This week, we're looking at some fun recipes for Valentine's Day that will leave you with lots of time to otherwise enjoy the day with your partner or other loved ones. And if you are looking for a cocktail to have with dinner or dessert or at some other time during the day, might I recommend this delightful blend of sweet fruit and a bit of fire?
The spicy bitters and ginger beer bring heat that lands in different parts of our mouths and the cherry liqueur and cocktail cherries bring a fruity sweetness to this drink. The bourbon bridges the gap with a complex flavor that brings both heat and sweet. For me, living in snowy Wisconsin, it's a great combination of flavors and feels oh-so-fancy in a pretty glass.
I find that the particular ingredients used can really have a lot of impact on cocktails in particular so in addition to a general list of items to stock for this cocktail, I have included the particular brands/varieties I used to make the drinks in the photos. Feel free to substitute other items as needed or desired and if you find options you adore, be sure to visit us on social media (see the vertical bar on the left side for traditional browsers and bottom of page on mobile) to let us in on your discovery. Enjoy!
Sweet Heat Cocktail
- 2 oz. bourbon - I used Wollersheim's Two Mile Bourbon
- 2 ounces cherry liqueur - I used Travis Hasse Cherry Pie Liqueur
- 4 dashes spicy bitters - I used Disco Inferno's Liquid Heat
- 6.8-8 oz. ginger beer - I used Fever Tree Ginger Beer
- 2-4 cocktail cherries - I used Tillen Farms Bourbon Bada Bing Cherries
In a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice, add the bourbon, cherry liqueur, and bitters. Shake vigorously to combine and chill. Pour the mixture into two pretty glasses.
Add ginger beer to taste and some cocktail cherries as a pretty garnish. Cheers!
- Yields: 2 cocktails
- Preparation Time: 8 minutes