Occasionally a girlfriend would ask me about whisky. Where do they start and what whisky to try are typical questions. My advice is always that the best place to start is a tasting session where someone can guide you.
Another option is making whisky cocktails. So, with Valentine’s day coming up, what better excuse for some Pink Valentine’s Day whisky cocktails that you can whip up tonight. Walk past any shop in the month leading up to Valentine’s day, and you are bombarded with heart-shaped everything’s.
Chocolates, cushions, napkins to cards, jewellery and nighties – the list is endless. This year, Valentine’s Day is on a Friday.
It is thus the perfect day to host a cocktail party. Regardless of your relationship status, there is no better day to celebrate the things in life that are important – life, love and friends!
It also presents a great excuse to buy that impressive whisky that you have wanted to try. Here then, are a few pink Valentine’s Day inspired cocktails to surprise your friends with.
I have chosen interesting, affordable and readily available whiskies for the cocktails and mixed them with ingredients that are easy to get. These whiskies are all easy drinking on their own and a great start to put any person on their whisky journey.
Also Read: Great whisky under R1000
30 ml Black Bottle blended whisky
30 ml Disaronno liqueur
60 ml cranberry juice
Frozen cranberries
Ice
Shake all the ingredients together in a shaker with ice and strain into a glass. Garish with frozen cranberries. I choose the Black Bottle whisky because it is robust enough to stand up to the Amaretto liqueur and add a smoky hint to the cocktail. The tartness from the cranberry also balances out the sweetness of the Amaretto.
45 ml Scottish Leader Signature whisky (or your favourite blended Scotch whisky)
15 ml Triple Sec Liqueur
120 ml red sparkling wine
3 dashes of bitters
Ice
Shake the Scottish Leader Signature whisky, Triple Sec and bitters in a shaker with some ice. Strain into a chilled champagne glass and top up with the Red Sparkling wine. I was sceptical when I read about combining whisky and sparkling wine, but this combination of Scottish Leader Signature with the red sparkling wine balanced out by the orange notes of the Triple Sec was delicious.
60 ml Woolworth Strawberry and Mint syrup
30 ml Bunnahabhainwhisky
100 ml soda water
Strawberries
Mint leaves
Pour all the ingredients in an ice-cold glass and stir. Decorate with strawberry and mint leaves. The Bunnahabhain is a robust whisky from the Islay region and a great single malt to have in your cupboard. The sweet sherry and seaweed whisky notes stand up nicely to the Strawberry and Mint syrup and make a very refreshing cocktail.
30 ml Famous Grouse whisky
30 ml apple juice
60 ml ginger ale
Cherry flavour popping pearls
Apple Slice
Star Anise
Mix the Famous Grouse whisky and apple juice in a shaker with some ice and pour it into a glass. Top up with the ginger ale and add the popping pearls. Decorate with a slice of apple and star anise. The popping pearls add little flavour bursts and pairs well with the Famous Grouse whisky.
Also Read: How to Start a whisky club
45 ml Makers Mark Bourbon Whisky
15 ml Grenadine
120 ml ginger ale
Dash of lime juice
Ice
Combine the Makers Mark bourbon and Grenadine in a shaker over ice. Mix well and strain into a glass. Top up with the ginger ale and a few ice blocks. Add a dash of lime juice. The sweet, rich Makers Mark is a great pairing for the Ginger Ale. This bourbon-based cocktail is cool and refreshing on a hot afternoon.
Also Read: Don Pedro
Let's change things up. This past weekend, we celebrated a special memory by opening some…
Continuing with my notes from the Loch Lomond distillery visit, I'm diving into the Loch…
Chivas Regal 12 vs Glenfiddich 12 year old whisky: a battle of two iconic drams.…
My husband John is a frequent traveller. Recently, he brought home the Ardbeg Smoketrails Manzanilla…
Over the years, I have explored a variety of affordable whiskies, including releases from India…
Looking around my whisky room, I was in the mood for an uncomplicated side-by-side comparison.…
View Comments
Nice content! Can’t wait to try or experience a glass of these drinks
Oooh PINK whiskys. These look so much fun for a celebration. I always think of whisky being quite a masculine drink for some reason, but this completely turns that idea on it's head. Thank you for sharing with the #DreamTeam xx
Adding whisky to a cocktail is an easy way to drink it. And when it is a pink cocktail, even better.
Oh I love whisky and so does my husband! I think I will be trying the Strawberry Oasis for sure!! Thank you! #DreamTeam
Ruby soul mate looks delicious! #DreamTeam
It is really delicious and not difficult to make at all.
I can't decide which one I would love more!! However, that Strawberry Oasis looks delish! #globalblogging
They are all quite delicious. Thank you for stopping by.
Sounds lush and very stylish!Absolutely perfect for Valentines#globalblogging