Tag Archives: Gin Cocktails

Seven Cocktails to Stir-up Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is ultimately about connection with a partner, with friends, or simply with yourself and nothing sets the mood quite like a beautifully crafted cocktail. Valentine’s Day deserves a drink that feels special. This curated collection of six cocktails brings together bold whiskies, elegant heritage spirits, and rich brandies, each recipe crafted to add depth, warmth, and a touch of romance to the celebration.

Breakfast Martini by Atelier V 

Made with orange marmalade instead of vermouth, it brings a gentle sweetness and a fresh citrus lift that feels special.  

Ingredients

Gin – 45ml 

Orange liqueur – 15ml 

Fresh lemon juice – 10ml  

Orange marmalade – 1tsp 

Lemon wheel/small piece of toast for the garnish 

Method: 

Add gin, orange liqueur, lemon juice, and marmalade into a shaker with ice. 

Shake well until chilled, and the marmalade is fully incorporated. 

Double-strain into a chilled coupe glass. 

Garnish with a lemon wheel or toast. 

————-   

When I Was Young! by Davana Vermouth Indica 

When I Was Young! blends the comfort of Bournvita with the layered complexity of Davana Rosso and bourbon. It’s a Valentine’s Day cocktail that feels like a warm, unexpected throwback.  

Ingredients: 

Davana Rosso – 30ml 

Bourbon – 30ml 

Bournvita syrup – 10ml 

Bitters – 4-5 dashes 

Method: 

In a mixing glass, combine Davana Rosso, bourbon, Bournvita syrup, and bitters. 

Stir well for 8-9 rotations to chill and integrate. 

Strain into a rocks glass over a block of ice. 

—–   

Strawberry Sparkling Wine by MONIN India 

A refreshing and beautifully balanced sparkling cocktail that pairs MONIN Strawberry Syrup with the bright citrus notes of Curaçao Triple Sec, topped with chilled sparkling wine. Finished with fresh strawberries, it’s a classic Valentine’s drink.  

Ingredients: 

MONIN Strawberry Syrup – 10 ml 

MONIN Curaçao Triple Sec Syrup – 10 ml 

Chilled sparkling wine – 90-120 ml 

Fresh strawberry – garnish 

Method: 

Add both MONIN syrups to a wine glass. 

Top gently with chilled sparkling wine. 

Stir lightly to combine. 

Garnish with a fresh strawberry and serve immediately.

————–  

Chocolate Negroni by Tulleeho 

Not every Valentine’s drink needs to be pink or red. Here, the bright citrus edge of a standard Negroni gives way to the deeper, richer notes of cacao. The result? A smooth, yet complex cocktail perfect for slow-sipping that feels made for intimate conversations, late dinners, and sharing the moment with someone special. 

Ingredients

Gin – 30 ml 

Sweet vermouth – 30 ml 

Campari – 30 ml 

Chocolate bitters – 2 dashes 

Orange twist – for garnish 

Method: 

Add the gin, sweet vermouth, Campari, and chocolate bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice. 

Stir gently for 20–30 seconds until well-chilled. 

Strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.

Express the oils from an orange twist over the drink and use as garnish.

———

Red Velvet by Tulleeho 

Red Velvet keeps it simple: ripe raspberry, a squeeze of lime and smooth vodka come together for a bright, fruit-forward sip that’s equal parts fresh and striking the kind of cocktail that instantly steals the spotlight at date night. 

Ingredients: 

Vodka – 45 ml  

Raspberry puree – 30 ml 

Lime juice – 15 ml 

Sugar syrup – 10 ml 

Rose petals – for garnish 

Method: 

Add the vodka, raspberry puree, lime juice, and sugar syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

Shake vigorously until well-chilled. 

Strain into a chilled coupe glass. 

Garnish with rose petals and serve.

————  

Vieux Carre by Maya Pistola Agavepura 

Not every Valentine’s cocktail needs to be sweet and shy. Some are bold and a little mysterious. The Vieux Carre is one such classic.  

Made with Maya Pistola Agavepura’s Extra Añejo, this cocktail is a slow-burn romance in a glass: complex, elegant, and perfect for long conversations, dim lights, and a second round.  

Ingredients: 

Maya Pistola Agavepura Extra Añejo: 45 ml 

Sweet vermouth: 20 ml 

Dom Benedictine: 10 ml 

Angostura Bitters 

Peychaud’s Bitters 

Maraschino cherry  

Method: 

Add ice to a mixing glass. 

Pour in Pistola Extra Añejo, sweet vermouth, Dom Benedictine, and a dash of both bitters. 

Stir gently to chill and dilute. 

Strain into a chilled rocks glass over fresh 

Garnish with a maraschino cherry. 

———-

Scarlet Oasis by Monarch Legacy Edition 

Juicy watermelon and pomegranate bring a soft, lush sweetness, sharpened with fresh lime and lifted with bubbles for a clean, balanced finish. It’s refreshing without being shy, indulgent without feeling heavy. 

Ingredients: 

Monarch – 45 ml 

Watermelon & pomegranate shrub – 30 ml 

(made from fresh watermelon juice, grenadine syrup, and apple cider vinegar) 

Fresh lime juice – 15 ml 

Soda – 60 ml 

Watermelon slice – for garnish 

Highball Glass 

Ice 

Method: 

Add Monarch, the watermelon and pomegranate shrub, and lime juice to a shaker filled with ice. 

Shake well to chill. 

Strain into a highball glass over tall ice.

Top with soda. 

Garnish with a watermelon slice and serve. 

——————-

Cocktails to Ring in the New Year

As the year draws to a close, here’s a curated line-up of versatile cocktails made for celebrations that stretch well past midnight. Thoughtfully crafted and full of character, these drinks go far beyond simply popping open a bottle, perfect for ringing in the New Year in style. 

The Oasis by Godawan Artisanal Single Malt 

A slow, contemplative cocktail that leans into ritual and terroir, The Oasis brings together Godawan 01 PX Sherry Cask and coffee-infused vermouth, rested gently in clay to absorb the earthiness of desert winds. Rich, aromatic, and quietly complex, it’s a grounded, meditative sip to ease into the New Year. 

Ingredients 

  • Godawan 01 Rich & Rounded – 50ml 
  • Coffee-infused sweet vermouth – 15ml 
  • Aromatic bitters – 2 dashes 

Method 

  • Combine all ingredients and rest the mixture in a clay pot for 6–8 hours.
  • Stir gently before serving. 

—–                                                  

Pistola Paloma by Maya Pistola Agavepura 

 Bright, effervescent, and effortlessly celebratory, the Pistola Paloma is made for New Year toasts that call for freshness over fuss. Built on Pistola Joven’s smooth yet vibrant agave character, this cocktail brings together zesty grapefruit, sharp lime, and a gentle sparkle—perfect for easing into the year ahead with a citrus-led kick. 

Ingredients: 

  • Pistola Joven – 60ml 
  • Grapefruit juice – 45ml 
  • Lime juice – 15ml 
  • Agave nectar – 15ml 
  • Saline – 5ml 

Method: 

  1. Fill a glass with ice. 
  2. Add Pistola Joven, grapefruit juice, lime juice, agave nectar, and saline. 

——

The Golden Hour by Monarch Legacy Edition x Bartisans 

Golden Hour is your go-to for effortless at-home cocktails this New Year. Created in collaboration by Bartisans and Monarch Legacy Edition, this non-alcoholic festive mixer features notes of rose, saffron, and cardamom, designed to pair seamlessly with Monarch’s pure grape brandy. Together, they create a simple and celebratory cocktail to enjoy as the New Year begins 

Ingredients: 

  • Monarch Legacy Edition Brandy – 60 ml 
  • Bartisans Golden Hour Mixer – 90 ml 
  • Ice 

Method: 

  • Add Monarch and Golden Hour mixer into a shaker or mixing glass with ice.
  • Shake or stir to chill and blend.
  • Strain into a glass over fresh ice.
  • Garnish with a light dusting of cinnamon or a dried rose petal.

——  

Vanilla Old Fashioned by MONIN 

 A smooth, refined twist on a classic. MONIN’s Vanilla Syrup adds a soft sweetness that complements the warmth of bourbon, creating an elegant slow-sipper ideal for ending the feast on a high note. 

 Ingredients: 

  • MONIN Vanilla Syrup – 10ml 
  • Bourbon whiskey – 60ml 
  • Bitters – a few drops 
  • Ice cubes 
  • Orange slice 

Method: 

  • Add vanilla syrup and bourbon to a glass.
  • Add bitters and ice, then stir gently.
  • Garnish with orange slice.

——

Golden Ember Sour by Tulleeho 

Built on bourbon, honey, and ginger, the Golden Ember Sour balances warmth with brightness. Lemon cuts through the richness, while the silky foam brings everything together, making it an easy, elegant choice for ringing in the New Year. 

Ingredients: 

  • Vodka – 50 ml 
  • Lychee juice (fresh or canned) – 30 ml 
  • Elderflower syrup – 10 ml 
  • Fresh lemon juice – 10 ml 
  • Rose water – 2 drops 

Method: 

  • Add bourbon, lemon juice, honey syrup, ginger syrup, and egg white to a cocktail shaker (no ice). 
  • Dry shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds to emulsify the egg white. 
  • Add ice to the shaker and shake hard for another 10-15 seconds. 
  • Fine strain into a chilled coupe glass. 
  • Dash the Angostura bitters on top of the foam. 
  • Garnish with an edible gold leaf or pinch of edible gold dust sprinkled on the foam or a dehydrated lemon wheel placed on the rim.

—— 

Frosted Lychee Martini by Tulleeho  

Designed for the moment the clock strikes twelve, the Frosted Lychee Martini is light, aromatic, and precise. Lychee and elderflower add gentle sweetness, balanced by lemon and a clean vodka base that keeps things fresh as the night moves forward. 

Ingredients: 

  • Vodka – 50 ml 
  • Lychee juice (fresh or canned) – 30 ml 
  • Elderflower syrup (such as St-Germain or homemade) – 10 ml 
  • Fresh lemon juice – 10 ml 
  • Rose water – 2 drops 

Method: 

  • Chill the martini glass in the freezer. 
  • Add vodka, lychee juice, elderflower syrup, lemon juice, and rose water to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. 
  • Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds until well-chilled. 
  • Fine strain into the chilled martini glass. 

Garnish with a fresh lychee stuffed with a raspberry on a cocktail pick, lightly frosted sugar rim, and optional mist of edible rose water. 

———— 

Savour Me Classic by Davana Vermouth Indica 

Ring in the New Year with this savoury cocktail that balances the herbal sweetness of Davana Rosso with a kick from chilli tincture. 

Ingredients: 

  • Davana Rosso – 45ml 
  • Tomato water – 60ml 
  • Chilli tincture – 3-4 dashes 
  • Citric acid – to balance 

Method: 

  • In a mixing glass, add all the ingredients.
  • Stir and strain into a glass with block ice and garnish the drink with edible tomato leather

——  

Bee’s Knees by Vedant Newatia, Founder and Head Chef, Atelier V 

Bright, zesty, and effortlessly smooth—the Bee’s Knees is sunshine in a glass. A classic Prohibition-era cocktail that hits the sweet spot between citrusy freshness and botanical gin notes, mellowed by a touch of honey. One sip, and it’s pure golden hour magic. 

Ingredients: 

  • Dry gin – 60ml 
  • Honey syrup – 2tsp 
  • Fresh lemon juice – 30ml 
  • Fresh orange juice – 30ml 

Method: 

  • Stir the honey syrup with lemon and orange juices until fully dissolved.
  • Add gin and shake with ice until well chilled.
  • Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass
  • Finish with a twist of lemon or orange zest.