Valentine’s Day Cocktail

On special occasions, I like to come up with a custom cocktail to add a little extra flair to the evening. When creating a new cocktail, there are many considerations: What about the occasion? Is it formal or casual? Should the recipe be simple or complex? Then there’s color, taste, presentation and, last but not least, the name.

I already had a few ideas in mind for this Valentine’s Day. My initial inspiration was the Belllini — a famous Italian sparkling wine cocktail made with Prosecco and fresh white peach. However, I also wanted the drink to be Vodka-based to appeal as much to men as women—it’s a party for two, after all.

With those thoughts in mind, I needed to start experimenting (always the fun part) and come up with appropriate proportions. I started off with a premium Vodka from Belvedere and added classic peach purée. Then for a little more sweetness, and to bring out more peach flavor, I included a small amount of peach Schnapps. A dash of lemon gave the drink a little refreshing kick.

Since it’s for Valentine’s Day, the color needed to be slightly pink so I finished the cocktail with Chandon Rosé, which is made from Pinot Noir (rather than a Chardonnay) and has a more pronounced fruity flavor. Bubbles always add a romantic effervescence, and a pink sparkling wine seems even more endearing. After a long day of a little more of this and a little less of that, the perfect combination of ingredients came together.

For final presentation: a Champagne flute garnished with a pair of raspberries — fruit that some consider to be an aphrodisiac. All that was left was the name, which emerged spontaneously — Valentine’s Day and Martini, therefore Valentini. Valentini also reminds me of Valentino, the silent screen heartthrob known as “The Great Lover.”

I hope you enjoy a Valentini at Fleming’s, and be sure to raise a toast to your great love.