For whatever reason, I stopped making cocktails sometime in the second half of last year. Maybe it was because I started drinking more wine (for health reasons, of course). Maybe it was increasing laziness. Who knows.
Then, last week, I was still reeling from Valentine’s Day. OK, so “reeling” is probably being overly dramatic. But really, all these Valentine’s Days alone take their toll. Well, I wasn’t really alone, since I did have dinner with a friend. But it wasn’t romantic or anything. So does it count? Probably not.
But you know what helps when you feel lonely? Alcohol! And what better color is there to curse (or commemorate) Valentine’s Day with than red?
First is a variation of a Negroni, with bourbon instead of gin.
Boulevardier
1.5 oz bourbon
1 oz sweet vermouth
1 oz Campari
orange twist
Too much alcohol in this one, I wanted something like lemon juice or some other non-alcohol flavor to cut through the heavy taste of alcohol.
And then another Campari drink, since it has a nice red color.
Campari Martini
3 oz vodka
1 oz Campari
lime twist
As you might expect from a drink that’s 75% vodka, this was incredibly strong. The ounce of Campari really didn’t do much except make it a little bit sweeter and give it a faint taste of Campari, but the vodka just overpowers it all.
I was kind of overwhelmed by the last drink, so I went for a fruitier, more familiar one.
Cape Codder
1.5 oz vodka
3 oz cranberry juice
lime slice
Well it’s a vodka cranberry with a different name. And a higher proportion of vodka than I’m used to. But with a squeeze of lime it was pretty good. Maybe a bit more cranberry juice next time.
Let’s be honest: I’d much rather have a nice, romantic night on Valentine’s Day with a loved one than enjoy a red cocktail. But the alcohol definitely helps me get over the disappointment!