Valentine’s Day – Drink Pink!

February 10, 2021 —  As the song says, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love…”  but if you can’t find love, try liking someone..  Valentine’s Day is all about romance but liking one another is a really good place to start and can really make a difference in their life and yours too.  And what better to set the stage for smiles and happiness than something pink and bubbly (or fizzy).  So whether it’s Galentine, Palentine or Valentine’s Day that’s the reason for celebrating this year, let’s do something that’s fun and joyful.

One of my favorite cocktails is Old Cuban from Bacardi.  Just use a rosé prosecco or sparkling wine and the Old Cuban is suitably pink.  It’s easy to make, light, refreshing and elegant.  A bottle of Bacardi Reserva Ocho is a good gift, too, for yourself or someone else.

Belvedere Vodka and Captain Morgan Rum both favor ginger beer to add some fizz to the celebration.  And for those of us who just want to kick back and not lift  more than one finger, there’s Two Chicks Sparkling Paloma, a ready-to-drink cocktail where tequila meets grapefruit in a pretty can.

BACARDÍ Old Cuban

• 2 oz. Bacardi Reserva Ocho Rum
• 2½ oz. Martin & Rossi Prosecco
• 4 mint leaves
• 1 oz. simple syrup
• 1 oz. lime juice
• 2 dashes of bitters

Method: Combine all the ingredients (except prosecco) in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously. Double strain, and top with prosecco. Garnish with a mint leaf float.

The Belvedere Blackberry Collins

• 1.5 oz Belvedere Ginger Zest
• 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
• 0.75 oz simple syrup
• 3 oz ml ginger beer
• 4-5 blackberries

Method: Place blackberries into a shaker and muddle. Add remaining ingredients except ginger beer. Shake, strain into glass, and top with ginger beer. Garnish with blackberry and mint sprig.

V-Day Spiced & Sliced

• ¾ oz Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum
• ¾ oz Captain Morgan Sliced Apple
• 1 oz cranberry juice
• ¼ oz lime juice
• 1.5 oz ginger beer
• Lime wedge
• Top with cranberries

Method: (Serves 1) Combine all ingredients above into a shaker tin except for the ginger beer. Shake and strain into an ice-filled highball glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with cranberries and lime wedge.

Captain Morgan Sugar and Spice Mule

• 1.5 oz Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
• 2 oz ginger beer
• 2 oz cranberry juice
• Cranberries or lime for garnish

Method: (Serves 1) Combine Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, Ginger Beer, and Cranberry juice in a copper mule mug over ice. Top with ice and garnish with fresh cranberries and lime.  Or serve in a rocks glass.

Two Chicks Sparkling Paloma

Grapefruit meets tequila delight! Two Chicks Cocktails offers a blush, sparkling cocktail with fresh pink grapefruit, complemented with light tequila blanco creating a crisp and refreshing cocktail that is ready-to-drink.  A perfect and stylish sip this Valentine’s Day.  SRP $15.99 for a 4-pack.

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