TOP FIVE VALENTINE'S DRINKS

So, you've decided to dodge the over-priced Valentine's menus and avoid the bars full of couples trying to 'out-couple' each other, and entertain at home. Below are a few suggestions of delicious drinks you can serve your lover....

Camitz Sparkling Passion Martini

Camitz Sparkling Passion Martini
Ingredients
1 passion fruit
10ml strawberry liqueur
20ml Xante Pear liqueur
20ml Freshly squeezed lemon juice
40ml Camitz Sparkling Vodka

Method
Squeeze half the passion fruit, both liqueurs and the lemon juice into the shaker with some cubed ice. Shake, strain into a chilled martini glass and top carefully with the Camitz Vodka. The great thing about Camitz, is that it's Vodka is sparkling, giving this cocktail a fizzy twang! Garnish with the other half of the passion fruit - as pictured. Delicious!

 Dooleys Toffee Toddy, made with Dooley’s Original Toffee & Vodka, £11.99 (70cl),
http://www.dooleysoriginal.co.uk/

The Dooleys Toffee Toddy:
Looking for a new, fresh and exciting winter warmer to bring some added spice this Valentine’s Day? Some top barmen came together to create this rich, spicy drink....

Ingredients
1 part Dooley’s Original Toffee & Vodka
1 part milk
1 part double cream
1/2 part cognac
Whole nutmeg or ground nutmeg
Cinnamon sticks
Apple and orange peel (optional)

Method
Pour the Dooley’s, milk, cream and cognac into a pan, add cinnamon sticks, a sprinkle of nutmeg and chopped apple (optional) and orange peel, gently heat over a stove for 5-10 minutes. Serve with a sprinkling of nutmeg. This rich, spicy drink is delicious - and a great way to warm up on a cold night.

Hardy's Sparkling wines (Rose pictured), half price, £5.99
at Tesco

Valentine's this year has very inconveniently fallen on a Monday, so, if you don't have time to collect ingredients and prepare for making cocktails, pick up a bottle of fizz en-route home. If you've spent all your money on the perfect gift, but don't want to look cheap with your drinks choice, ditch the Champagne in favour of some sparkling wine (when served in a Champagne flute, noone will know your secret!). Hardy's make a great sparkling Chardonay-Pinot Noir, it was a citrus aroma, with a berry flavour and creamy texture - truly delicious. Hardy's also have a Brut Rose sparkling wine which is a little crisper - it's also pink - which is always a winner on February 14th! The best thing is, both variants are on half price offer at Tesco. I've stocked up my fridge!

Shloer, £1.97

As mentioned, Valentine's falls on a Monday. If conuming the above-mentioned drinks, you may feel a little worse-for-wear the next day. If your evil boss has booked you in to make a presentation on Tuesday morning, or if there's another reason you need to be hangover-free, why not drink Shloer... I'm a big fan of this fruity, sparkling drink. It's really refreshing, and a great alternative to wine.

Firefly Love Potion, £1.49 for 330ml

http://www.fireflytonics.com/

Firefly, producers of 100% natural energy tonics, have listened to fans across the globe and promised the return of their infamous Love Potion, a saucy blend of Passionfruit, Blueberry and Jasmine with sensory botanicals Angelica, Chocolate and Damiana, all known for their aphrodisiac qualities. Released just in time for Valentine's, it's a delicious, non-alcoholic drink that may help get you in the mood.