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Top Valentine’s Day drinks and dates
Looking for new ways to wine and dine your significant other this Valentine’s Day? We romantics at db have you covered.
Drake and Morgan is hosting a Valentine’s-inspired cocktail-making course
Wether it’s heading out for a bottomless brunch or tucking in to some romantic homemade cocktails, the most original ideas are better than the typical dinner + roses combo.
So we’ve assembled some of the best ideas that we’ve been made aware of. Sadly, some of them are quite London-focussed given where your favourite trade magazine is based, but don’t let that stop you from being inspired this Valentine’s Day.
Click through for more…
Drake and Morgan offers hands-on cocktail experience…
Drake & Morgan is giving budding romantics the chance to flaunt their skills behind the bar and create custom love potions for their sweethearts by running exclusive mixology sessions throughout February.
Perfect for any skill level, an experienced bartender will be on hand to teach you how to concoct the perfect seductive sip with aphrodisiac delights such as honey, chilli, chocolate and strawberries.
Each session will cost £20 per person and will only be available through pre-booking at venues including Drake & Morgan at King’s Cross, The Refinery on Bankside and The Parlour in Canada Square.
Kurobuta’s bottomless Valentine’s Day Love Brunch
With Valentine’s Day being on a Sunday this year, a boozy bottomless brunch at Kurobuta Marble Arch in London is just what the love doctor ordered.
Scott Hallsworth, head chef and owner, will be hosting a brunch with an Australian/Japanese twist, cooking a live buffet-style breakfast inspired by Japanese Izakaya dishes including build-your-own ramen, juicy beer grilled steaks and Scott’s signature Salmon Sashimi Pizza. If you want to impress your date, this is the way to do it.
With music, bottomless beer, wine and brunch punch, there’s even a special Valentine’s inspired cocktail to try: “Kiss From A Rose” – a heady mix of Bacardi Superior, lemon juice, strawberries macerated in rosé wine and Monin rose syrup.
Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 February from 12pm-5pm (last seating 4:30pm)
Two pricing options:
£35 brunch with the live buffet, unlimited beer and wine, and a cocktail on arrival
£45 brunch with the live buffet, unlimited beer, wine and punch, a welcome cocktail on arrival, and a choice of a range of Kurobuta’s normal menu dishes
‘Bewitching’ cocktails at the Lobby Bar, One Aldwych hotel
The Lobby Bar at One Aldwych Hotel is in the mood for romance with its five ‘Bewitched’ Cocktails this Valentine’s.
The cocktail for two is served in an Art Deco-inspired Absinthe fountain placed on guests’ table so that they may top up their coupette glasses whenever they desire. It’s a winning combination of Babicka vodka, fennel syrup, fresh pomegranate reduction, peppermint drops and Champagne.
The complete Bewitched cocktail collection includes:
Potion Number 1
Babicka vodka, strawberry liqueur, Antica Formula vermouth, Picon bitters, lemon juice, sugar syrup, anise syrup. Served in a tumbler.
Magic Brew
Babicka vodka, Bernart Loiseau apple & Earl Grey liqueur, prune liqueur, lemon juice, raspberry, rhubarb, ginger & lemongrass syrup, absinthe, soda water. Served in a carved ‘witches’ mug.
Wormwood Sour
Babicka vodka, Aperol, maraschino cherry liqueur, lemon juice, sugar syrup, fresh egg white, absinthe. Served in a chilled Champagne glass.
Pra Babicka
Babicka vodka, Bernard Loiseau apple & Earl Grey liqueur, violet liqueur, jasmine syrup, fresh egg white, white Sambuca, absinthe. Served in a chilled Champagne glass.
Bewitched Passion
Babicka vodka, house-made fennel syrup, fresh pomegranate reduction, peppermint drops, Champagne. For two, served at the table direct from an absinthe fountain in coupette glasses.
The cocktails are priced at £13.50 each and Bewitched Passion at £27.00 for two.
Classic cinema date with a fizzy twist, One Aldwych hotel in Covent Garden
One Aldwych hotel in Covent Garden is also launching a season of Film & Fizz dinner and movie evenings in a new partnership with Curzon Cinemas.
Running Fridays and Saturdays, Film & Fizz with Curzon offers the opportunity to watch a great film (many still on general release) with a glass of Champagne Lallier Grande Réserve in the hotel’s 30-seat Screening Room and savour a three-course meal in Indigo restaurant.
A special Valentine’s Day showing of Doctor Zhivago will take place on Sunday.
Indigo restaurant dinner menus for Film & Fizz with Curzon by executive chef Dominic Teague celebrate the best of British with modern, seasonal dishes such as roasted butternut squash, rapeseed emulsion, hazelnuts and truffle; braised shoulder of organic Rhug Estate lamb, ruby chard and roasted onion and Valrhona chocolate mousse, roasted figs and honeycomb.
Kostas Sfaltos, General Manager of One Aldwych, commented: “Our new partnership with Curzon Cinemas ensures discerning filmgoers are in for a stylish night on the town at One Aldwych, the line-up of films is better than ever”.
Movie and Dinner Showings: Friday and Saturday in the Screening Room with dinner in Indigo restaurant.
£55.00 per adult including VAT, excluding service charge.
Movie and Champagne Showings:
£25.00 per adult including VAT, excluding service charge.
For dates, films and times, please visit: www.onealdwych.com/movies
Romantic events at the Corinthia Hotel
The Corinthia London has designed a bouquet of bespoke romantic experiences designed “to steal the hearts of its guests”.
Its Northall Bar is giving complimentary Valentine’s macarons with each two glasses of Cuvée Rosé Laurent-Perrier Champagne purchased.
The Lobby Lounge will be serving an exclusive Valentine’s Afternoon Tea under the Baccarat crystal chandelier. Special Valentine’s menus have been created in both The Northall and Massimo Restaurant, to be served over the Valentine’s weekend.
The Northall will host a Valentine’s dinner on Saturday 13th February, and a Valentine’s brunch on Sunday 14th February.
Massimo Restaurant will serve a sumptuous Valentine’s lunch and dinner on Sunday 14th February.
Meanwhile in Bassoon, two unique cocktails have been added to the menu exclusively for Valentine’s – Romeo and Juliet.
Courthouse Hotel boasts of an “sensual” Valentine’s experience
The hotel that was formerly the Great Marlborough Street Magistrates Court has launched “The Sensory Valentine’s Experience”, encompassing all five senses.
Touch: This will include a couple’s hot stone massage at the hotel’s stunning Sanook Spa.
Sight and Sound: Romantic film screening in the recently refurbished private cinema.
Taste and Smell: Champagne with chocolate-dipped strawberries awaits upon return to the room, as well as a “sensual love kit”… c
Breakfast the following morning is included along with a much needed energy boosting smoothie for the day ahead, priced at £499.
A Champagne-lover’s gift with a difference
Waterford’s Love Flutes collection from the famous Waterford Crystal is the latest edition from the company, depicting “elegance, beauty and unity”.
The series is designed to represent four of the most important moments in a couple’s life together; the engagement, the wedding, the anniversary and many milestone occasions.
Each pair of flutes depicts a corresponding Waterford cutting pattern.
The pairs are encased in hinged presentation boxes and will remain part of every couple’s union for years to come. Prices start from £95 for a pair.
Ciroc vodka recommends romantic cocktails
The Champagne Cosmo
For those looking to enjoy a romantic night in with a few cocktails, Ciroc vodka has come up with the following recipes:
Raspberry-Tini
1.5 oz. vodka
5 fresh raspberries
0.5 oz raspberry liqueur
Instructions
Muddle raspberries
Add Liqueur, Ciroc and ice into shaker
Strain into marine glass
Garnish with a raspberry
Pairing: Mixed greens, goat cheese, toasted pecan and honey mustard vinaigrette.
Champagne Cosmo
1 oz. Vodka
1 dash Grand Marnier
1.5 oz. Cranberry Juice
0.5 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
1 oz. Champagne
1 Orange Twist for garnish
Instructions
Shake vodka, Grand Marnier, cranberry juice, and lime over ice
Strain into a chilled champagne flute
Top with champagne
Garnish with orange twist
Pairing: Champagne and Vodka works brilliantly with Sushi and Sashimi. Light on the soy sauce!
The Chrusanthemum
1 oz. red berry vodka
.5 oz Benedectine
3 dashes absinthe
Instructions
Garnish: Orange Twist
Glass: Coupe
Pairing: Five spices roasted marinated duck breast served with broccoli rabe, toasted baby carrots with coriander and berry sauce reduction.
French Pearl
1 oz. vodka
.5 oz Pernod Classic Pastis
.75 oz fresh lime juice
.75 oz simple syrup
Instructions:
Garnish: spearmint sprig
Glass: coupe
Hendrick’s Gin rustles up some romance
The Chelsea Rose
The Raspberry Rose Royal
And finally, Hendrick’s Gin wants to get in on the celebration of love, coming up with two of its own romantic cocktails.
Chelsea Rose
50ml gin
150ml cloudy apple juice
5 fresh raspberries
Dash fresh lemon
Method: Combine all ingredients into a teapot, stir briskly and leave to brew for a few moments. Pour into an ice filled teacup.
Garnish: One fresh raspberry and slice of cucumber
Raspberry Rose Royale
25ml gin
5ml sugar syrup
One fresh raspberry
Top up with Champagne
Method: Combine raspberry, sugar and gin in cocktail shaker and shake briskly. After just three strong shakes, finely strain into base of flute before layering champagne on top. Mix before drinking.
Garnish: One fresh raspberry