This year, Ash Wednesday — the start of Lent — begins on Valentine’s Day. If you prefer to stay at home, you may want to have some fun experimenting with four cocktails that are sure to impress you significant other and enhance the romance! Or if you want to go out on Ash Wednesday, or anytime during Lent, Jake Melnick’s and River Roast have you covered!
Four Amazing Cocktails for Valentine’s Day
Mixed Berry Sangria (created by Vance Henderson, Drambuie Ambassador)
3 parts Drambuie
1 part Triple sec
1 Cup White Wine (Chardonnay is perfect)
1 part OJ
1 part Fresh Lime Juice
1 part Honey
2 cups Frozen Berries
10 Dashes Cherry Bitters
Method:
Add all Ingredients to a Blender and blend until smooth. Garnish with skewered berries with basil sprig.
Smoke & Flowers (SERVES 5)
7 ½ parts Montelobos Mezcal
2 ½ parts St. Germain
5 parts strawberry puree (wash strawberries and blend in a blender)
3 ¾ parts lemon juice
2 ½ parts simple syrup
Method:
Combine all ingredients in a pitcher and stir together vigorously.
Add ice cubes when ready to serve.
Garnish with strawberry and lemon slices.
The Siren by Ingi R. Sigurdsson
1.5 fresh Lemon juice
1 oz simple (1:1)
1 oz St. Germaine
3 oz Reyka
6 oz champagne
Method:
Shake.
Combine all ingredients into cocktail shaker except champagne. Shake, top, garnish and serve.
Shake/strain over the fruit juice cubes/top with 6 oz prosecco
Bordeaux/Burgundy wine glass
2 cranberry juice cubes/2 grapefruit juice cubes/ 1 large simple syrup ice cube with orange blossom water, rose water, frozen edible Sonja orchid.
For flower ice cube liquid:
4 liters water
24 oz simple syrup 1:1
10 droppers Orange flower water
10 droppers rose water
Method:
Stir until combined
Freeze in 1×1 molds with Sonia Orchid
Juice from concentrate…not juiced and frozen.
Sailor Jerry Cherry
1 ½ parts Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum
3 parts Q Ginger Beer
1 cherry
2 dashes cherry bitters
Method:
Build Sailor Jerry and Q Ginger Beer over ice.
Top with dashes of cherry bitters.
Garnish with a cherry.
Lent Specials
JAKE MELNICK’S CORNER TAP | 41 East Superior
Simplicity is key at Jake Melnick’s during Lent. Stop in for classic favorites like “Shrimp” & Chips and Mom’s Tuna Melt, both served with hand-cut fries
Mom’s Tuna Melt: tuna melt served with hand-cut fries – $12.95
Shrimp & Chips firecracker shrimp basket with hand-cut fries – $12.95
RIVER ROAST | 315 North LaSalle
Join everyone’s favorite riverside restaurant for fish and drink specials during Lent! The menu will be available on February 14th for Ash Wednesday and dinner every Friday through March 30th
Drink Specials:
- Wisconsin Old Fashioned: brandy, sugar, bitters, brandied cherry, orange wheel ($12)
- RR Old Fashioned: bonded bourbon, demerara, bitters ($12)
- Miller High Life (7oz – $3; 12oz – $5; 40oz – $12)
The Big Fish: crispy or fire-roasted whole Branzino with salsa verde and Mediterranean chips.$42
The Fish Fry: beer battered fried cod, malt vinegar fries, house pickles, cole slaw, remoulade and rye bread. 8oz for $20; 16oz for $39
A Pint of Chicago 