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Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to impress your partner with a gorgeous handcrafted cocktail. We asked our friend Emma Emerson, founder of the cocktail, food, and design website Gastronomista for some drink recipes that both parties are sure to enjoy. Don’t let all the pink fool you—these three libations are for serious tipplers.

Figgy Manhattan

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Infusing your own bourbon with figs gives this cocktail a personal touch that will impress your date. The fruity sweetness of the figs compliments the vanilla and caramel of the bourbon, and mixes ever so well in a Manhattan. Serve it with a few blackened cherries for extra style points.

Ingredients:
2 ounces fig-infused Bourbon (see below for recipe)
½ ounces Sweet Vermouth
5 drops Brooklyn Hemispherical Black Mission Fig Bitters

Technique:
Shake with ice, and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a blackened cherry.

To make the fig-infused Bourbon:
Quarter 12 ounces dried Black Mission Figs, and place into a large, non-reactive jar. Add 750 ml bottle of Bourbon, and allow to infuse for up to 4 weeks. Strain with cheesecloth to remove fruit and seeds.

The Bloodhound

The Bloodhound is a traditional cocktail that is fruity but not too saccharine sweet. It’s basically all alcohol so you really can’t go wrong.

Ingredients:
1 ounce Beefeater Gin
1 ounce Sweet Vermouth
1 ounce Dry Vermouth
¼ ounce Luxardo Liqueur
4 Strawberries

Technique:
Muddle Strawberries in a shaker, and add remaining ingredients. Shake vigorously with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail coupe. Garnish with a sliced strawberry.

El Angel

Mezcal, Tequila’s smoky cousin, gives this cocktail some serious kick, while the fresh citrus and hibiscus sweetens it up. Add a garnish of fresh lime juice and ghost pepper salt for extra spice.”

Ingredients:
3/4 ounce Fresh Navel Orange Juice
3/4 ounce Zignum Mezcal
3/4 ounce Milagro Silver Tequila
3/4 ounce Junior Merino Gomme Syrup (can substitute simple syrup)
1 ounce Fresh Lime Juice
3 dried Hibiscus Flowers

Technique:
Mix all ingredients together in a mixing glass. Add ice, shake and double strain into a highball glass filled with ice and rimmed with fresh lime juice and ghost pepper salt.

—Emma Emerson