Having reached the ripe old age of 37 with zero romantic prospects, I’m clearly not the person you should be seeking for Valentine’s Day advice. I may not know a thing about conventional relationships, but that doesn’t stop me from celebrating love in all forms. The traditional view of love feels the most foreign to me, defined more by what it isn’t than what it is, reserved for just one, rather than all. Beyond fireworks and butterflies, grand gestures and soul mates, love is in the details; love is as simple as kindness.
Cheers, to All Forms of Love
I’d like to raise a glass to love, to those with and without partners. Even if you’re alone on Valentine’s Day, let’s not forget about self love, which is arguably the most important kind of all. Selfish? Yes, and it’s important to be selfish at times. As many have told me when I grouse about the idea of “deserving” x, y, or z, you can’t pour from an empty cup. To that, I’d suggest you fill your own champagne flute first.
French 75, with a Twist
One of my favorite drinks of the moment is the French 75. Classic, classy, and always welcome at any party, it’s been described as a Tom Collins in a Tuxedo. That is to say, a combination of gin, lemon, and simple syrup topped off with champagne. Variations are endless given that simple start: A French 95 swaps gin for bourbon, and a French 125 opts for cognac instead. Personally, I’d like a rosier outlook for a lovely little indulgence.
The Pink of Perfection
Prickly Pear & Rose Waterloo Gin was the inspiration, lending a floral flavor and tint to the drink. Finishing with sparkling rosé instead of plain Brut Champagne was only natural, softening the hints of juniper to an incredibly nuanced, gently blushing spritz. The prickly pear adds a subtly rounded sweetness, the rose wafts through like perfume on a silk scarf, and the bubbles do what bubbles do best, by lifting everything up.
If Valentine’s Day feels heavy, complicated, or hollow, let this be your permission to reclaim it. Make something beautiful just for yourself. Toast to the people you adore, the ones who lift you up, and the version of you that’s still growing, learning, trying. Love can be as soft as a pink drink in a chilled flute, enjoyed in your own quiet company.
Rosé French 75
Taking its cue from the classic French 75, this blushing pink version adds a floral lift to the glass. Prickly pear and rose gin adds a soft, rounded sweetness with more complexity than the standard London dry. Sparkling rosé finishes the drink, brightening every sip with lively bubbles.
Ingredients
For 1 Serving:
- 1 Ounce Prickly Pear & Rose Waterloo Gin
- 1/2 Ounce Lemon Juice
- 1/2 Ounce Simple Syrup
- Ice
- 3 Ounces Sparkling Rosé
Batched For 8:
- 1 Cup Prickly Pear & Rose Waterloo Gin
- 1/2 Cup Lemon Juice
- 1/2 Cup Simple Syrup
- 1/2 Cup Water
- 1 (750 mL) Bottle Sparkling Rosé
Instructions
- To make a single serving, pour the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a shake and add ice to fill halfway. Shake for 30 seconds, until chilled. Strain into a champagne glass or coupe and top with sparkling rosé.
- To make a batched version that serves 8, combine the gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and water in a pitcher. The water takes the place of the ice that melts when making an individual drink; don't skip it. Mix well and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. When ready to serve, top with the sparkling rosé and pour into glasses.
- Cheers!
Recommended Products
Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. I have experience with all of these companies and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something through my links.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 103Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gSodium: 17mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 2gSugar: 11gProtein: 2g
All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimations.
First – a happy Valentine’s Day to you when it reaches you . . . ours is half-finished! I have always been on a different page – when I feel romantic, I feel romantic . . . when there are champagne and looks and kisses, then such are there. No definite day, no definite time . . . and one cannot be romantic without the feeling being there for oneself . . . well, I’ll happily do it ‘my way’ and enjoy a possible Valentine’s Day any time of the year!
Happy Belated Valentine’s Day! I’m with you though; we’re sold the same version of romance, but I don’t think it looks like that in reality for most people. At least, the mass-produced ideal doesn’t resonate with me. You’re definitely not alone. :)
I love the sound of that gin! I will make a few of these tomorrow night as we are going to friend’s and the wife and I both love gin, and bubbles!
How perfect! I hope you have a love-ly evening as well!
I appreciate the recipe, thank you. But I want to respond to you comments about love. I think that love has been so over romanticized and stylized and idealized in the stories we tell, in what we believe about ourselves, and in our culture, that often, the idea we have of it has no practical connection to reality. I do hope that everyone will find love in their lifetime, but I hope that it will be an organic expression of who they are, not who or what they’ve been taught they’re supposed to be.
I’m not trying to be twee when I say that this is such a lovely comment. Genuinely, I’m grateful to hear a more realistic perspective on love and romance, as opposed to what we’re told is “correct” by the mainstream. I do believe everyone deserves to feel loved and express love, whatever that looks like. There’s no one right answer. Thank you so much for your thoughtful response.
While I may have mixed feelings about the holiday, I wholeheartedly love pink drinks! 🥂
Fully agreed, on both counts!