Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, which means it’s time to start planning a special celebration with your most cherished loved one. Whether it’s a romantic, candle-light dinner for two or an intimate night away from it all, ready-to-drink canned cocktails are the perfect fit for this year’s Valentine’s Day festivities.
In order to help you plan your big day, we’ll pick apart what Valentine’s Day means and why we celebrate it, explore ways to make Cupid’s 2023 appearance the most memorable yet, and discuss the best ready-to-drink canned cocktails that help underscore the holiday’s intimacy.
Valentine’s Day and Ready-to-Drink Canned Cocktails
When it comes to celebrating love and togetherness with your spouse or significant other, few holidays are focused on celebrating your devotion to each other like Valentine’s Day. This special day is a part of our shared culture, although it’s received differently by different people.
Some keep it simple and take advantage of the moment, enjoying a quiet dinner with their loved one and reflecting on the beauty of love. Others disregard it as a made up holiday. Still others celebrate Valentine’s Day in dramatic fashion, going all out, all day long. Regardless of the approach, everyone can use a reason to celebrate another day.
Of course, where there is celebration, there is the need for great drinks. And with the continued market growth of ready-to-drink canned cocktails, there’s a good chance those drinks might include the canned cocktail. Today’s ready-to-drink canned cocktail is no longer the mediocre, artificial beverage of the past with disappointing ingredients and flavors.
Today’s canned cocktail can be elegant and well crafted, with 100% real ingredients in perfect proportions, allowing you to truly enjoy all those breathtaking Valentine’s Day moments wherever you find yourself. In order to appreciate how ready-to-drink canned cocktails fit into the equation, it’s helpful to take a step back and examine how people around the world celebrate February’s signature holiday.
The Origins of Valentine’s Day
Ask the average person what they associate with Valentine’s Day, and you’ll get a wide range of answers. Romance, passion, hearts, chocolates, and jewelry. Some will tell you it’s best spent one on one with your significant other, while others will say it’s a time to go out, be social, and party with your loved one. While both are perfectly viable options, neither reflects the original intention of Valentine’s Day — this special day wasn’t always centered on love.
In fact, the origins of Valentine’s Day go all the way back to the 5th century when it started as a religious feast meant to celebrate various martyred saints. So how did it become associated with romance? One of the saints in question, St. Valentine of Rome, helped marry young Roman soldiers against the emperor’s orders. When he wasn’t performing clandestine weddings, he was handing out heart-shaped cards to remind citizens to attend church.
While ancient Valentine’s Day had little to do with our modern version, there’s a rich history behind the occasion. And where there’s a deep, well-evolved history turned beloved tradition, there’s drink, song, and celebration! With that in mind, let’s turn our attention toward what this means for Valentine’s Day 2023.
Making the Most of Your Valentine’s Day Celebration
There’s no denying that the modern Valentine’s Day celebration goes hand in hand with big business. According to WalletHub, American consumers spent an estimated $23.9 billion on gifts, restaurants, dates, and other Valentine’s-related activities in 2022. Of that total amount, holiday shoppers spent a staggering $2.2 billion on candy alone. Together, the average couple spends a total of $354 on one another.
It’s not just about the money involved, however. In this post-pandemic world, couples are putting a greater emphasis on togetherness, with Wallethub noting that 76% feel that this Valentine’s Day carries more significance than past holidays. One metric that stands out is the fact that 41% of Americans say that they prefer a novel experience as a gift rather than flowers, chocolates, or jewelry. That’s where ready-to-drink canned cocktails come into play.
If you and your significant other want to forego the hectic bar scene this Valentine’s Day, ready-to-drink canned cocktails are the perfect alternative. Imagine a quiet, cozy evening spent in the company of your loved one without foregoing the style and sophistication of sharing high-caliber cocktails together. While every couple has their own individual drink preferences, certain combinations feel tailor-made for Valentine’s festivities.
Related: How Long Do Cocktails-in-a-can Last?
Five Perfect Cocktails to Help You Celebrate This Valentine’s Day
What flavor goes best with Cupid’s Day? After all, Valentine’s Day is an oddly situated holiday. Much of the country is still in the midst of winter’s coldest period, yet spring feels like it might be just around the corner. That makes Valentine’s Day the middle child of all the holidays. Mixologists can use that to their advantage, though, pairing the richer flavors of winter cocktails with lighter, breezier summer fare. Let’s take a minute to explore some of the unique options available with the best ready-to-drink canned cocktails.
The Mai Tai
Love is all about kindling passion with your significant other, and there’s plenty of passion to find in natural fruits, even the citrusy zest of orange. If you’re looking for a perfectly passionate drink option this Valentine’s Day, the mai tai is a great starting point.
Featuring a signature blend of Caribbean rum, authentic, 100% real lime juice, orange curacao, and an interesting hint of sweetness via almond orgeat, the Main Tai is guaranteed to speak your personal love language. Weighing in at 23.5% alcohol by volume (ABV), its unique mix of sugar and spice, coupled with overtones of rum, just might ignite your love life.
The Espresso Martini
Can’t decide between a Valentine’s Day coffee date or cocktail meetup? Espresso martinis are a popular choice that give you the best of both worlds. This classic cocktail combines the natural pick-me-up of caffeine from espresso with 22.5% ABV vodka and coffee liqueur.
The rich espresso flavor and smooth, velvety texture makes this seductive and sophisticated cocktail the perfect way to kick off a romantic evening. When coffeehouse meets cocktail bar, you’re sure to create some memorable moments.
The Cosmopolitan
Some drinks never go out of style, regardless of the season, and the bright pink cosmopolitan is an everlasting Valentine’s Day favorite. When it comes to timeless attraction, nothing holds a candle to the classic –and classy– cosmo.
The 27% ABV cosmopolitan features the rich fruit flavors of 100% real lime juice, cranberry juice, and orange curacao set against the backdrop of high-quality vodka. As a result, the cosmopolitan is both a trend and an industry mainstay that’s emblematic of the modern bar scene.This Valentine’s Day, a cosmopolitan will bring the party to wherever you find yourself enjoying the moment.
The Margarita
Are you and your significant other an adventurous couple? The margarita makes the perfect traveling companion. Like a heartfelt declaration of love, margaritas are simple, fun, and straight to the point. At 25% ABV, this particular ready-to-drink canned cocktail features only three ingredients: Silver tequila, orange curacao, and 100% real lime juice. So cut loose and celebrate your love wherever the night may take you!
The Old Fashioned
In the mood for something stronger than tequila or vodka this Valentine’s Day? Like the passion burning in your heart, the double old fashioned is a perfect fit for palates more accustomed to the bold flavor of bourbon.
At 37% ABV, the old fashioned delivers the rich, signature taste of one of America’s oldest cocktails. Combining a generous portion of straight bourbon whiskey, three bitters, demerara syrup, and orange zest, the double old fashioned is a tried-and-true drink for connoisseurs and lovers alike.
Related: Craft Cocktails in a Can: Yes, There Are Some Great Ones
Ready-to-Drink Canned Cocktails: Celebrating in Style
If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that we should strive to celebrate every moment that’s given to us. Valentine’s Day 2023 serves as a stark reminder of that ideal, so why not make this year as unique as possible? No matter what you choose, you can accent the evening with the canned cocktail of your choice. Need some ideas for making Valentine’s Day magic without hitting the bar scene? We’ve got you covered.
Create a Tasting
Wine, cheese, chocolate, and fruit: each of these is part of the rich, universal language of love, and they are synonymous with the Valentine’s holiday. Instead of getting your lover a box of chocolates, why not make it an experience by holding a tasting? Pick a theme and go with it, but don’t forget the canned cocktails to help cleanse your palate.
Stream Your Partner’s Favorite Romantic Movie
This one’s so easy it might feel like a shortcut, but there’s something simple and intimate about a night cuddled up on the couch, streaming romantic movies while indulging in the canned cocktail of your choice. It’s got “together forever” written all over it.
Have a Game Night
Looking for something more kinetic this Valentine’s Day? Try playing a game together. From the tried-and-true classics like Monopoly or Chess to something potentially spicier like Twister or Cards Against Humanity, games and high-quality canned cocktails are a pairing that leads to a fun and memorable evening.
Unplug, Unwind, and Enjoy Nature
You and your significant other might not want to “go out,” but that doesn’t mean that you have to stay home. Put down the device, grab a chilled pack of ready-to-drink canned cocktails, and go for a romantic hike. If you’re feeling especially brave, go stargazing and make it a night to remember!
Elevate Any Valentine’s Day Celebration with Ready-to-Drink Canned Cocktails
This Valentine’s Day, the possibilities for rekindling your romance or demonstrating your love are limitless. Give your loved one your undivided attention, choose the perfect moment, and add some fireworks with the best canned cocktails. Ready-to-drink cocktails can bring the party to you, whether it’s a quiet night or an active one.
No matter how you choose to celebrate, Post Meridiem is proud to provide bar quality, 100% real ingredient refreshments without compromise. Shop online today to find your favorite cocktail in our signature lineup.
