Looking to do something unique for Valentine’s Day this year? Forget about the typical flowers and chocolates and fancy restaurants. Instead, we at Cox’s Louisville recommend making a nice meal at home and while you mix together one—or a few—of these tantalizing cocktails for a romantic night in.

Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and you’re probably already speculating about what you might do. Given the state of things, a quiet night in is probably on the agenda. But fret not! It doesn’t have to be so bad.

Feel free to use this helpful guide as you come up with a nice meal to create in your kitchen, (or order delivery) and then pick out one or more of these tasty cocktails to mix together. They’re sure to kick your romantic night-in up a notch.

Keep reading for Cox’s Louisville’s best Valentine’s day advice and hop online to order your ingredients for home delivery!

The Pink Lady is a classic concoction that’s been around for at least 100 years. While its origin isn’t certain, it was already well known during the prohibition era. It’s thought to have been one of the first “girly drinks,” making it a wonderful addition to your Valentine’s Day cocktail menu.

Owing its pretty pink hue to the grenadine and its frothy top to the beaten egg white, the Pink Lady is a classic gin cocktail that tastes as good as it looks.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces of gin
• 1/2 ounce of fresh lemon juice
• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon of grenadine

Instructions
Add all the ingredients into a shaker and then shake vigorously until the egg is frothy. If you aren’t feeling up to the task, feel free to put it in a blender or food processor. Once it’s well-mixed and foamy, strain the mixture into chilled martini glasses and garnish with cherries.

You can purchase these and more online from Cox’s Louisville to have them hand-delivered through our ongoing partnership with Drizzly.com

Made popular by James Bond himself, this classic take on a martini is as sexy as a drink can get. It’s easy if not particular to make, as Bond himself puts it, “Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?”

We got it, James. This seriously strong cocktail is dry with a hint of sweetness and fruit. It’s sure to add some suave sophistication to your romantic night in.

Ingredients

• 3 ounces dry gin
• 1 ounce vodka
• 1/2 ounce Lillet Blanc
• 1 slice of lemon
  

Instructions

Add everything except the lemon into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with the lemon slice.

You can purchase these and more online from Cox’s Louisville to have them hand-delivered through our ongoing partnership with Drizzly.com

Love potions aren’t just for fantasy and fairly tells—this gin cocktail is pure magic. Made with lime juice, elderflower liqueur and rosé champagne, it’s a strong cocktail that goes down smooth.

For a little extra magic, drop a piece of dry ice in the cocktail to make floating fog emanate from the drink—just like a real love potion! It’ll keep the drink cold and give it a little extra carbonation too.

Ingredients

• 3 ounces gin
• 1 ounce lime juice
• 1 ounce elderflower liquor
• 6 ounces rosé champagne
• Rose petals for garnish

Instructions

Combine the gin, liquor and lime juice in a mixer with ice and shake thoroughly. Add a few ice cubes and the rose petals to a cocktail glass and strain the drink over them. Top with the champagne.

You can purchase these and more online from Cox’s Louisville to have them hand-delivered through our ongoing partnership with Drizzly.com

If you’re looking for a drink that packs a little more punch and isn’t quite as sweet as the dessert cocktails, consider The Brogue. Our personal favorite Valentine’s day cocktail was created by the famous mixologist Leo Robitschek of Eleven Madison Park fame, this sweet, floral yet smoky cocktail is perfect for a romantic evening at home.

The drink is similar to a rusty nail in that it’s scotch paired with Drambuie, but the lavender honey syrup makes it completely unique. You’ll need to make the syrup yourself, but take it from us, it’s completely worth it.

Ingredients

For the lavender honey syrup:

• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon lavender flowers
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup honey

For the cocktail:

• 1 1/2 ounces scotch
• 1/2 ounce Drambuie
• 3/4 ounce lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce lavender honey syrup
• Dried lavender

Instructions

To make the lavender honey syrup, bring a cup of water to boil and add in the lavender flowers. Stir in the honey and sugar until both are dissolved. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes and then allow the syrup to cool off completely.

To make the cocktail, mix the scotch, Drambuie, lemon juice and lavender honey syrup in a mixer filled with ice. Shake well, strain into an old-fashioned glass and then garnish with the dried lavender.

You can purchase these and more online from Cox’s Louisville to have them hand-delivered through our ongoing partnership with Drizzly.com

Who doesn’t want a little hanky panky for Valentine’s Day? We’re talking about this delicious drink, of course. Created by Ada Coleman, one of two women to have held the position of head bartender at the Savoy Hotel in London, this sweet martini packs a unique punch—a few drops of Fernet-Banca, which is an Italian amaro made with a plethora of aromatic herbs and spices. When Ada’s benefactor first tried the concoction, he’s reported to have exclaimed, “By Jove! That is the real hanky-panky!” And so it’s called.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces gin
• 1 1/2 ounces sweet vermouth
• A few teaspoons of Fernet-Branca
• Orange peel

Instructions

Add the three liquids into a mixer with ice and shake until cold. Strain into a chilled glass, garnish with the orange peel. Serve.

You can purchase these and more online from Cox’s Louisville to have them hand-delivered through our ongoing partnership with Drizzly.com

The blushing rose is a veritable drink designed for two: It’s made with Ty Ku liqueur, a fruity spirit made with Asian pear, pomegranate, honeydew and yuzu—oh, and lots of aphrodisiacs. Perfect for your romantic Valentine’s evening.

This particular drink, while heavy on love ingredients, is light on alcohol, so you may want to mix a few. With rose nectar and pomegranate juice added, it has a lovely floral sweetness that will leave you wanting another. And since it’s light on alcohol, go ahead and indulge. We won’t say anything.

Ingredients

4 ounces Ty Ku Liqueur
4 ounces rose nectar
2 ounces pomegranate juice
Lime wedge
Instructions

Pour the liquids into a mixing glass with ice and stir well. Strain the mixture into an old-fashioned glass with crushed ice. Garnish with a wedge of lime and enjoy.

You can purchase these and more online from Cox’s Louisville to have them hand-delivered through our ongoing partnership with Drizzly.com

Luckily, Cox’s Neighborhood Liquor Store has just about every ingredient you need to make your Valentine’s day cocktails a success. So find your nearest location or check us out online through our Drizzly delivery service at your convenience.