This Valentine’s Day, whether it’s a date with a new potential love interest or a long-term partner and you’re wanting to spice things up, here are five top tips to cosy up and break the ice from drinks and occasions expert, The Ice Co.
- Drinks cool as ice
No great chat is without a delicious, refreshing beverage. Whether you’re in or out, make sure the drinks are flowing. There’s a whole host of budget-friendly or fancy cocktail recipes that can be made at home, which can be viewed on The Ice Co website, here. Why not set up a mini bar at home and create cocktails yourself? Here are some favourites:
Coupling up ‘Flirtini’
Ingredients
- x1 handful of Party Ice
- x15ml raspberry liqueur
- x15ml Cointreau
- x30ml vodka
- x3 measures of pineapple juice
- Top up with prosecco
- Garnish with raspberries
Method
- Add the Cointreau, raspberry liqueur, vodka and pineapple juice to a shaker filled with Party Ice.
- Shake well, then strain into a martini glass.
- Garnish with a few raspberries and serve!
You & Me
Ingredients
- x1 handful of Premium Ice
- x1 measure vodka
- x1/2 measure lemon juice
- x2 dashes grenadine
- x1/2 measure sugar syrup
- x1 handful of Love Heart sweets
Method
- Add the ice and all the other ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
- Shake well and strain into a martini glass.
- Serve with a side of Love Heart sweets and serve!
You Bloody Mary
Ingredients
- x1 handful of Party Ice
- x2 measures of vodka
- Lemon juice (squeeze half of a lemon)
- Dash of Worcestershire sauce
- Dash of tabasco sauce
- Top up with tomato juice
- Garnish with olive, black pepper, celery, and lemon slice
Method
- Fill a glass with the ice and pour in the vodka
- Add the lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce
- Top with tomato juice and stir well before garnishing then serve!
- Make sure the music is right
Music is essential to set the tone and the right ambience. When choosing a date night spot, choose a bar or restaurant you know has the best tunes. Or, if you’re staying home, create a shared playlist you both can contribute to.
- Games to break the ice
Great company, delicious drinks and fabulous food make a perfect night – but games can make it even more fun! Whether it’s showing off your beer pong skills, or turning your hand to giant Jenga, there’s nothing quite like a bit of competitive fun to get things going. There’s a party games inspo online, here.
- Staying in is the new going out
If you find going out to a posh, fancy restaurant daunting and awkward, why not give pizza and a bottle of bubbly on ice a try at home? You can then get cosy in the comfort of your own home and this way you won’t be breaking the bank. Check out what’s popular on Netflix and you have a perfect night in.
- Breakfast in bed
Take the pressure off big expectations and enjoy a cute, simple breakfast in bed! Make the effort and wake up extra early on Valentine’s Day morning and treat him or her to a simple breakfast with all the trimmings. Think pancakes with fruit and syrup, prosecco on ice with a side of orange juice if they fancy turning it into a Bucks Fizz. Less pressure than a face-to-face, home-cooked fancy dinner!
You can find more recipe suggestions, lifestyle hacks and product news, on The Ice Co website: www.theiceco.co.uk/
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