I love love. Always have. I am a hopeful romantic from way back, absolutely addicted to grand gestures and big feelings made manifest. I can’t help it, as much as the world has reinforced my latent cynicism, like Huey Lewis, I still have believe in the power of love. I am also a contrarian by nature and one of the best ways to get me to not do something is to make me feel that it is expected. Which is why, if I am honest, I have to admit that deep in the bottom of my romantic heart I sort of hate St. Valentine’s Day. There is something sinister in this day where grand gestures are expected for those in love and pain is amplified for those on the outside of affection. I don’t think a few dozen roses or dinner, drinks and jewelry make up for not being there for your amour the other 364 days of the year. The expression of love should happen every single day and not come all at once like a death bed confessional guaranteeing forgiveness in the final reel. So with a sidelong glance at those sinistral greeting card executives, florists and restauranteurs waiting in the wings, won’t you join me now as we stand and make the Left Hand.

I think this one is what they call a modern classic, making its first appearance at Sasha Petraske’s famed Milk & Honey in New York City. It was created by legendary drink maker Sam Ross, who is also responsible for the Penicillin and Paper Plane, so I have high hopes for this one. It is a riff on a Boulevardier, which is a riff on my beloved Negroni, that borrows some ratios from the Manhattan, so it has a lot of history going on and some serious lineage. I found it hiding in my trusty copy of “Regarding Cocktails” by Sasha Petraske where it is described by its creator as, “a bourbon riff on the Negroni that we created using the newly released chocolate bitters from Bittermen’s.” That chocolate element made it seem just right for the holiday so here we are making the drink that elicited a “Well played, Sam,” from the famously tight lipped Petraske when it was first presented.

Let’s get one of our hands dirty and make this thing. Grab your mixing pitcher and toss in 1 1/2 ounces of bourbon, I chose Four Roses, natch; 3/4 of an ounce of Sweet Vermouth, I went with Carpano Antica, 3/4 ounce of that bitter devil bitch Campari and 3 dashes of Bittermen’s Xocolatl Mole Bitters. Add some of that artisanal ice and give it a good stir to the beat of the Elvis version of “Always On My Mind”, til everything is well chilled and suitably diluted. Strain into a coupe, even better if you were gifted a sweet seasonally appropriate heart shaped one. The original recipe calls to garnish it with a brandied cherry, but my own true love is a dark chocolate covered strawberry girl with a bit of flair so I am making an accommodation, with 30% more feathers..

It’s got the look, but how does it taste? Simply divine. The Four Roses is a little on the sweet side and when paired with the sweet vermouth, it balances perfectly with that Campari. The hint of chocolate from the bitters just brings everything home and adding that chocolate covered strawberry helps sell it all with a nice cocoa aroma on the nose. When super chilled it is a little more bitter, which I liked, but as it warms and opened up its sweet side came out, which Laura preferred. Either way it is an excellent riff on a couple of excellent drinks and deserves a place on your menu.

I am not going to rail against those greeting card folks, florists and restauranteurs I called out earlier, even if they work so hard to imply that if you don’t treat your partner you might end up with nothing but this drink for company. That was kind of a cheap shot, but hey, we’ve all got to make a living and if you can leverage the combined efforts of thousands of marketing firms to help you make a buck one particular day, more power to you. It is a good day to do something nice for those who you love. So is next Tuesday and the third Saturday in June and pretty much any other day you can think of. By all means, show your love today…and every other day. Maybe it’s not roses or cards or dinner or champagne or diamonds or writing songs about them, but it can be a gentle squeeze as you walk by or doing the dishes or a random call or text “just because”. As much as I love fireworks and sweeping gestures that she will remember for years, when it is all said and done what I need for her to remember is that I loved her every day, with all my faults and failures, there was never a moment when she wasn’t the one. So, raise your glass to your love and show them that everyday is Valentine’s when they are in your heart. Yeah, that’s a damned fine way to stay safe, stay sane and stay hydrated, my friends.