Author: Freelance Melt

Roses are red, violets are blue. Chocolate and drinks are the perfect pairings for two. 

Here are a few of our favorite chocolate and drink pairings for you and your Valentine to enjoy: 

Uptown Cocktails Chocolatini & Dove Hearts Milk Chocolate 

Uptown Cocktails Chocolatini topped with whipped cream and maraschino cherry is the perfect post-dinner Valentine’s Day treat, and it’s even better paired with Dove hearts milk chocolate. Who doesn’t love to sip chocolate and eat it at the same time?! 

Bollinger Champagne & Chocolate Covered Strawberries 

Strawberries and champagne = a Valentine’s Day classic treat. Enjoy this duo before or after dinner with your Valentine! 

R. Stuart Love Pinot Noir & Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Duet Hearts

Stuart Love Pinot Noir is an exceptional wine with aromas of dark cherry, black currant jam, sage, blackberries, vanilla bean paired perfectly with dark chocolate. To make the pairing even more romantic, grab a bag of Ghirardelli dark chocolate duet hearts!

For more excellent pairings and recipes, visit our full blog here. 

In the spirit of love, it’s time to start preparing for Valentine’s Day.

Here are 3 of our go-to red cocktail recipes for Valentine’s Day: 

Love Potion 

Ingredients: 

4 oz King St. Vodka 

2 oz cranberry juice 

1 oz grapefruit juice 

1 oz orange juice 

1 San Pellegrino sparkling water 

Fresh cranberries for garnish 

Instructions: 

Combine vodka and juice in a shaker with ice and shake. Pour over ice, top with San Pellegrino sparkling water, and garnish with fresh cranberries. 

Strawberries & Champagne

Ingredients: 

8 oz of Champagne - Pommery Brut

1 cup of strawberries (frozen or fresh) 

Splash of lemon juice 

1 teaspoon of sugar

Instructions: 

Blend strawberries and leave a few out for garnish. 

Add sugar and lemon juice to the blender and blend until smooth. 

Pour mixture into a champagne flute. 

Add chilled champagne to the flute. 

Garnish with a strawberry. 

Valentini Gin Martini

Ingredients: 

2 oz Gray Whale Gin 

1 oz cranberry juice 

1 oz raspberry syrup 

½ oz lemon juice 

Fresh raspberries for garnish 

Instructions: 

Shake all ingredients together in a shaker and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with fresh raspberries and enjoy! 

The winter is the perfect time to cozy up by the fire with coffee… make that boozy coffee. Check out these delicious boozy coffee recipes to add some color to your winter blues! 

Espresso Martini

Ingredients: 

• 2 oz vodka  
• ½ oz Patrón XO Cafe Coffee Liqueur 
• 1 oz espresso freshly brewed (you can also use cold brew concentrate)
• Coffee beans for garnish

Instructions: 

1. Brew espresso and let it cool completely 
2. Combine all ingredients into a shaker, add ice, and shake
3. Pour into a martini glass and garnish with coffee beans

Jameson Irish Coffee 

Ingredients: 

• 1 ½ oz Jameson
• 1 oz Jameson cold brew
• ½ oz Cinnamon Simple syrup
• 1 oz Almond Milk

Instructions: 

1. Combine all ingredients into a shaker, add ice, and shake 
2. Garnish with shaved coffee beans over top 

Hot Boozy Coffee

Ingredients: 

• ½ shot Raynal VSOP Brandy 
• ½ shot Grand Marnier
• ½ shot Patrón XO Cafe Coffee Liqueur 
• ½ cup hot coffee
• ½ tsp sugar 
• Whipped cream  
• Orange peel for garnish

Instructions: 

1. Combine Brandy, Grand Marnier, Patrón XO Cafe Coffee Liqueur, hot coffee, and sugar into a mug and stir 
2. Top with whipped cream 
3. Garnish with an orange peel 

What’s better than game day?! Game day grub paired with cocktails. 

Check these game day food and cocktail pairings to prep for the next big game: 

Nachos and Margaritas 

Margaritas pair well with just about any salty chip! 

Classic Margarita Recipe: 

• 4 oz Patrón silver or Roca Patrón 
• 2 oz Cointreau
• 2 limes for fresh squeezed lime juice 
• 1 lime wedge for garnish 
• 1 tbsp for salted rim

Salt the rim of a glass, combine all ingredients, stir, add ice, and garnish with lime wedge.  

Burgers or Hot Dogs and Georgia on My Mind 

Beer is an obvious beverage to pair with anything that comes straight off the grill on game day, but mix things up this game day and make a batch of Georgia on My Mind for your tailgating guests. 

Georgia on My Mind Recipe: 

• 2 oz  Bulleit bourbon
• 1 oz lemon juice 
• 1 tsp maple syrup 
• ½ peach liqueur 
• 4 basil leaves 
• 1 basil sprig for garnish 

Mudde the 4 basil leaves at the bottom of a shaker. Combine Bulleit bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup, and peach liqueur to a shaker with ice and shake. Serve over ice and garnish with basil sprig. 

Hot Wings and Martinis 

Martinis are perfect for keeping the heat down and cleansing the palate after hot wings. 

Classic Martini Recipe: 

• 2 ½ oz gin or vodka (pick your favorite) 
• ½ Boissiere dry vermouth 
• Olives for garnish 

Combine all ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake, and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with olives. Enjoy!