Romantic cocktails spark a toast to love and affection

Romantic cocktails are a perfect toast for any day, but are even more special on Valentine’s Day. Raise a glass to love in your life.

What makes romantic cocktails so special? Often the deep, rich red color invokes  romantic feelings. Considered an emotional color, red can stimulate a fast heartbeat. Whether it is passion, butterflies or romance, the rich red could make you feel all a flutter.

Often around Valentine’s Day, romantic cocktails, often red colored cocktails, become more abundant. While the color is a popular choice, the flavors need to spark some romantic preludes. From luscious fruits to herbaceous flowers, these romantic cocktails spark love and affection all year long.

Here are FoodSided’s four most romantic cocktails.

King Cuatro, photo provided by BACARDÍ

The King Cuatro

Sometimes a food memory can be transformed into a romantic cocktail. For Michael B. Jordan, his grandmother’s famous rum cakes are part of his favorite food memories. Those cakes, made with BACARDÍ, offered a delicious flavor and an expression of love in a bite.

Now, the actor and filmmaker is working with BACARDÍ on a special love potion that is perfect for Valentine’s Day or any day that you want to express some love. This cocktail has lovely notes of honey, vanilla and warm oak spices. Paired with the fragrant floral notes from elderflower and brightness from the blackberries, this cocktail is definitely romance in a glass.

"The King CuatroIngredients:• 1.5 parts BACARDÍ Añejo Cuatro• 0.75 part Fresh Lemon Juice• 0.5 part St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur• 0.25 part Honey• 2 Blackberries• Martini and Rossi ProseccoMethod: Muddle blackberries in a tin, and pour all cocktail ingredients in. Shake and strain into coupe glass. Top with Martini and Rossi Prosecco and garnish with a Blackberry-speared purple orchid."

Valentine’s Day Cosmo, photo provided by Smirnoff

The Smirnoff Valentine’s Cosmo

Like the iconic romantic Carrie Bradshaw, the classic Cosmo is a wonderful romantic cocktail. The bright pink color is a vivacious motif for any romantic evening. This cocktail is a balanced combination of sweet and tart. A few garnishes of fresh fruit make it taste even better.

"The Smirnoff Valentine’s Cosmo(Makes 1 Cocktail)Ingredients:• 1 oz Smirnoff No. 21• .5 oz Orange Liqueur• .5 oz Lime Juice• 1 oz Cranberry Juice• Garnish with RaspberriesDirections:In a cocktail shaker, combine Smirnoff No. 21, orange liqueur, lime juice and cranberry juice with ice. Shake. Pour into glass and garnish with raspberries."

Secret Admirer, photo provided by Smirnoff

The Secret Admirer, Recipes Courtesy of Sylvia Fountaine

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a secret admirer? Sometimes that inner romantic can swoon at the idea of someone wistfully watching from afar. In this cocktail, the combination of raspberries and chartreuse are classic, yet undiscovered flavor combination. One sip and you will be wondering how that secret admirer will reveal himself.

"The Secret Admirer(Makes 2 Cocktails)Ingredients:• 3 oz of Smirnoff Raspberry• 1.5 oz of Chartreuse• Garnish with RaspberriesDirections:Place all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into two vintage martini glasses. Garnish with fresh raspberries. You could sugar the rim for extra sweetness."

Hibiscus Crush, photo provided by Smirnoff

The Hibiscus Crush, Recipes Courtesy of Sylvia Fountaine

The Hibiscus flower is more than a tropical beauty. The word can be translated to perfect beauty. When a person gives a hibiscus, that person acknowledges another’s delicate beauty. In this cocktail, dried hibiscus flowers add a nuanced floral note to the slightly sweet cocktail. With a few bubbles from the lemon lime soda, everyone will be entranced with that delicate beauty.

"The Hibiscus Crush, Recipes Courtesy of Sylvia Fountaine(Makes 1 Cocktail)Ingredients:• 16 oz Smirnoff No. 21• .5 cups dried hibiscus flowers• 1 cup water• .5 cup sugar• 1 oz orange liqueur• 32 oz lemon lime soda• 1 lemon (sliced)• 1 lime (sliced)• 1 orange (sliced)Directions:Place hibiscus, water and sugar in a small pot to simmer over the stove for 5 minutes. Once sugar is dissolved, set aside to cool. Strain. Place vodka, triple sec, soda and sliced citrus in a punch bowl or beverage container. Add hibiscus infusion. Stir. Right before quests arrive add 4 cups crushed ice."

What romantic cocktails are your favorite? Share you best libation with us in the comments section or tag #FoodSided on social media.