Going Out or Staying In: Four Delicious Drinks Perfect for Valentine’s Day

By Seattle Mag February 13, 2014

boka-no-9

!–paging_filter–pLast week, we told you about somea href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com/five-fantastic-first-date-bars” target=”_blank” fantastic first date bars/a, in preparation for possible first dates happening around the big romantic day. But for many, Valentine’s Day isn’t when first dates happen. Instead, it’s a time to select the ideal drink to celebrate a long-term relationship—either a drink made with care by one of our fine local bartenders, or one made with care at home. So, here are four cocktail options to help ensure a perfect Valentine’s Day whether you’re staying in or going out./p
pstrongIf You’re Out on the Town: /strong/p
pemBOKA No. 9 Cocktail at a href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com.239elwb01.blackmesh.com/boka-hotel-1000“BOKA in downtown Seattle/a:/em Created by bar manager Cory Duffya href=”http://www.bokaseattle.com/‎” target=”_blank” /aspecifically for the romantic season, this love potion of a drink is highlighted by a tincture createda href=”http://www.bokaseattle.com/‎” target=”_blank” by the restaurant’s/a in-house naturopath. A combination of herbs, spices, roots, leaves and berries, the tincture (also called BOKA No. 9) stimulates and energizes. In the cocktail, it’s combined with the delicious, made-in-Ballard,a href=”http://captivespiritsdistilling.com/big-gin.php” target=”_blank” Barrel-Aged Big Gin/a, Zirbenz Stone Pine liqueur from Austria, Carpano Antica vermouth from Italy and a sour mix made at the bar containing apple cider, lemon juice and pure cane simple syrup./p
pemFiore Di Amore at Bin on the Lake in a href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com.239elwb01.blackmesh.com/article/kirkland-best-seat…“Kirkland/a:/em Located in the Woodmark Hotel and Spa in Kirkland, thea href=”http://www.thewoodmark.com/bin-on-the-lake/” target=”_blank” Bin on the Lake/a is a pretty special Valentine’s Day spot already. Adding to its existing love spell in the bar is its drink called the Fiore Di Amore that’s lovely in its simplicity and ideal for the romantic day. It mixes the for-a-long-time-unavailable Crème de Violette, a violet-flavored liqueur that has a color as fine as the taste, with sparkling wine for an elegant treat./p
pstrongIf You’re Cozying Up on the Sofa:br /strong/p
pspan style=”color: #ff0000;”emKiss in the Dark/em/spanbrThis first Valentine’s cocktail to make at home is just a touch coy in name and flavor, much as a kiss should be (at least the first kiss in the evening). It has a bit of a kick, too, underlying the coy-ness, which is also much like a kiss. Both of the two make-at-home drinks are scaled for two, and both are froma href=”http://www.amazon.com/Good-Spirits-Recipes-Revelations-Refreshments/dp/1…” target=”_blank” emGood Spirits: Recipes, Revelations, Refreshments, and Romance, Shaken and Served with a Twist/em./a/p
pMakes 2/p
pemIce cubesbr2 ounces a href=”http://www.CopperworksDistilling.com” target=”_blank”Copperworks gin/abr2 ounces a href=”http://www.oldballardliquorco.com/” target=”_blank”Ballard Liquor Company’s Cherry Bounce/a liqueurbr2 ounces dry vermouthbr2 cherries, for garnish /em/p
p1. Fill a cocktail shaker or mixing glass half way with ice cubes. Add the gin, liqueur and vermouth. Stir well, but tenderly./p
p2. Strain the mix equally into two cocktail glasses. Garnish each with a cherry./p
pspan style=”color: #ff0000;”emHer Sarong Slipped/em/spanbrIn the realm of drinks with slightly off-color names, there may not be a drink as pleasantly flirtatious in name as Her Sarong Slipped. It’s the hint, combined with the allure of the slightly exotic and loosely attached garment that makes it unforgettable. Which is funny, since it’s an older drink that is now mostly forgotten. The name matches the actual mix, too, since it boasts a little sparkle, a little sugar and a little kick that flutters the senses just enough./p
pemIce cubesbr1 ounce freshly-squeezed lemon juicebr3 ounces brandybr1 ounce grenadinebrChilled ChampagnebrStrawberry slices for garnish /em/p
p1. Fill a cocktail shaker half way with ice cubes. Add the lemon juice, brandy and grenadine (in that order, to make certain a happy mixing). Shake briefly./p
p2. Strain the mix equally into two white wine glasses. Top each with chilled Champagne, and garnish each with a strawberry slice or with a whole strawberry if you’re feeling generous./p

 

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