5 Sexy Drinks to Set the Mood From Start to Finish (+ Ultimate Directory of Aphrodisiac Cocktails)

Give yourself the best odds of wooing the object of your affection. We consulted with a naturopathic doctor to find out which ingredients you can use in your sexy drinks to most effectively boost libido, desire, and sexual function.

Knowing how to prepare a sexy drink or cocktail for your date is a hugely valuable skill.

Whether they’re coming over to your place for a drink before you head out, you’re preparing dinner and need the perfect accompaniment, or it’s the end of the night and you want to finish strong, here are the aphrodisiac drinks and cocktails you need in your back pocket.

Caveat: Best practice for this article would be to come back to this over the course of multiple dates. If you consume all of these drinks in one night…there will be trouble. You can also consider making some cocktails that are zero-proof.

1. Welcome Drink: Avo-Cardio

Aphrodisiac Ingredient: Avocado

Avocados are LOADED with nutrients that are beneficial to sexual health and function, such as beta carotene and magnesium.

The vitamin we’re most excited about in the avocado is Vitamin E, which is considered The Sex Vitamin (I’m not making this up). Like many great aphrodisiacs, it supports blood flow to your genitalia.

So what better way to get your night started off in a refreshing, sexy, way?

Avo-Cardio Recipe:

• 1.5 oz (45 ml) Havana 3 Year-Old Rum
• 1 oz (30 ml) Avocado Puree (recipe below)
• 0.75 oz (22.5 ml) Lime juice

Glass — Cocktail coupe

Method — Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin, shake, and fine strain into coupe

Garnish — Dehydrated lime wheel

Avocado Puree Recipe:

Put the following into a blender (alternatively, you could just muddle all of this in a tin)

1. Take one half of a ripe avocado
2. Add 1 oz of honey
3. Add 1 oz of water

Blend until you reach desired consistency.

(You also might have noticed that two avocados kind of look like testicles…or maybe that’s just me?)

2. Pre-Dinner: Tiger Uppercut Cocktail

The main aphrodisiacs in this sexy drink are Thai chilies and ginger (in the form of ginger beer).

Spice in general is very stimulating for the circulatory system and we all know that good blood flow is important for doing anything physical — whether it’s smooching or something else. Chili peppers, in particular, help stimulate blood flow, dopamine levels, and endorphins.

Chilies are also a beautiful colour of red, and symbolically red indicates blood, fire, and is psychologically connected to a host of other signals like passion, romance, heat, and lust.

My favourite part about this cocktail is that it’s kind of funny. We’re by no means romance experts, but we’ve found in our own experience that a bit of levity goes a long way.

Tiger Uppercut Recipe:

• 1 oz (30 ml) Rye whiskey
• 1 oz (30 ml) Cinzano Orancio (or consider another lengthener, like Lillet Blanc)
• 1 oz (30 ml) Muay Thai Syrup
• ½ oz (15 ml) Lemon Juice
• Several dashes of Angostura bitters

Glass — Collins

Method — Shake and strain

Garnish — Fresh or dehydrated Thai chili pepper and lemongrass stalk (be sure to bash the stem of the lemongrass as that will release its aromas). Float Angostura bitters on top

Muay Thai Syrup Recipe (1 liter yield):

• 6 pucks of palm sugar
• 2 chopped thai chilis with seeds in
• 3 chopped and bashed stems of lemon grass
• 1 litre water
• Simmer 25-30 minutes until desired heat and flavour is there

3. With Dinner: Keep It Simple With Red Wine

Red wine is sultry in and of itself and is the only alcoholic drink that has scientifically been proven to be an aphrodisiac — mostly because it’s good for heart health (in moderation).

But it isn’t simply the consumption of these sexy drinks that can turn on your date, it’s the conversations that can happen as a result.

For example, in the case of red wine, briefly touch on the notes you get on the nose and palate from the wine. Do you taste burgundy? Caramel? Tobacco?

Descriptors can be very evocative, and yes, I’m going to go as far as to say, provocative! Use your imagination and take them on a journey.

If you’re cooking, it’s a good idea to connect the aromas and descriptors of the wine to the meal.

According to Wine Folly, men and women are aroused by different aromas.

“Women tend to get turned on by musky, tobbaco-y, earthy, woody, and cherry-like aromas.

Men tend to get turned on by lavender, caramel, butter, orange, licorice, baking spice, and vanilla-like aromas”

And the beautiful thing about wine is that often all of these smells can be in a single glass. You can check out Wine Folly’s article about wine and sex here.

Our 3 go-to varietals, no matter your gender, would be these:

• Cabernet Sauvignon (notes of tobacco, blackberry, warm spice, vanilla)
• Syrah (notes of smoke, black fruit, violet)
• Nebbiolo (notes of cherry, raspberry, and anise)

Remember that ‘smells ring bells’ and that aroma is very closely tied to memory and emotions. In other words, the experiences you’re creating with the wine and your other sexy drinks could actually have a big impact, over time!

4. Dessert: Chocolate Oven

Not to be confused with Dutch Oven, this sexy drink is actually very refreshing. It pairs baking spices from bourbon and vanilla into a refreshing palate cleansing cocktail.

And to garnish this drink, we’re going to grate high quality dark chocolate — a very well-known aphrodisiac because it contains an amino acid that promotes blood flow to the sexual organs.

Chocolate Oven Recipe:

• 0.75 oz (22.5 ml) Vanilla-Infused Bourbon
• 0.75 oz (22.5 ml) Amaro Nonino (or any Amaro modifier will work well in this cocktail)
• 0.75 oz (22.5 ml) Lemon Juice
• 0.75 oz (22.5 ml) Aperol

Glass — Get creative! A vintage teacup is good because you can serve a slice of dark chocolate on the side

Method — Shake and fine strain

Garnish — Grated chocolate

Vanilla-Infused Bourbon Recipe:

• Simply take a vanilla bean, cut it down the center, and place it in the bottle of bourbon.
• It will infuse quite quickly – but check it every 4 hours until you’re happy with the amount of vanilla that’s coming through.

5. Nightcap: Southern Imports

So you’ve finished your meal, had a nice little dessert, and now it’s time to finish the night strong with a sexy drink in the form of a nightcap.

Well wouldn’t you know it, everybody’s favourite pick-me-up, coffee, happens to be an aphrodisiac. We’re going to use coffee and mezcal to make a sturdy sipping cocktail. The perfect nightcap.

Southern Imports Recipe:

• 1.5 oz (45 ml) coffee-infused mezcal
• 0.5 oz (15 ml) Averna (notes of cola and cacao)
• 2 Dashes of orange bitters

Method — Build drinks in mixing tin or glass, stir, and strain

Glass — Rocks glass. Ideally serve over 1 large cube

Garnish– Lemon swath or twist

Coffee-Infused Mezcal recipe:

Add 1 half cup of coffee beans to 500 ml of mezcal. Steep for 12-24 hours, or until coffee has sufficiently infused into the mezcal.

There you have it! 5 sexy drinks that will cover all of your romantic bases. If you’d like to learn how to make these drinks in real-time, contact us about private workshops. And if you want bartending superpowers, check out the Nimble Bartending School.

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You might also be wondering…

Is Alcohol An Aphrodisiac?

No. Alcohol is a depressant that lowers inhibitions. It is not an aphrodisiac.

Is Prosecco An Aphrodisiac?

No. Carbonation does expedite the flow of alcohol to your blood, so it will speed up your intoxication.

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Ultimate Directory of Sexy Drinks and Aphrodisiac Cocktails

What are your favourite sexy drinks? Let us know and we’ll add it to this directory.

Serve Oysters, Then Serve Sparkling Wine in the Shells

Oysters have zinc in them which is an aphrodisiac. And if you can show your date that you have a bit of culinary skill in shucking an oyster, that’s just a nice bonus.

Here’s a video that shows you how easy (and fun) it is.

Many people think that champagne or prosecco is an aphrodisiac, but it simply enables the alcohol to get to your blood faster, lowering your inhibitions. This isn’t so great for sexual function — so by using the oyster shells as as your serving vessel, you ensure you get all the oyster juice (the real aphrodisiac) and lower the amount of bubbles you consume.

Fenugreek 75

Aphrodisiac ingredients: ginseng, fenugreek, and honey.

Fenugreek 75 Recipe:

• 0.75 oz (22.5 ml) Fenugreek-infused Vodka
• 0.75 oz (22.5 ml) Cointreau
• 0.75 oz (22.5 ml) Lemon Juice
• 0.75 oz (22.5 ml) Runny Honey (3:1 honey:water)
• 4 drops ginseng
• Top with sparkling wine

Method — Add all ingredients, except sparkling wine to shaker tin. Shake and double strain.. Top with sparkling wine

Glass — Flute or cocktail coupe

Garnish — Lemon twist

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