If you’re like me, Valentine’s Day usually drives you to drink. Singles are basically made to feel like pariahs thanks to its inescapable PDA-filled commercialism and couples are stressed out over the prospect of overpriced dinners and boxes of chocolates. Well, I say, KISS. Keep it simple, stupid (I don’t really think you’re stupid), and stick to drinking Valentine cocktails.
You can enjoy them regardless whether you have a significant drinking other or not. And fortunately there are a bunch of tasty ways to celebrate your new favorite drinking holiday.
This year’s theme for Big Bar’s annual Valentine’s Day prom is Bollywood! That means South Asian cocktails like a Mango Lassi Fizz with Bacardi 1909, Galliano, mango and Lassi and a Kashmir Old Fashioned with Masala chai-infused Dewars, date syrup and orange bitters! Plus there’s a gin and tonic bar where you can customize your own cocktail. And no, you don’t have to be part of a couple to attend. In fact, it may be more fun if you’re unattached. Just sayin’.
Dominick’s is offering a Valentine’s Day elit Martini for Two ($29), whether you order it up with your bff or bf/gf (or keep it all to yourself), it’s all good. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to snag the cozy seats in front of the fireplace for this. The martini set includes 7 oz. of elit by Stolichnaya with your choice of lemon twist, Cosmo Sidecar, olives or house cured Cipollini onions.
The Bazaar at SLS in WeHo is doing up “His and Her” Valentine cocktails for the occasion, but I say turn this marketing ploy on its head and order up the “his cocktail,” The Lucky Lothario, (a mezcal margarita) for her and the girlish Fickle Femme cocktail (mezcal, St. Germaine, jalapeno, pineapple, lime and Oaxacan salt) for him. Ha! That’ll learn ‘em.
Planning on doing a West Hollywood Valentine barhop? Kick things off at Comme Ca (next stop, Roger Room!) with the Oaxacan Kiss, a smoky (and pink) cocktail of mezcal, Aperol, lemon and egg white.
If you’re into making your own drinks, Caulfield’s Bar & Dining Room is offering a cocktail class ($50) taught by Beverage Director Jeremy Back and Bartender Pierre Dos Santos (formerly of London’s Playboy Club) upstairs at its private second-floor bar. Guests will enjoy passed hors d’oeuvres while learning how to make Valentine cocktail, “Cupid’s Arrow.” Warning: They’re marketing this as a “Best First Date.”