Four mixed drinks to whip up for Valentine’s Day

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

Valentine’s Day offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy a mixed drink. Celebrate with a significant other or a group of friends, or test bartending skills individually with these four Valentine’s inspired cocktails.

KENTUCKY KISS

Start to finish: 3 minutes

Yields: 1 serving

2 strawberries, sliced

½ ounce lemon juice

½ ounce maple syrup

2 ounces bourbon whiskey

Splash club soda

In an old-fashioned glass, add the strawberries, lemon juice and maple syrup. Muddle well until the strawberries are mashed. Add the bourbon and fill the glass with ice. Stir well.

Add a splash of club soda and, if desired, garnish with a strawberry for serving.

Recipe from thespruceeats.com

RED WINE MILKSHAKES

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Yields: 3 servings

One 1.5-quart container vanilla ice cream

1 cup red wine

4 ounces vodka

Whipped cream, for serving

Maraschino cherries, for serving

In a blender, blend ice cream, red wine and vodka until smooth. Divide between glasses and garnish with whipped cream and cherries.

Recipe from delish.com

SEX ON THE BEACH

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Yields: 1 serving

2 ounces orange juice

2 ounces cranberry juice

1 ounce peach schnapps

1 ounce vodka

½ ounce chambord or grenadine (optional)

Orange slice, for serving

Maraschino cherries, for serving

In a shaker add orange juice, peach schnapps and many ice cubes. Shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Pour into a glass and fill the glass with ice to the top, and add vodka on top of the ice.

If using chambord or grenadine, in a separate glass, gently mix chambord or grenadine with cranberry juice. Slowly pour this red mixture on top of ice cubes to create an ombre effect. Garnish and serve.

Recipe from flawlessfood.co.uk

VALENTINE’S DAY MIMOSA

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Yields: 4 servings

1 bottle pink champagne, chilled

1 cup pomegranate juice

In each champagne flute, add ¼ cup pomegranate juice. Fill the rest of the way with pink champagne.

Recipe from everydaymadefresh.com

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu