I always appreciate a gift that’s handmade; it shows the person took time and effort on something just for me. And while I can see the argument on both sides of the discussion in the “Valentine’s Day is romantic and sweet” vs. “Valentine’s Day is overcommercialized idiocy,” making something for someone you care about, no matter the day, is a loving gesture. Even if that something is a drink.
Studies suggest that red wine may increase a woman’s libido, and red as a color is associated with royalty and romance. And yes, unless you own a winery, you’ll have to get your wine from the store, but here’s a red wine recipe using an orange slice as a garnish. Vitamin C found in the orange can help up your body’s levels of oxytocin, known as the “cuddle chemical.”
Recipe:
4 oz chilled Cabernet Sauvignon red wine
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp superfine sugar
2 oz chilled soda water
Dissolve the sugar in the lemon juice and the water in a large wine glass. Add cracked ice and pour the Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Stir gently. Garnish with an orange slice, and serve.
Recipe from Drinks Mixer.
Chocolate is thought to be an aphrodisiac, but apparently the effect is psychological and not physical.
Then again, science shows that alcohol “can inhibit our ability to detect asymmetry in faces. Symmetry is an important aspect of what makes a face attractive.” So combine psychological and physical effects to your advantage.
Recipe:
1 1/2 shots Godiva chocolate liqueur
1 1/2 shots creme de cacao
1/2 shot vodka
2 1/2 shots half-and-half
Mix all ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake and pour into a chilled cocktail glass.
Recipe from Drinksmixer.
The drink originated in France, and it’s mostly champagne, so it has to be romantic, doesn’t it?
Recipe:
6 ounces champagne
1/2 ounce crème de cassis
Lemon twist
Pour iced champagne or sparkling wine into a large chilled wine glass (or champagne flute), add 1/2 ounce of crème de cassis, and stir gently. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel.
You can also add some raspberries or strawberries and some sugar.
Recipe from Epicurious.
Alcohol isn’t the only thing that gets people feeling warm and friendly. Temperature is linked with emotion, and hot drinks may boost how others perceive you. According to a study reported by the BBC, “people are more likely to judge strangers as welcoming and trustworthy when they are holding a hot cup of coffee.”
“Physical warmth can make us see others as warmer people, but also cause us to be warmer, more generous and trusting as well.”
Recipe:
1 tbsp. cocoa powder
2 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. water
1 c. milk
a bit of vanilla, if desired
Combine cocoa, sugar, and water in a small saucepan. Heat it on low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent the paste from sticking to the pan. After about 1 to 2 minutes, add milk and vanilla. Mix it all together until it reaches your preferred temperature.
You can also add extras like peppermint, whipped cream, and marshmallows.
Recipe from Cooks.com
Fruity, sweet, and a suggestive name, I see it like flirting in drink form.
Recipe:
2/3 oz. Schnapps, peach
1 1/3 oz Vodka
1 1/3 oz. Cranberry juice
1 1/3 oz. Orange juice
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a highball glass filled with ice.
Recipe from Drink Nation.
Domaine de Canton is a ginger liquer, and ginger is mentioned in the Kama Sutra and literally helps get your blood going.
Recipe:
1 1/4 oz. JETT Vodka
1 oz Domaine de Canton Liqueur
1/2 oz of fresh lime juice
1/2 oz agave nectar
4 basil leaves
1 strawberry
In a mixing glass, muddle the strawberry with the agave nectar. Add ice and the rest of the ingredients. Shake very well and strain into an ice filled double old fashioned glass. Garnish with a strawberry.
Recipe from Drink of the Week.
For more Valentine’s Day tips, there’s A Valentine’s Anti-Tutorial: 8 Horrible Kissers You Don’t Want to Be. Read more about romance working and not working out with the series Love in the Time of Matador.