It’s almost that pink time of the year where all the loved-up couples in your life try to outdo each other by creating a big ol’ lovefest, going on gigantic dates and dishing out expensive gifts (before posting about it on Instagram, of course).
But if you’re paddling a single canoe in a world of double kayaks, it’s not exactly what you’d call a fun time. That’s not to say you can’t make the most of it though.
Because although it’s genuinely lovely to see so many people feeling romantic, it’s way easier to feel that way when you’ve got a fancy cocktail in your hand. We’re not saying you need a drink to get through Valentine’s Day, but they sure are tasty.
Who needs romance when you can have rum-mance, am I right? I’ll see myself out. Try these three lil’ mixes to get past that terrible, terrible pun:
1. Mai Tai
For the sassy single who is sick and tired of having a bunch of crappy dates in the lead up to Valentine’s Day (honestly there’s so much undue pressure on it) and instead has decided that they’re going to love themselves this year. As we all should, you know.
This is the cocktail for you.
- 70ml Angostura® 1919 rum
- 30ml orange curaçao
- 15ml fresh lime juice
- 30ml fresh pineapple juice
- 7ml orgeat syrup
- 1⁄2 teaspoon white cane sugar
- 2 dashes ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters
It couldn’t be easier to make this taste sensation: just pop everything into a shaker (with a bit of ice) and shake away. Pretend you’re shaking away all your romance woes, then strain it into an old fashioned glass.
Then just garnish with a wedge of lime and a mint sprig, because you’re fancy AF, okay.
2. Queens Park Swizzle
This one gets points for being more fun to say the more you sip your cocktail. Plus it’s incredibly satisfying to swizzle up your drink when your love life kinda feels a bit swizzled itself. Take that, world. If you’re the salty single who isn’t keen on the idea of Valentine’s Day at all, this is for you.
Give this cocktail a go.
- 60ml Angostura® 7 YR old rum
- 30ml Demerara simple syrup
- 30ml fresh lime juice
- 12-14 mint leaves
- 6-8 dashes ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters
Slightly trickier (but not by much tbh), pop in the mint leaves, lime juice and syrup in a highball glass and blend ’em all into a big ol’ muddle. Pop in some dry crushed ice, pour over your rum, have a swizzle and get to sipping.
Mint sprig for garnish is totally optional, but you might as well do it for the ‘gram.
3. Treacle
I won’t lie – for a long time I didn’t have the slightest clue what actual treacle was. I read the word itself in English novels and that was about it. But all you need to know is that it’s essentially a sugary syrup that’s sweet AF – and, though different, the cocktail called Treacle is too. So if you’re a sweet single still hoping for a taste of romance, this is the glass for you.
See what you think.
- 60ml Angostura® 1919 rum
- 1 sugar cube
- 15ml fresh pressed apple juice
- 2 dashes of ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters
Start with your sugar cube and soak it in bitters within a mixing glass – really soak right in there. Add the rum over the top, fill the rest of the mixing glass up with ice and give it a big stir. Once it’s stirred up more than your ex whenever you post a 10/10 selfie on Instagram, pour your entire concoction into an old fashioned glass.
And the apple fan garnish is an absolute must-have on thisone. Plus, it looks cool.
So invite a gal pal to your house for some bevvies while you watch hilariously bad rom-coms and pretend like you don’t actually care about the fact that you’re not all loved up (honestly though, it’s totally okay either way). It’ll all seem a little less overwhelmingly pink and lovey when you’ve got some Angostura 1919 rum into you.
Besides, now is the perfect time to start exercising a bit of self-care, so don’t forget to also check out The House Of Angostura’s Guide to Mindful Boozing at PEDESTRIAN.TV’s Selfish Weekend, coming up on March 16 and 17 at La Porte Space.
Get sippin’.
