Going Pink: 5 Pink Cocktails & Spirits for Valentine's Day
From Lilly Pilly Gin to Watermelon Liqueur — Five Ways to Put Pink in Your Glass
Some Valentine's Day traditions are difficult to avoid.
Flowers. Chocolate. Dinner for two.
And an extraordinary amount of pink.
We're quite happy with the last one.
From native fruit and tropical guava to watermelon and rose-inspired flavours, there are plenty of ways to bring a little pink into the glass.
Here are five pink spirits and liqueurs from Tamborine Mountain Distillery — and some simple ideas for turning them into Valentine's Day drinks.
1. Lilly Pilly Gin
For the Gin Lover
Lilly pilly gives this gin its connection to one of Australia's native fruits, bringing a distinctive fruit character alongside the botanicals.
And then, of course, there's that colour.
For Valentine's Day, we'd keep the serve beautifully simple.
Pink Lilly Pilly Gin & Tonic
Pour Lilly Pilly Gin over plenty of ice, top with a good tonic and garnish with fresh berries or a twist of citrus.
Simple enough to make in minutes and pretty enough to look like you made considerably more effort.
2. Turkish Delight Liqueur
For the Dessert Lover
Rose and confectionery flavours make Turkish Delight Liqueur an obvious fit for a Valentine's Day dessert.
Rather than building a complicated cocktail around it, try serving a small measure chilled or pairing it with vanilla ice cream.
Chocolate works particularly well alongside those familiar Turkish delight flavours too.
Valentine's idea: pour a small amount over vanilla ice cream and finish with dark chocolate shavings.
► DISCOVER TURKISH DELIGHT LIQUEUR
3. Guava & Lime Liqueur
For Something Tropical
Pink doesn't necessarily have to mean sweet and floral.
Guava & Lime Liqueur takes things in a brighter, more tropical direction, combining ripe guava character with citrus.
It's particularly good when you want a refreshing Valentine's drink rather than an after-dinner liqueur.
Guava & Lime Spritz
Pour Guava & Lime Liqueur over ice, add sparkling wine and finish with a splash of soda.
Garnish with fresh lime.
► DISCOVER GUAVA & LIME LIQUEUR
4. Musk Liqueur
For the Sweet Tooth
If the flavour of musk lollies brings back memories, this one's for you.
Musk Liqueur takes that distinctive confectionery character and turns it into something you can pour into a glass.
Try it chilled, over ice or as part of a creamy dessert cocktail.
Valentine's idea: serve a small measure alongside vanilla ice cream, strawberries or white chocolate.
5. Watermelon Liqueur
For a Summer Valentine's Day
Here in Australia, Valentine's Day arrives right in the middle of summer.
So watermelon makes a lot of sense.
Watermelon Liqueur brings bright fruit character to refreshing cocktails and is particularly easy to pair with soda, citrus and sparkling wine.
Watermelon Spritz
Pour Watermelon Liqueur over ice, add sparkling wine and soda, then finish with fresh lime.
Serve it very cold.
Preferably somewhere with a view.
Which Pink Drink Should You Choose?
That depends on who you're pouring for.
For the gin drinker: Lilly Pilly Gin
For dessert: Turkish Delight
For something tropical: Guava & Lime
For the sweet tooth: Musk
For a refreshing summer drink: Watermelon
Or put a few bottles on the table, add ice, tonic, soda, sparkling wine and some simple garnishes, and let everyone choose their own.
Valentine's Day doesn't have to mean cocktails for two.
It works just as well for partners, friends or anyone you think deserves a good drink.
A Very Australian Valentine's Day
There's another reason we like the idea of pink drinks for Valentine's Day.
February in Australia doesn't call for roaring fires and heavy winter cocktails.
It calls for ice.
Fresh fruit.
Cold glasses.
And drinks that make sense on a warm summer evening.
Whether that's a Lilly Pilly Gin & Tonic, a Watermelon Spritz or Guava & Lime topped with bubbles, there's plenty of room to make Valentine's Day feel a little more like where we actually live.
Put Something Pink in Your Glass
Flowers are lovely.
Chocolate rarely disappoints.
But we're making room on the Valentine's table for something you can pour as well.
Choose something fruity, floral, tropical or sweet.
Add ice.
Find two glasses — or several.
And raise something pink to the people you love.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are some good pink cocktails for Valentine's Day?
Simple pink drinks such as a Lilly Pilly Gin & Tonic, Watermelon Spritz or Guava & Lime Spritz work particularly well for Valentine's Day. They're colourful without requiring complicated cocktail techniques.
What is a good Valentine's Day cocktail for an Australian summer?
Look for refreshing drinks served over ice, such as gin and tonic, fruit Spritzes and cocktails featuring watermelon, guava, lime or other bright fruit flavours.
What pink gin can I use for Valentine's Day cocktails?
Lilly Pilly Gin is an Australian-inspired option featuring native lilly pilly fruit. Keep the serve simple with tonic, ice and fresh berries or citrus.
Can liqueur be served with dessert on Valentine's Day?
Yes. Dessert-style liqueurs can be served chilled, over ice or alongside desserts such as vanilla ice cream, chocolate and fresh fruit.
