In the world of Even the Faithful, Valentine’s Day is not roses by the dozen or crowded restaurants with linen tablecloths. It’s smaller than that. A shared supper after work. A glass poured carefully. Snow gathering at the edges of the street while the radio plays something soft and familiar.
Midcentury Valentine’s celebrations often unfolded at home, especially in the Midwest. Romance was shaped by restraint, by what could be offered quietly rather than declared publicly. These drinks borrow from that sensibility: classic flavors, modest proportions, and the understanding that intimacy doesn’t require excess.
Whether you’re celebrating with a partner, a friend, or simply marking the evening for yourself, these vintage-inspired cocktails and their non-alcoholic counterparts are designed for a Valentine’s Day spent alone together, unhurried and attentive.
French Gimlet
Clean, sharp, and unapologetically simple. The gimlet was a staple of midcentury cocktail culture, something bracing enough to wake the senses, but refined enough for a quiet evening.
Alcoholic version:
2 oz gin
¾ oz fresh lime juice
½ oz simple syrup
Shake with ice and strain into a chilled coupe.
Mocktail version:
Non-alcoholic gin (try Ritual Gin Alternative for this recipe)
Fresh lime juice
Simple syrup
Add a splash of soda water if you prefer it lighter.
Cherry Whiskey Sour
A classic with a touch of softness. The addition of cherry gives this drink a Valentine’s-appropriate warmth without tipping into sweetness.
Alcoholic version:
2 oz bourbon or rye
¾ oz lemon juice
½ oz cherry syrup
Shake vigorously with ice and strain into a coupe or rocks glass.
Mocktail version:
Non-alcoholic whiskey or strong black tea
Lemon juice
Cherry syrup
Serving note: garnish with a single cherry
Pink Grapefruit Paloma
Though the Paloma rose to prominence later, grapefruit and tequila were already familiar flavors in postwar America. This version feels fresh, faintly bitter, and well-suited to winter light.
Alcoholic version:
2 oz tequila
2 oz pink grapefruit juice
½ oz lime juice
Soda water
Build over ice in a highball glass and stir gently.
Mocktail version:
Pink grapefruit juice
Lime juice
Soda water
Optional: a pinch of salt on the rim for contrast
Raspberry Champagne Cocktail
Sparkling wine was reserved for special occasions, and Valentine’s Day qualified. This cocktail keeps the proportions modest and the mood intimate.
Alcoholic version:
½ oz raspberry syrup
Champagne to top
Pour syrup into a flute and top slowly with champagne.
Mocktail version:
Raspberry syrup
Non-alcoholic sparkling wine or sparkling white grape juice
Optional garnish: a frozen raspberry dropped into the glass just before serving.
These are drinks meant to be sipped, not rushed. Chosen carefully. Held with intention.