Flowers, chocolates, jewelry, undergarments of a decidedly "romantic" nature... Those are all good Valentine's Day staples, the old standbys that are so ubiquitous with the holiday that they're basically purchases made on autopilot. Don't get us wrong - there's nothing inherently wrong with the tried and true. That said, however, the standards aren't always exciting, either.
This Valentine's Day, give your guests something more special than the same ol', same ol'. These Ketel One Vodka recipes feature creative ingredients or, in the case of the Strawberry Mule, are a playful riff on a classic. The gifts your guests give one another may be basic but your bar menu doesn't have to be.
Cheers!
Violet's Ketel
- 1.5 oz. Ketel One® Vodka
- 0.5 oz. Simple syrup
- 0.25 oz. Fresh lime juice
- 5 Blackberries
- 4-5 Tarragon leaves
- Club soda
Muddle blackberries, tarragon leaves, simple syrup and lime juice in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add Ketel One Vodka and shake with ice. Double strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with a lavender sprig.
Labor of Love
- 1.5 oz. Ketel One Citroen® Flavored Vodkas
- 1 oz. Club soda
- 2 Bar spoons Green Chartreuse
- 1 oz. Fresh lime juice
- 0.75 oz. Simple syrup
- 3 Basil leaves
- ½ Rosemary sprig
- 0.5 oz. Pomegranate juice
Muddle basil, rosemary, lime juice and simple syrup in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add Ketel One Citroen and Green Chartreuse and shake with ice. Fine strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Stir in club soda and top with a float of pomegranate juice. Garnish with a rosemary sprig.
A Love Affair
- 1.5 oz. Ketel One® Vodka
- 2 oz. White cranberry juice
- 1 oz. Mint simple syrup
- 0.5 oz. Fresh lemon juice
- 3 Dashes rhubarb bitters
Combine ingredients in a mixing glass. Shake with ice and strain into a snifter filled with ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with candied rhubarb.
For the mint simple syrup:
Combine 2-1 sugar to water ratio and simmer on low heat uncovered until syrupy (1/4 water reduction). Add mint, remove from heat and let steep for 20 minutes.
Strawberry Mule
- 1.5 oz. Ketel One® Vodka
- 1 oz. Fresh lime juice
- 0.75 oz. Simple syrup
- 2 Strawberries
- Ginger beer
Muddle strawberries and simple syrup in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add Ketel One and lime juice and shake with ice. Strain into a copper mug filled with ice. Top with ginger beer.
You can find out more information on Ketel One by stopping by the Diageo booth at the 2017 Nightclub & Bar Show.