Tickle Me Pink: Pink Cocktail Inspiration

Each month, I’m doing a cocktail feature focusing on a single color and it’s varying shades. This month, I give you Pink Cocktails! It’s a bit on the nose, but what did you expect? February is the month of love, so pink cocktails was such the obvious choice for me to make.  And according to BourneCreative.com:

The color pink is the color of universal love of oneself and of others. Pink represents friendship, affection, harmony, inner peace, and approachability.

So for those in search Valentine’s or Galentine’s Day cocktail ideas, looking to celebrate universal love, or just need some pink cocktails to turn a party out, I have 7 suggestions for you culled from the internet and the depths of my own creative mind. Enjoy!

Rose Clerey

I took inspiration for this cocktail from CraftedMixology on Instagram. They showcased the Crystal Clere on their feed and it was this pretty, pale pink cocktail garnished with a perfect rosebud. I made a couple of changes to their original recipe, hence I named my version Rose Clerey. I didn’t set out to change the recipe, it happened by accident. And by accident, I mean I forgot to write down the egg white & orange bitters when I was transcribed the recipe.

Don’t ask…. lol.

And on purpose, I used Empress Gin, instead of a traditional, clear gin. Empress Gin is this beautiful blue color that turns pinkish/purple-ish when you add citrus to it. And I will say, this turned out delicious in spite of me completely forgetting two ingredients.

I was blown away at the first sip. The rose & lemon goes together SO WELL. Seriously, this is my favorite pink cocktail I’m presenting today. Simply delicious.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz Empress Gin
2. 1/2 oz lemon juice
3. 1/8 tsp rose water <–this is the brand I used
4. Pomegranate seeds (10-15 or so)

Directions:

• Muddle pomegranate seeds in a cocktail shaker
• Add the rest of the ingredients and shake
• Pour into your glass of choice & enjoy
• Garnish with (preferably culinary grade) roses <–this is the brand I used

Tickle Me Pink French 75

The French 75 is one of my top 3 favorite cocktails. I couldn’t resist experimenting with the Empress Gin to turn this classic pink.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz Empress Gin
2. 1/2 oz lemon juice
3. 1/4 oz St. Germain
4. Prosecco (or your fav sparkly)

Directions:

• Add Empress Gin to glass
• Add lemon juice
• ooh & ahh over the color change 🙂
• Add St. Germain
• Top off with Prosecco
• Enjoy!

Spicy Raspberry Paloma

I’m not a huge tequila drinker (just trust me, I have some personal trauma and lingering PTSD from a tequila incident from way back in 2010 😀 ) But for diversity sake, I decided to include a tequila beverage in my pink cocktail offerings. Plus, this cocktail promised a kick and you know I love a good spicy beverage. So I decided to be brave and try it. Let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised at just how well the raspberries and tequila pair together. This is delightful, and perfect for a Valentine’s Day date.

Ingredients:

1. 4 oz tequila
2. 1 cup grapefruit juice
3. 1 cup ginger ale (recipe calls for club soda, but you know my stance on club soda in cocktails 😉 )
4. 1/2 cup raspberries
5. cayenne pepper (recipe calls for Fresno chili but I was unable to find any)

Directions:

• Muddle raspberries in cocktail shaker
• Add in tequila and grapefruit juice
• Shake until combined
• Pour into 1 large serving glass, or split between 2
• Top off with ginger ale
• Sprinkle in as much cayenne pepper as you want
• Stir to combine & enjoy!

Original recipe courtesy of Heather Christo

Candy Coated Rain Drop

Yep, I named this one after the song. And now you can’t stop singing it, right? You’re welcome. 😀

Ok, this is a simple one. I’ve been seeing cotton candy used in cocktails lately. And I keep seeing this picture with a cloud-like tuft of cotton candy sitting oh so prettily on top of a flute of champagne, so I decided to recreate it. Easy right?

Ingredients:

1. Prosecco (or your fav sparkly or bubbly)
2. Pink cotton candy <–this is the brand I used

Directions:

• Fill your champagne flute with the desired amount of Prosecco
• Add in a tuft of cotton candy
• Smile as you watch the magic happen
• Enjoy!

Note: the more cotton candy you add, the pinker AND sweeter this drink will be, so this is the perfect opportunity to use a Brut champagne to temper the sweetness a little.

Blush Gimlet

Gimlets are another cocktail on my Top 3 Fav list. I love a good Gimlet. I created the Sub Rosa Gimlet (yes, it’s pink) that I shared last year using my homemade rose infused gin. But since I had the Empress Gin on hand, I decided to try my hand at creating another pink Gimlet.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz Empress Gin
2. 1 oz St. Germain
3. 1/2 oz lime juice

Directions:

• Add gin to cocktail glass
• Pour in lime juice and watch the magic happen
• Add St. Germain
• Gently stir to combine
• Enjoy!

Strawberry KISS Shot

A friend, who knew I was doing pink cocktails this month, sent me a cocktail suggestion calling for strawberry milk, white chocolate liqueur & vodka, plus a melted chocolate rim. For some reason, I just couldn’t wrap my mind around strawberry milk in an adult beverage. But neverless, I was going to try it. Until I saw this bottle of Tequila Rose!

So I changed the plan up a bit and decided to KISS it (keep it short & simple) for those in a time crunch. I kept the melted chocolate rim though, cos I’m fancy like that. 😉

And again, for the record, Tequila and I are NOT the best of friends, but man, this stuff right here is really good. It’s very creamy and strawberry-ish. Don’t laugh it off until you try it.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz Tequila Rose
2. chocolate chips

Directions:

• Melt some chocolate chips in a glass bowl in the microwave
• Once melted, stir the chocolate to ensure it’s smooth and there are no unmelted bits hiding
• Dip the rim of a shot glass in the chocolate
• Add Tequila Rose
• Enjoy!

French Berry Mimosa

I couldn’t leave you without at least one pink mimosa for the list. One day while perusing the shelves at Trader Joe’s, I happened upon this bottle of French Berry Lemonade. Since I happen to like sparkling lemonades, and it was pink, it was no brainer to pick up a bottle.

If you can’t get your hands on the French Berry Lemonade, any pink lemonade will do, including the strawberry or raspberry lemonades from Simply Orange.

Instructions:

1. Prosecco
2. French Berry Lemonade

Directions:

• Fill your champagne flute with the amount of Prosecco to your liking
• Top off with French Berry Lemonade
• Garnish with a strawberry if you’re feeling fancy & enjoy!

Prior articles in my monthly Color Cocktail series:

• 5 Winter Wonderland Cocktails (white cocktails)

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