Recipes
Valentine’s Day Cocktails to Share with That Special Someone
Celebrate the season of love with these Empress 1908 delights!
It’s about that time of year: bouquets of roses, heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, and going all out for date night. We’ve come prepared with a yummy selection of cocktail recipes for you to enjoy on Valentine’s Day! Even if you’re celebrating Galentine’s or a day of self-care instead, we’re sure you’ll find a special sip calling for your name. Follow along with us through our own cocktail tunnel of love!
Jump to the recipes ahead!
- Coming Up Roses
- Bonheur Fizz
- Boozy Raspberry Milkshake
- Strawberries ‘n Cream
- The Rose Peddler
- Salted Caramel Dalgona Cheesecake
- Blushing Rose Blood Orange Gin Fizz
- Rose Pink Macarons
1. Coming Up Roses
Let’s kick things off with a feature of our own! Our twist on the clover club, Coming Up Roses infuses a romantic touch with floral botanicals from our Empress Elderflower Rose Gin and delicate complexity from Lillet Rosé. Luxurious and full of dimension, Cupid himself would approve!
Ingredients
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin
- ¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- ½ oz Lillet Rosé
- ½ oz Raspberry Syrup
- Egg White
- Raspberries, for garnish
Method
Add ingredients to cocktail shaker and shake without ice to emulsify egg white. Add ice to tin then shake again. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with fresh raspberries.
2. Bonheur Fizz
@sne_dc shares with us their tradition of making brunch a little extra intimate and special. Indulge in the deliciousness of this riff on the classic Ramos Gin Fizz, featuring nutty and spiced notes to bring this up to the next level. A glass of this is a great way to express your love for your partner or even yourself.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin
- 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- ½ oz Orgeat
- ½ oz Cardamom Syrup
- 1 oz Heavy Cream
- Egg White
- 8 drops Rose Water
- Soda Water, to top
- Edible Flowers, for garnish
METHOD
Vigorously shake all ingredients except soda water on ice, until the ice cubes dissolve. Strain into a highball glass and let the foam settle for 2 mins. Then pour soda water in the centre of the drink until the foam rises over the glass. Garnish with edible flowers.
3. Boozy Raspberry Empress Milkshake
Picture this: you and your significant other are coming out of the movies after a screening. Your date can’t be over yet, so you swing by the diner for a bite to eat. The jukebox is playing oldies and you’re revelling in each other’s company. Minutes pass and the server brings out a couple milkshakes to your table for the two of you to sip on.
@stir.taste.smile captures this moment perfectly with her take on the spiked milkshake! The decadence from the vanilla ice cream makes for such a scrumptious treat along with the burst of raspberries and fragrant orange zest to pair with our Elderflower Rose expression.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin
- 2 oz Whole Milk
- 1 cup Vanilla Ice Cream
- 1 tsp Orange Zest
- 1 cup Frozen Raspberries
- 1 oz Agave Syrup or Sweetener of choice
METHOD
Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and thick (do not over-blend). Top with whipped cream, orange zest, and a raspberry!
4. Strawberries ‘n Cream
What screams “Valentine’s Day” more than strawberries and whipped cream? @tarynstastingtable adapts this winning combo in a cocktail to make for a lovely dessert sip. Rich and warming coconut, vanilla notes, and fruity strawberries, it’s almost as sweet as the one enjoying a serving of this cocktail!
Ingredients
- 1½ oz Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin
- 1 oz Licor 43
- ½ oz Strawberry Simple Syrup*
- 1 oz Coconut Cream
- Lemon Zest
- 3 Strawberries, sliced
- Strawberry Rose and Mint Sprig, for garnish
Method
Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Muddle strawberries, add ice, and shake well. Double strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish and enjoy.
*To make strawberry simple syrup, add 1 cup each of sugar and water plus 8 oz chopped strawberries to a pot over medium heat and bring to a boil. Lower heat and let simmer for 20-30 minutes. Let cool, strain into a container, and keep sealed in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
5. The Rose Peddler
How about something more crisp for a more lively Valentine’s sip? @rosemaryfairy has you covered with this elegant take on the G&T by kicking up the florals with a rose syrup and elderflower tonic. Add some rose petals to your ice for an extra romance!
Ingredients
- 2½ oz Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin
- 1 oz Rose Simple Syrup
- ½ oz Lemon Juice
- Elderflower Tonic Water, to top
Method
In a mixing glass, add all ingredients except for tonic and stir over ice until chilled. Strain into a cocktail glass with a large ice cube and top with elderflower tonic.
6. Salted Caramel Dalgona Cheesecake
It’s hard to think of anything sweeter than sharing dessert with a loved one. Treat yourselves to the indulgence of this cheesecake in a glass by @mykalekitchen! Robust flavours of coffee and caramel to pair with the bold botanicals of Empress Indigo Gin make this a wonderful after-dinner delight.
Ingredients
- 1¾ oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- 3 oz Unsweetened Oat Milk
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 tbsp Instant Coffee
- 1 tbsp Granulated Sugar
- 1 tbsp Hot Water
- Salted Caramel Syrup, to rim
- Graham Crackers, crushed
Method
Start by brushing salted caramel syrup along the rim of a cocktail glass. Generously sprinkle crushed graham cracker crumbs over the sticky rim and set aside. To make the dalgona topping, using an electric beater, beat together instant coffee, sugar, and hot water until whipped.
To make the cocktail, combine oat milk and vanilla extract in a mixing glass and use a milk frother to froth mixture for 20-30 seconds. Pour mixture into prepared cocktail glass, add ice, and layer with gin. Top with whipped coffee and stir well before sipping.
7. Blushing Rose Blood Orange Gin Fizz
Spread the love in elegance and style with this sparkling delight by @emilylaurae! This refreshing sip combines juicy blood orange and soothing rose along with effervescent prosecco that gracefully dances on your palate.
Ingredients
- 1½ oz Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin
- 1 oz Blood Orange Juice
- ¾ oz Orange Liqueur
- ¼ oz Rose Water
- 4 oz Prosecco
- Blood Orange Slices & Sugared Edible Rose Petals*, for garnish
Method
In a mixing glass, combine gin, juice, liqueur, and rose water over ice and stir to chill and combine. Strain into a glass filled with ice, top with prosecco, and garnish with blood orange slices and sugared rose petals.
*Check out @emilylaurae’s website for the recipe on her sugared rose petals!
8. Rose Pink Macarons
What better way to sip on these cocktails than by also having a tasty dessert on the side? These beautiful blushing macarons by @tayafeskov will make for the perfect pairing with any of these cocktails! For the shells, use your favourite macaron recipe, but since they can be very tricky to make, feel free to buy some pink shells to fill yourself. Makes about 25 sandwiched cookies 1½ inches in diameter.
Ingredients
- 1 batch Macaron Shells
- 2 tbsp Empress 1908 Indigo gin
- ½ cup Butter, room temperature
- ½ cup Confectioners’ Sugar, sifted
- ¼ tsp Rose Water, optional
- 2 tbsp Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
- Pinch of Salt
- Edible Rose Petals, for garnish
Method
Place room temperature butter and salt in a bowl of a stand mixer and whisk on high for 5 minutes until light and fluffy. Slowly whisk in sifted powdered sugar. Once incorporated, whisk on med-high for 3-5 minutes. Add Empress Indigo Gin and rose water, and incorporate by whisking on low for 1 minute. Pour in heavy whipping cream, starting at low, increasing the speed once all added. Whisk for 30 seconds. Add lemon juice, whisk until incorporated. Be careful not to overwhip! If needed, switch to paddle attachment for 30 seconds to get rid of any air bubbles. Transfer the filling to a piping bag and fill your macarons. Refrigerate after assembling and let hydrate at least overnight before eating. Enjoy within 3-5 days.
Flowers and chocolates are a Valentine’s Day staple, but why not change things up this year by serving a themed cocktail? Regardless of which recipe you choose, it’s the perfect way to create a special moment. So get your significant other, your gal pals, or take a moment to yourself, and raise a toast to the season of love!
For more cocktail inspiration, be sure to check out our Instagram, Cocktail Page, or Blog!
Sip responsibly!
