While Valentine’s Day is around the corner, love is in the air, the good news it brings is that it can turn out to be a big day for your restaurant business. Studies show that people who choose to spend on this day will be spending more than ever this year. Moreso lovers will be gifting ‘experience’ than usual tokens of love, such as gifts. As more people choose to bring their partners on a romantic dinner date, you can expect a heavy footfall on this day.
While bringing new guests to your restaurant is one of the brass tacks, the value they drive from their visit is equally important to retain them. Customer experience on a special occasion is simply the sum of the feel and vibe they get from the place. Expect them to be returning customers only if they get great food and a perfect atmosphere. As much as they expect a beautifully romantic ambiance, the special treats you are offering will also hold their attention.
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Delighting your customers through a perfect drink menu can be one of the few things on your mind. While all customers seek bang for their buck, it is also crucial to offer them something special for the occasion.
Fixing a drink menu that works well for people of all ages and tastes can be tricky. Well, if that worries you, we got you covered. The following ten cocktails are perfect that you can serve as both classy and cheeky drinks. Something that can help you set the right romantic vibe to the air.
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1. The lady red
The way it looks and the way it tastes. This drink is nothing but a perfect valentine’s day sip. As it combines a smooth texture of bourbon with the sharpness of a ginger bite, it can make a classic choice for your menu.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 ½ ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce juiced pomegranate,
- ½ ounces lemon juice,
- 1 ginger beer
RECIPE – In a cocktail shaker, add ice, bourbon, pomegranate juice, and lemon juice. Shake vigorously for 1 minute. Pour the drink over ice in a Collins glass and top it up with a ginger beer. Garnish it with sliced lemon and serve.
2. Love Letters
This fiery red drink is a definite Valentine’s day choice. Combining the deep taste of bourbon with a twist of fruity orange liqueur is a treat to the palette. The kind of bourbon you put into this drink will make a lot of difference to its texture and taste. You can choose Blanton bourbon, for it goes particularly well with the herbs in this recipe.
INGREDIENTS
- 1-ounce bourbon
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- 7 dashes of Peychaud bitters
- 7 dashes of angostura bitters
- 1 Champagne
- 1 lemon wheel to garnish
RECIPE– Add all the ingredients except for champagne in a vessel and stir for almost 15 seconds. Pour this concoction in a coupe and top it with champagne. Garnish with a lemon wheel.
3. The Brogue
Our next cocktail strikes a gorgeous balance between being warm and refreshing. While Drambuie gives this drink a sticky sweetness, the infusion of lavender adds a floral sweetness to it. This concoction is a particular favorite among whiskey lovers. The smoothness and pleasantries of aroma make it a perfect love potion to enjoy with dinner.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 ¾ ounces Henry McKenna
- ½ ounces Drambuie
- ¾ ounces lemon juice
- ½ ounces honey-infused lavender syrup
- A dried lavender sprig to garnish
RECIPE (by Leo Robitschek) – Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Strain the drink in a vintage glass. Garnish with the lavender sprig.
4. What/When
The next drink on our list is just like the day, perky and refreshing. The sharp citrusy flavor of this drink makes it a perfect fun drink. The drink is so quenching and tasteful that you can expect a repeat for this one.
INGREDIENTS
- 3 ounces prosecco
- 2 ounces botanist gin
- ½ ounces blood orange puree
- ½ ounces simple syrup
- ½ ounces lemon juice
RECIPE (by Leo Robitschek)
Combine all the ingredients and pour the drink in a champagne flute.
5. Sherry Cobbler spritzer
Blueberries and raspberries are well-known aphrodisiacs, so why leave them alone this valentine. Our next drink combines these sensual fruits that are a favorite among both men and women. This sweet-sour cocktail made way into our list not only for its flavors but also for that added nutritional boost.
INGREDIENTS
- 3 ½ ounces sherry
- ½ ounce lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 4 raspberries
- 2 blueberries
RECIPE – In a cocktail shaker, mix and muddle together blueberries and raspberries. Now add ice along with the rest of the ingredients and shake well. Double strain the drink in a tall glass. Add some crushed ice on top. Garnish with some berries and a lemon wheel before you serve.
6. Diamondback
This three-ingredient takes its inspiration from the book – Bottoms up by Jeanne Willis. It is amazingly sophisticated and can be a choice for customers who want to try something simple and warm. Diamondback is rich and potent to taste and serves as a perfect sip on after-dinner drinks. Along with this cocktail, you can let those late-night conversations stir up at your restaurant.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 ¼ ounces rye whiskey
- ½ ounce yellow chartreuse
- ½ ounce apple brandy
RECIPE – In a cocktail shaker, combine and mix all the ingredients along with some ice. Pour in a drinking glass along with an olive.
7. Kiss by Rose
Well, if your customers are looking to paint a perfectly rosy picture of their dinner, you can suggest this beautiful pink-hued drink. A slight aroma of rose topped with foam is a perfect treat to one’s senses. Why offer a rose this valentine when you can make your customers drink one.
INGREDIENTS
- ¾ ounces pisco
- ½ ounces liqueur de rose by Combier,
- ¾ ounce Lillet blanc
- ¾ ounces lemon juice,
- 1 egg white and
- A hint of prosecco
RECIPE (by Jams, Hotel central park, NYC) – In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients except prosecco and shake vigorously till egg white foams. Pour it softly in a cocktail glass. Add a splash of prosecco on top. Serve!
8. Chocolate raspberry martini
An exotic cocktail meant for people with a sweet tooth. The creamy taste and texture of this cocktail make it worth an indulgence. The raspberry and chocolate have always been a dreamy combination. The booze part is just a bonus.
INGREDIENTS –
- 1 ½ ounce Chambord
- 1 ½ ounce Kahlua
- 1 ounce cream( heavy)
- Dark chocolate shavings to garnish
- Raspberry to garnish
RECIPE– Combine all the ingredients in a shaker with some ice. Shake well and pour in a chilled coupe. Garnish with chocolate shavings and raspberry.
9. Chocolate cake shot
Offering your customers a liquidy chocolate cake feeling in a cocktail can be your card of ace this Valentine’s day. Chocolate cake shot is a gorgeous recipe that has nothing to do with chocolate and yet would still taste like a fluffy chocolate cake in a glass. Even the shot-averse people would want to give it a try.
INGREDIENTS –
- ¾ ounce vodka
- ¾ ounce Frangelico
- Sugar to garnish
- Lemon to garnish
RECIPE – Rub lemon and roll sugar to the rim of a shot glass. Set it aside. Combine the two liquor in a mixing vessel and stir. Pour the drink in the glass and serve.
10. Frozen Rose
Not letting a wine cocktail be a part of our menu can cause disappointment among wine lovers. Frozen Rose is turning out to be a huge favorite this year. Though it requires a little preparation beforehand, this pink color drink is bold in flavors and must-have in your menu.
INGREDIENTS –
- A bottle rose wine
- ½ cup dry vermouth
- ¼ cup berry syrup
- A lemon to garnish
RECIPE-
Add all the ingredients to a gallon ziplock bag. Seal the bag while pushing out all the air. Shake vigorously. Freeze the mixture until you get a thick consistency (roughly 6 hours). Serve in a chilled glass and use a lemon wheel to garnish.
While some customers prefer a classy drink, others love bold and experimental flavors. When it comes to individual preference, there is no one all menu. This comprehensive list of cocktails covers a range of variety and flavors. The key, however, is to listen to your guests and suit them with an appropriate suggestion. Treat this day as another opportunity to wow customers. When Valentine’s day comes along with so many favorable chances, why not gear up and make the best of this day. Read Also : Flowers To Impress the First Appointment
