Cocktail Hour: Pinky Chocolate Valentini

The Chocolate Pinky Valentini might just be the sexiest cocktail I’ve ever seen in my life. And it tastes even better than it looks. Creamy chocolate indulgence is the perfect thing for when it’s starting to get dark and dismal outside, and it’s made all the more delectable by the fruity liquid heaven that is Pinky Vodka. I’ve developed something of a love affair with Pinky lately, and there aren’t many cocktails that wouldn’t be improved by adding a splash or two of it. Apparently it’s hand-blended with strawberries, rose petals and violets to give it its subtle fruity flavour. Whatever their secret, it’s delicious, even with just juice or lemonade for lazy cocktail-makers like me. And although its £30 price tag might discourage some credit-crunched boozers, it is of course far tastier than the £7.99 almost-antifreeze “vodka” sold from under the counter at the dodgy newsagents on the corner.

You’ll need:

• Pinky Vodka
• Godiva white chocolate liqueur (and the ability to resist slurping it all the minute you get it home)
• Raspberry syrup
• Dark chocolate syrup
• Dark chocolate shavings and strawberries to decorate

And all you need to do is:

Squirt your dark chocolate syrup into two martini glasses, coating the sides. In a cocktail shaker, combine ice, 2 parts Pinky, 1 ½ half parts white chocolate liqueur and 1 part raspberry syrup. Shake, shake, shake, then pour, and add your chocolate shavings and strawberries. Mmmm!