Anti-Valentine’s cocktails – don’t think pink

Not everyone likes sweet, pink and fizzy. Hallmark certainly isn’t my idea of a romantic sentiment, and it’s OK if it’s not yours, either. But it does make Valentine’s Day a tricky one to celebrate if you have someone in your life who genuinely prefers you to all other human beings they’ve met and yet you don’t want to drink Strawberry Bellinis or sit in a bar draped in love hearts. I will be especially avoiding waiters with cupid wings this year as well.

So, whether you’re staying at home and fancy yourself as a bit of a bartender or beelining for a bar that isn’t making anything pink and sparkling, here are some classic cocktails to know and order (or make) which won’t make you groan, cringe or run a mile from.

Diamondback

The Diamondback combines rye whiskey, apple brandy and Yellow Chartreuse

Less ring bling, more Luke Cage ferocity. This spicy, rich cocktail combines rye whiskey, apple brandy and Yellow Chartreuse to make a Manhattan-style drink which is perfect for an after-dinner tipple.

Make it at home: 60ml rye whiskey 15ml apple brandy 15ml Yellow Chartreuse

Penicillin

Smoky, spicy and sharp – everything a Hallmark card isn’t. The Penicillin is one of a bare handful of drinks considered a modern classic, and is credited with introducing peated whisky to the cocktail canon. Combining ginger syrup, peated Scotch, lemon juice and honey, it’s stunningly delicious and completely different from anything you’ll have tried.

Make it at home: 40ml blended Scotch whisky 10ml peated Scotch whisky 20ml lemon juice 10ml honey syrup 10ml ginger syrup

Jane Ryan is editor of DrinkUp.London – a daily-changing website showcasing the very best of the capital’s drinks scene.