While this isn’t a magical concoction to make your sweetheart fall for you in the first place, this love potion cocktail is the perfect drink to celebrate your love. This incredibly easy cocktail has just 3 ingredients and a lot of flexibility, so you can make the ultimate date night sip!
The love potion cocktail is a vodka-based drink featuring berry flavors and of course a nice red color! It’s perfect for Valentine’s Day or date night, but honestly if you love berry flavored drinks you could enjoy it anytime.
With just a few ingredients (that are easily swappable for what you have on hand) it’s so simple to make. While a shaker is recommended, you can use a mason jar or just mix it if you don’t have one. You can also serve it up by the pitcher if you’re celebrating with a crowd!
I love to garnish mine with gummy candy hearts to really add to the season, but you can always swap in maraschino cherries or something similar if you’re not serving this for V-Day.
Ingredients List
2 ounces raspberry vodka
1 ounce peach schnapps
3 ounces red fruit juice (I use cranberry cherry)
Ice cubes
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
Instead of raspberry vodka, you can use cherry or strawberry vodka, any red berry flavor vodka, or 1 ½ ounces of plain vodka with ½ ounce of Chambord (or another raspberry liquor)
If you don’t like vodka, you can substitute rum or gin instead!
The peach schnapps can be swapped for a few dashes of peach bitters, or omitted if preferred, or you can use another complimentary flavor such as raspberry
Any red fruit juice works so use your favorite. I’m doing cranberry cherry, but you can use any red grapefruit, raspberry, cherry, pomegranate, or cranberry juice (or combination thereof)
Variations: Add grenadine for additional sweetness or coloring, use ½ ounce lime juice or orange juice to add tartness, or try adding club soda or sparkling water for a fizzy variation! Edible glitter can be stirred in for an extra sparkle!
Garnish options include gummy candy hearts, maraschino cherries, fresh strawberries cut into hearts, or a skewer of raspberries, blackberries, or a mix of red fruits
How to Make Love Potion Cocktail
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker (or similar) with a few ice cubes
Shake until well mixed and chilled, approximately 30 seconds of active shaking
A love potion cocktail is, at its core, just a mixture of vodka and red fruit juices, often garnished by festive heart-shaped foods.
There are lots of options that can be used for all ingredients. Often, other flavors such as peach or citrus are incorporated to add depth of flavor to the drink.
Can I Customize the Love Potion Cocktail for Different Occasions or Themes?
Absolutely! While the love potion cocktail is well-suited to Valentine’s Day due to the color and fruity flavor, you can change the ingredients. Add other juices and vodka flavors to create different colors and taste profiles.
Adjust the garnishes to compliment whatever season or occasion you are celebrating.
Are There Non-Alcoholic Versions of the Love Potion Cocktail?
Yes, you can create a non-alcoholic mocktail love potion by substituting the alcoholic components with mocktail alternatives. Ensure the replacement ingredients align with the desired flavor profile.
Sparkling water, apple, or raspberry juices are the perfect substitute for the vodka. They pair well with a variety of fruit juices so you can still achieve the red coloring. Omit the peach schnapps, or add peach or orange juice instead.
What Garnishes Complement the Love Potion Cocktail and Enhance Its Romantic Aesthetic?
Garnishes like edible flowers, heart-shaped fruit slices, or even a touch of edible glitter can enhance the romantic aesthetic of the love potion cocktail, adding a whimsical touch.
Red maraschino cherries, a twist or orange, a skewer of fresh berries (like raspberries), or heart shaped candies are some other great choices.
Can I Prepare a Batch of Love Potion Cocktails in Advance for a Celebration or Party?
Yes, you can pre-mix a batch of love potion and store it in a pitcher in your refrigerator. Generally, it is fine being stored for 1-2 days. Scale the recipe as needed for the desired number of servings.
If you are adding a carbonated element, do not add that ahead of time, but rather top off individual glasses with it for serving, to promote maximum fizz effect.
What Type of Glassware Is Ideal for Serving the Love Potion Cocktail?
The love potion cocktail can be served in nearly any type of glass, though martini, rocks glasses, and champagne coupes are the most popular choices.
However, any clear glass works well, to show off the lovely red color of the drink.
What Tips Can You Provide for Balancing the Sweetness and Tartness in the Love Potion Cocktail?
Achieve the right balance by experimenting with the quantities of sweet and tart ingredients. Taste-testing during the mixing process allows you to adjust the flavor according to preference.
Add grenadine or simple syrup for extra sweetness. For more tartness, try lime juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, or tart cherry juices.
Recipe Pro Tips
Glassware. Any clear glassware is fine for this recipe! I’m using an 11-ounce rocks glass, but martini glasses and coupe glasses are other common choices. For larger glasses, you could double the recipe or top with sparkling water (or just don’t fill it all the way) – your choice!
If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, a mason jar with a lid is another great choice, or anything similar works. Alternatively, you can stir everything in the serving glass and then add a couple ice cubes (it just dilutes your drink slightly more than shaking)
I consider this drink to be medium strength as written. Adjust the amount of juice (more or less) to create a weaker or stronger drink based on personal preferences
Storage Tips
This recipe can be scaled for parties if desired. Mix all ingredients in a pitcher and store in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours in advance. Pour into individual glasses and garnish for serving
If you are adding any carbonated elements (for a fizzy variation), do not add that to your pitcher mixture. Top individual glasses off with it just before serving, to preserve effervescence.
This love potion cocktail is perfect for Valentine’s Day! With just 3 ingredients it takes just minutes to throw together for your date, or for the girls at your Galentine’s party.
With the base recipe of “fruit flavored vodka” and “red juice” there’s a ton of customization possible. You can use your favorite flavors, or just whatever you happen to have on hand so you don’t need to make a special trip to the liquor store.
It’s obviously perfect for Valentine’s due to the red color and fun flavor (without being cloyingly sweet), but you can feel free to enjoy it for any occasion. Just change up your garnishes and the juice if you like, and you’ve got a whole new drink to enjoy!
Easy Love Potion Cocktail (With Vodka)
This love potion cocktail is just 3 ingredients with a vodka base, and takes 5 minutes or less to prepare. The red color and berry flavors are perfect for Valentine’s Day!
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker (or similar) with a few ice cubes
2 Ounces raspberry vodka, 1 Ounce peach schnapps, 3 Ounces red fruit juice, Ice cubes
Shake until well mixed and chilled (approximately 30 seconds of active shaking)
Strain into a rocks glass (or glass of choice)
Garnish if desired, and enjoy!
Notes
Instead of raspberry vodka, you can use cherry or strawberry vodka, any red berry flavor vodka, or 1 ½ ounces of plain vodka with ½ ounce of Chambord (or another raspberry liquor)
If you don’t like vodka, you can substitute rum or gin instead!
The peach schnapps can be swapped for a few dashes of peach bitters, or omitted if preferred, or you can use another complimentary flavor such as raspberry
Any red fruit juice works so use your favorite. I’m doing cranberry cherry, but you can use any red grapefruit, raspberry, cherry, pomegranate, or cranberry juice (or combination thereof)
Variations: Add grenadine for additional sweetness or coloring, use ½ ounce lime juice or orange juice to add tartness, or try adding club soda or sparkling water for a fizzy variation! Edible glitter can be stirred in for an extra sparkle!
Garnish options include gummy candy hearts, maraschino cherries, fresh strawberries cut into hearts, or a skewer of raspberries, blackberries, or a mix of red fruits
I consider this drink to be medium strength as written. Adjust the amount of juice (more or less) to create a weaker or stronger drink based on personal preferences
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, size of glasses, and actual quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Keyword love cocktails, love potion cocktail, love potion vodka cocktail, red cocktails, romantic drinks, themed cocktails, valentines cocktails, vodka based cocktails
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
