurant. Now here you are trying to score some points with your lady or Man by making some delicious cocktails. As a former bartender and certified mixologist, I can tell you that the taste of the drink has lots to do with the quality of your liquor as it has to do with everything else in it. There is typically a big difference in taste and aftertaste when it comes to liquor and wine. Typically, the cheaper it is then the worst it tastes. You will usually taste the difference between an $8 Dollars bottle of Merlot as opposed to a 4-year-old $20 Dollars bottle. I honestly wouldn’t put anything in my mouth that costs less that $15 bucks a bottle. You can try a nice 2017 Francis Coppola Diamond collection Merlot that costs around $15 Dollars.
Anyways, back to our special cocktails. Like I said, I would only get top-shelf liquor for my liquor cabinet. If your budget is only a $100 Dollars, then it is just fine. Just get the smaller sizes. I would have a bottle of Patron silver tequila, a Grey Goose vodka, Cointreau triple sec, sweet and sour, Rose’s sweetened lime juice, and a shot glass. Cranberry and orange juices are a must. You can grab a Bartending shaker kit from Amazon for less than $20 Dollars. Here are a few recipes I recommend to all my friends that do not require them to purchase the entire liquor section at their local grocery store:
1. Cadillac Margarita
First thing we want to do is rim the cocktail glass with a lime wedge to help the salt stick to the glass. Salt the rim with Margarita salt. You can grab it at any grocery store. Pour ice into your shaker. Pour a shot of Patron, a shot of Cointreau, two shots of sweet and sour, and 1/8th of a shot of lime juice into your shaker. Start shaking your shaker like there is no tomorrow for 10 seconds. Now, pour ice into your cocktail glass. Strain everything from your shaker into your glass. Float a half a shot of Grand Marnier into your Cadillac Margarita. Place a lime wedge on your glass.
2. Cosmopolitan
This is an easy drink to make. A cosmopolitan is also one of my favorite drinks. Pour ice into your shaker. Pour a half a shot of Grey Goose, a shot of Grand Marnier, half a shot of Cointreau, one shot of cranberry juice, a shot of sweet and sour, and an 1/8th of a shot of lime juice into your shaker. Now start shaking your shaker for 20 seconds like there is no tomorrow. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
3. Mexi-tini
This is an easy one. Grab your shaker and fill it up with ice. Pour a shot of Grey Goose vodka, a shot of Patron silver tequila, 1 shot of Cointreau, and two shots of sweet orange juice into your shaker. Start shaking it for about 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
4. Cranberry Margarita
Here is a cute Margarita drink. This is how I make mine. I grab my shaker. Fill it up with ice. Pour a shot of Tequila, a shot of Cointreau, two shots of cranberry juice, and 1/8th of shot of lime juice into my shaker. Shake it up for 10 seconds. Rim the edge of a cocktail glass with a lime wedge. Dip the rim of the glass into sugar. Pour ice into the cocktail glass. Strain everything that’s in my shaker into the cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange wedge.
5. Summer Breeze
A Summer breeze cocktail is an oldie but a goodie. It is very simple to make. Grab your shaker, throw four or five cubes of ice in there. Pour a shot of Grey Goose, a shot of Cointreau, two shots of orange juice, two shots of cranberry juice in the shaker. Shake it up a bit and pour everything into a cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange wedge.
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