Roses are the flowers of love, and it’s only fitting that I make love inspired recipes debuting its ethereal scent and flavor. Its fragrant petals have offered both fine dining experiences as well as heart opening medicine to many for thousands of years. Delicate, unruly, vulnerable, yet armed to the teeth, her sweet aroma will lure you to her tangled thorns. There’s something to be said about beauty with attitude.

This attitude can be a bit overpowering as rose is a flavor both fragrant and bold making it tricky to tame, but once one has, it is wondrous in its refined floral notes, slipping into the background and surprising the senses. The rose enchants and entices making it perfect for leisurely sipping as an ethereal cordial on St. Valentines Day.

Paired with fruity raspberry and zesty sumo orange, this rose inspired liqueur is sure to bring true love upon the first sip, so share it with your especial loved one on this special day.

Raspberry Rose Liqueur Recipe

• 2 large mason jars
• 1 large glass bowl
• 1 nut milk bag
• 1 funnel
• 2 pretty glass bottles for storing (I found mine at Ross)
• 3 ¼ cups of organic 80 proof vodka
• 2 ½ cups dried red rose petals
• 1 cup ripe and delicious red raspberries
• The zest of one Sumo orange (or other fragrant orange)
• 1 cup simple syrup (2 ¼ cups of water and 2 ¼ organic sugar brought to a boil until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let cool and store in a clean mason jar for use in the fridge. Will last 3 months)

Loving Preparation- Raspberry Rose Liqueur

• In a large mason jar add the rose petals, raspberries, orange zest, and vodka
• Seal tightly and shake well
• Keep the jar in a cool dark place out of direct sunlight
• For 3 days, gently shake the jar to disturb the contents morning and night
• On the 5th day, strain the liqueur in a large glass bowl using the nutmilk bag
• Be sure to squeeze the contents very well
• Funnel the strained liqueur back into the mason jar (make sure the jar has been cleaned and dried) and seal
• Allow the liqueur to sit overnight
• In the morning you will see about a quarter inch of sediment at the bottom of the liqueur (rose liqueur is the one on the left below, the right is a secret!)
• Next, very carefully pour the liqueur into the second clean mason jar. DO NOT pour in the sediment! I was careful to stop pouring before it had the chance to mix in.
• Now add 1 cup of simple syrup, cap tightly, and shake well to mix. Look at that beautiful ruby color!
• Pour the liqueur into pretty bottles
• Enjoy sipped in tiny glasses or chilled with a splash of carbonated water