In a city where love is always in the air, we have a Valentine’s Day tipple to share with anyone who brightens your day
Behind the scenes at Blacklock Manchester, we wanted to capture that feeling in a glass through inviting bartenders to create duo of drinks that were romantic, bold, and unforgettable.
For those who haven’t met them yet, Manchester Gin is a craft distillery right in the heart of the city, renowned for small-batch gins packed with character, creativity, and local flavour. Every bottle tells a story, blending carefully sourced botanicals with traditional distilling techniques. From their classic Dry to seasonal experiments, Manchester Gin is a canvas for imaginative bartenders to create something memorable – and this Valentine’s, the possibilities were endless.
After an exciting final, Caitlyn captured the hearts of all the judges with her creations: Aphrodite’s Desire and Tempt Fate, a non-alcoholic companion. Inspired by Greek mythology, both cocktails told a story of love, desire, and temptation.
Both drinks entered into the competition, shared a beautifully similar taste profile, combining luscious cherry notes with a hint of chocolate, each sip evoking indulgence and delight. Caitlyn’s winning cocktail, Aphrodite’s Desire – Popped Your Cherry, is a boozy, chocolatey treat crafted with Manchester Gin, sweet vermouth, homemade vanilla syrup, chocolate bitters, sour cherry liqueur, and Crème de Cacao. Milk-washing to infuse the gin with coffee, provoking an utterly decadent a creamy mouthfeel. The glass is finished with freezer-fried cherry powder on the rim, adding a playful crunch to the flavours. (Allergies: milk, sulphites.)
Her alcohol-free counterpart, Tempt Fate, mirrors the same cherry-and-chocolate palette with a thoughtful blend of cherry syrup, the same homemade vanilla syrup, Three Spirits Social Elixir for cacao notes and a gentle buzz, season dark to mimic the bitter chocolate undertones, and coffee bean tea. A few drops of saline cut through the sweetness, while a dark chocolate cherry slab garnish gives a little extra magic—scientifically, it even triggers the same feeling as falling in love. (Allergies: milk, soya.)
These cocktails will be on the menu at Blacklock Manchester this weekend, ready to make Valentine’s Day a little sweeter for anyone lucky enough to try them.