At Le Portier, we talk a lot about that moment when you pour yourself a glass of cognac and give yourself that time to take a step back, reflect on your accomplishments, and show some real gratitude for the people who have made it all possible. And what better way to someone you care this Valentine’s Day than by sharing a lovingly crafted cocktail you’ve mixed specially for them with Shay by Le Portier?
Whether you’re spending Valentine’s Day with a new love, the guys who are always there for you, or even on your own, Le Portier have put together some of our favorite ways to celebrate the sweetness – or sourness! – of the holiday. Club Bae Bae is open! Check them out below:
1. Club Shay Shay Sour
A riff on the tried-and-true classic that adds a little complexity and a lot of luxury. Mix these up for a girls’ night in, pour a couple for you and your companion to get the evening started right, or simply enjoy them any time! A little sweet, a little sour – but hey, that’s how it goes sometimes, right?
Ingredients
1 oz Shay by Le Portier Cognac
1 oz Amaretto liqueur
1 oz Lemon juice
0.5 oz Egg white
Dash of Bitters
Maraschino Cherries, to garnish
Method:
Fill a shaker with ice. Add the Shay by Le Portier Cognac, amaretto liqueur, lemon juice, egg white, and bitters to the shaker, and shake until thoroughly chilled.
Strain to remove the ice then pour the chilled mixture back into the shaker. Shake again without ice until mixture is aerated and frothy, then strain into a coupe. Garnish with a maraschino cherry (or two!), and enjoy!
2. Your Love is King
Getting the cocktails right is just one part of getting a romantic evening right – it’s all about setting the scene. Pick the right soundtrack, light a couple of candles, pop that champagne cork with confidence, and you’ll be writing your own love ballad before it’s even time to turn the record over.
Sure, chocolate-covered strawberries may seem like an ‘80s gourmet cliché, but you know there’s never anything wrong with a little old school jam. The chocolate and berries dial up the same rich notes in Shay by Le Portier, and the champagne brings that celebratory spirit like no other.
So whether you’ll be cueing up a classic or improvising on something new, raise a glass with Le Portier.
Ingredients
1 oz Shay by Le Portier Cognac
1 Sugar cube
A few dashes of Bitters
Champagne, to fill the glass
Chocolate-covered strawberries, to garnish
Method
Saturate the sugar cube with a few dashes of bitters, then place at the bottom of a chilled coupe. Add the Shay by Le Portier Cognac, then fill the glass with champagne. Serve alongside chocolate-covered strawberries, and enjoy!
3. Yakaranda
Bring south of the border flair to your celebration without fighting the traffic to get east of Fairfax – or even leaving your living room! Skip the pre-made sweet and sour mix and make fresh ingredients the star of the show. Shay by Le Portier brings a new complexity to the Mexican restaurant mainstay, and fresh raspberries play off the dried fruit flavours in the spirit – as well as add some festive color.
Pair with your homemade guacamole (‘gnac ‘n’ guac – the true romance for the ages), and you’ll be crooning those canciones de amor in no time.
Ingredients
1.5 oz Shay by Le Portier Cognac
1 oz Orange liqueur
1 oz Lemon juice, freshly squeezed
0.5 oz Agave syrup
Fresh raspberries
Salt, for the rims
Method
Run a lemon slice around the rim of a tumbler and dip it into the salt, then leave to dry.
Fill a mixing glass with ice, then add the Shay by Le Portier Cognac, orange liqueur, lemon juice, and agave syrup, and stir until thoroughly mixed.
Muddle a few raspberries in the bottom of the tumbler, then pour the cocktail mixture into the glass. Add a few ice cubes if you so choose, and enjoy!
For those who like to spice things up, swap the salt on the rim for pre-mixed chile lime salt. And for those who like a little drama, cut a small round of lemon peel from the side of the lemon or hollow out the bottom or the top of the citrus. Place this on top of the cocktail, then fill it with the overproof spirit of your choice. Set the overproof spirit alight, and enjoy!
4. S’more Yak Please
This Valentine’s Day, skip the box of chocolate and mix up a couple of our S’More Yak Please cocktails. With white chocolate liqueur and toasted marshmallows, it may seem like your typical dessert drink, but it packs a real cognac punch. Sweet and strong, it’s the perfect choice for serious drinkers getting serious about each other. Check out the full recipe here.
If you’re mixing one of these up, we’d love to see it! Tag @leportiercognac on insta to share your creations with us!
For more information about Le Portier and inspiration for enjoying Shay by Le Portier cognac, have a look at our blog.
