Aphrodisiac drinks tips for Valentine’s Day

From anatomical whisky tasting to amorous cocktails and oyster shots, if this collection of aphrodisiacal drinks doesn’t get you in the mood this Valentine’s Day nothing will.

Love it or hate it Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to go over the top, indulge and show your loved one just how much they mean to you. Food and drink undoubtedly play a major part in this which, when chosen carefully, can help boost your chances in the love department no end. So instead of bemoaning Valentine’s Day as a clichéd tradition aimed at lining the pockets of gift card suppliers, take inspiration from one of these amorous remedies and indulge in a night of food and drink fuelled romance.

Click through for some drinks-themed inspiration for stoking some romance this Valentine’s Day…

Red wine

Photo credit: Pinterest

Simple but effective, red wine is more likely to put Brits in the mood for romance than oysters, whipped cream or asparagus, according to Bookatable.

The same report also said that steak would most impress on a date, ahead of “French cuisine” or lobster – and the perfect partner for steak is of course red wine.

In fact, a study published in 2009 in the The Journal of Sexual Medicine claimed that moderate consumption of red wine (one to two glasses a day) led to an increase in sexual desire compared with women who abstained from drinking.

According to Bookatable, red wine is only second to chocolate in the top 10 list of the most romantic things to consume on Valentine’s Day, ahead of a range of traditionally amorous foodstuffs such as oysters or ice cream. Although it’s surprising not to see Champagne included in the top ten, red wine’s inclusion so high up the list could be because red is considered the colour of passion and love, and the most commonly used shade in Valentine’s Day decorations.

Chocolate Drop

Chocolate has long been considered an aphrodisiac because it contains a neurochemical known as phenylethylamine – a stimulant that boosts feelings of happiness associated with love and arousal. While a box of chocolates and a glass of red wine is a sure fire winner, one producer has taken it to the next level by releasing a chocolate wine.

A somewhat imaginative blend of red British wine with dark chocolate flavours, Chocolate Drop is a unique, affordable indulgence released by Broadland Wineries earlier this year.

With aromas of dark chocolate, black cherry, mocha and vanilla, the wine is richly sweet with a chocolate character which is matched by black fruit flavours in an effort to find freshness and balance.

RRP: £6, Sainsbury’s 

Innis and Gunn’s “performance enhancing” pale ale

With the film adaptation of 50 Shades of Grey set to hit screen later this month, a number of drinks company’s have grabbed their chance for a share of the spotlight.

Last month Scottish brewer Innis & Gunn released a beer infused with ginseng and other aphrodisiacs promising to get your in the mood. The limited edition ale, 50 Shades of Green, blends 50 different types of hops from around the world, including sorachi ace from Japan and pacific jade from New Zealand, both of which are hailed for their lemongrass notes.

The beer also contains ingredients known for their sexually stimulating properties, including ginseng, which is said to boost sexual desire; ginkgo biloba, a herb said to get blood pumping; and damiana, a nerve stimulant. Just 200 bottles of the “performance enhancing” pale ale have been made and will be available for pre-order on the company’s website for £30 a 330ml bottle.

50 Shades of Grey wine

If beer is not your thing, 50 Shades of Grey author E L James has launched a range of wines inspired by the erotic trilogy. Both Red Satin and White Silk are made from grapes grown in California. The wines carry a simple black label framed by a metallic diamond-shaped pattern and run with the tagline: “You. Are. Mine.”

A blend of Petite Sirah and Syrah, Red Satin 2009 is said to boast flavours of black cherry, cocoa powder, caramel, vanilla, cloves, spices, and, somewhat fittingly, leather, having been aged in French oak,

White Silk 2012 meanwhile, is a blend of Gewürztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc, and, according to the website, offers “floral aromatics of lychee, honey and pear tempered by flavors of grapefruit with a faint hint of butterscotch.”

Oysters

It seems and obvious choice, but you really can’t go wrong with an bucket of oysters and a glass of Champagne when trying to impress your loved one. Oysters are perhaps the best known aphrodisiac of them all with scientists hypothesising that their high levels of zinc and traces of amino acids increase sex hormones.

For something a little different, try a Bloody Mary oyster shooter. Pop an oyster in a shot glass and top up with tomato juice, vodka and a dash of tabasco for a salty yet saucy treat.

Anatomical whisky tasting

If you really want to appreciate the age of a fine 50-year-old malt, sip it from the navel of a 50-year-old man. That is the premise of an anatomical whisky tasting being hosted by Bompas and Parr this Valentine’s Day. While not a conventional way to spend Valentine’s Day, it certainly makes for a good talking point.

Participants will be invited to sip whisky from a prepared crevice on a performer’s body, whose age matches that of the whisky. While you sip your dram, the performer will regale you with tales of their life to “elevate the practice of body-shots and grasp the full magnitude of the years the spirit has lain in cask, slowly gaining in complexity and maturity.”

Perhaps the 50 Year Old malt for once will seem less appealing…

Chelsea Rose

If you are celebrating at home this Valentine’s then one of the following cocktails is sure to impress. Hendrick’s gin is infused with rose petals and cucumber, making it the perfect accompaniment to a romantic night in.

Method: Combine all ingredients into a teapot, stir briskly and leave to brew for a few moments. Pour into an ice filled teacup. Garnish with one fresh raspberry and slice of cucumber.

• 50ml Hendrick’s Gin
• 150ml Cloudy Apple juice
• 5 Fresh Raspberries
• Dash Fresh Lemon

Red Room Passion

Mixologists at London’s Skylounge have devised their own saucy cocktail to celebrate the release of 50 Shades of Grey – a film that seems to be setting the scene for romance this Valentine’s Day.

Made with both pomegranate and chillies, which are known to be effective aphrodisiacs, the Red Room Passion cocktail is available at Skylounge on the top floor of the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel at Tower Bridge in London. Or you can make your own by following this recipe.

• 40ml peach puree
• 2 slices of red chilies
• 25ml Xante liquor
• 25ml Kraken Rum
• 20ml gomme syrup (sugar syrup)
• 20ml fresh lime juice

Method: Muddle chillies in the bottom of a Boston glass, shake liquids with ice in a shaker. Strain into a glass over crushed ice. Garnish with passion fruit and extra chillies.

Espresso martini

While not an aphrodisiac in itself coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant that will keep you awake and alert. The espresso martini therefore, a decadent and dessert-like cocktail in itself, is the perfect way to round of an evening, guaranteed to keep you buzzing into the wee hours.

Scream your Love with Veuve Clicquot Rosé

Nothing says romance like a bottle of pink fizz, and Veuve Cliquot has just the ticket this Valentine’s releasing this limited edition gift set.

The set includes a bottle of Veuve Cliquot rosé Champagne housed in a megaphone-shaped ice bucket with the brand encouraging romantics to “scream their love” this Valentine’s Day.

“Screaming your Love is easy – simply twist the large lid off, speak into the smaller end, and amplify your love”, a spokesman for the brand said. “Once sentiments have been stated, turn the lid to face up, click it to the small end of the megaphone, and render the megaphone into an ice bucket and serve Veuve Clicquot Rosé – the perfect Champagne for Valentine’s Day.”

RRP: £64.99, excusive to Selfridges