Valentines Day is tomorrow, and for the most part when you think about Valentines cocktails the images that spring to mind are drinks that are overly sweet, colored to make it look red or pink and not necessarily even good.

But that doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, there are a number of excellent cocktails that fit the Valentines Day theme perfectly that you may want to start making all year round. Here are a few that will certainly put you in the mood:

Sicilian 75

A twist on the classic French 75, this has all the right ingredients for a romantic evening; something bubbly, something sweet and just enough bitterness to give it a kick.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz fresh blood orange juice
• 1 oz gin
• 0.5 oz simple syrup
• 0.25 oz Campari
• 2 oz dry champagne

Method: Add juice, gin, syrup, and Campari in a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a champagne flute. Top with champagne and garnish with a slice of orange.

French Monaco

Beer drinkers are usually out of luck when it comes to Valentines Day. Beer doesn’t typically fit the image of a “sexy” drink, but that’s only because you haven’t experimented enough. The French Monaco is perfect for Valentines, and it’s extremely popular with the younger crowd in Paris. Just be sure to use good quality Grenadine, not the crappy stuff.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Grenadine
• 2 oz lemonade
• 6 oz pale lager

Method: Add grenadine, lemonade, and lager to a highball filled with ice. Stir gently, so as not to lose the carbonation of the beer, to combine.

Vesper Martini

This classic martini has all the right elements of a sexy cocktail, and it has the added benefit of actually being really simple to make.

Ingredients:

• 3 oz gin
• 1 oz vodka
• 0.5 oz lillet
• Lemon peel for garnish

Method: Add the gin, vodka and lillet to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well until it’s ice-cold, strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a large thin slice of lemon peel.

Campari Sour

This is very much like a Whisky Sour but far lighter and has more elements of citrus and sour. It also turns out a nice bright pink color, perfect for Valentines Day.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz gin
• 0.75 oz Campari
• 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
• 0.5 oz simple syrup
• 1 egg white
• 1 dash orange bitters

Method: In a cocktail shaker add gin, Campari, lemon juice, simple syrup, bitters, and egg white, and shake without ice for about 30 seconds. Then fill the shaker full with ice and shake vigorously until the egg white is incorporated and frothy. Strain the mixture into a chilled coup glass.

Espresso Martini

If you thought coffee wasn’t sexy, then think again. There’s something about how easy this cocktail is to drink, with its equal parts creamy and bitter that makes this an absolute smash for Valentines.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Grey Goose Vodka
• 1 oz Espresso
• 0.75 oz Premium Coffee Liqueur

Method: Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake hard. Double-strain the liquid into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with shaved nutmeg for some extra spice.

Love Song

For those looking for that chocolate kick during Valentines, this offers a creative alternative that drinks like an adult version of chocolate milk.

Ingredients:

• 5 oz fresh milk
• 0.5oz of premium dark chocolate
• 1.5 oz Humboldt Distillery Organic Vodka
• 0.25 tsp organic vanilla extract

Method: Measure 4oz of milk in measuring cup, add to a saucepan and bring to a low simmer. Add in chocolate and whisk frequently until completely melted. Remove from heat. Add 1oz of cold milk to mixture and let cool (5-10 minutes). Once cooled, pour back into measuring cup. Add Organic Vodka, vanilla extract, 2 cubes of ice and stir; strain into glass and garnish with grated chocolate.

THE KING CUATRO

BACARDÍ Rum teamed up with actor and filmmaker, Michael B. Jordan, to create a rum-filled love potion this Valentine’s Day. It’s creative, and if you go the extra mile, it looks incredibly sexy.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz BACARDÍ Añejo Cuatro
• 0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
• 0.5 oz St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
• 0.25 oz Honey
• 2 Blackberries
• Martini and Rossi Prosecco

Method: Muddle blackberries in a tin, and pour all cocktail ingredients in. Shake and strain into coupe glass. Top with Martini and Rossi Prosecco and to be really impressive, garnish with a Blackberry-speared purple orchid.