Valentine’s Pairing Guide: Chocolate, Fruit, and Spirits Made Perfect

Love is in the air! Valentine's Day is the perfect time of the year to plan something special for the one you love most.

While preparing your special date night... have you also considered what you'll be drinking and eating?

A great way to turn an everyday date night into something special is with a chocolate and spirits pairing experience.

Fruits, chocolate, and alcohol are romantic favorites for special occasions. The rich taste of chocolate pairs perfectly with high-quality spirits, while the sweet taste of strawberries naturally goes with vodka or sparkling wine.

With the right pairings, you can ignite your taste buds and explore new flavors with the one you love most on the most romantic night of the year.

Need help planning your special night? We have you covered. We put together a Valentine's Day spirit guide to pairing with food you can use to explore the best options for your special night.

Here's what you need to know:

The Art of Pairing Chocolate, Fruit and Spirits

Pairing specific spirits and foods together is a great way to elevate a traditional dining experience. Certain flavors complement or contrast one another, which can help enhance the flavor. It's also a great way to make your special date night feel like a more curated experience. 

For the best experience, consider the tastes, textures, and aromas involved. You'll also want to consider what foods and spirits have contrasting or complementary flavors.

The Best Chocolate, Fruit, and Spirit Pairings

There are many different and creative ways to pair chocolates, fruit, and spirits together. Here are our top three pairings to consider:

Fruity Chocolate With Mezcal 

Chocolates mixed with blueberries or strawberries are rich, tangy, and sweet. The sweetness combined with the smokiness and earthiness of mezcal will enhance the sweet flavors in the fruity chocolate. 

Dark Chocolate With Reposado

Reposado pairs perfectly with the bittersweet taste of dark chocolate. The creamy texture of a luxurious piece of dark chocolate melting in your mouth, paired with the complex flavors of reposado tequila, is the perfect way to start a date night. 

Ignite Reposado Tequila features hints of hazelnut, chocolate, and tobacco. It also has a luminous golden hue and a full-bodied taste, perfect for anyone who enjoys a smooth, mellow tequila taste.

Milk Chocolate and Blanco Tequila

The bright, crisp taste of blanco tequila and the creamy flavor of milk chocolate is a delightful flavor pairing. This pairing is sweet, subtle, and complimentary.

Ignite Blanco Tequila features herbal notes of mint, rosemary, and citrus. These refreshing flavors pair elegantly with the sweetness of chocolate.

If you are craving a sweet and savory experience, look for milk chocolate with sea salt. For something more contrasting, consider chocolate mixed with caramel.

Fruit & Chocolate Pairings That Elevate the Mood

Chocolate and alcohol classic pairings can elevate the mood and take your date night to the next level. Here are our favorite flirty date night cocktail pairings:

Chocolate Covered Strawberries & Chocolate Martini

If you and your significant other enjoy the sweeter things in life, consider a chocolate-covered strawberry and chocolate martini pairing. The texture, flavors, and sweetness in both turn this pairing into an indulgent pair fit for a special occasion.

Consider a regular vodka martini made with Ignite Vodka if you want something more bright and crisp.

Orange Chocolate & Tequila Margarita 

If you love citrus, this tequila and chocolate pairing is the one for you. The zesty flavor profile of the orange chocolate paired with the tangy taste of a traditional margarita is perfect for your next date night.

This pairing creates the perfect contrast of sweet and sour. You can also make an orange margarita if you want something more complementary.

White Chocolate & Gin on the Rocks

Looking for something more crisp, bright, and light? Switch to a gin and white chocolate pairing. The creamy, sweet flavors of white chocolate add elegant contrast to the botanical flavors of gin. This simple pairing will turn your next date night into a special occasion.

How to Choose the Perfect Pairings

The beauty behind chocolate and alcohol pairings is that you can make the experience your own.

 Whether you want a bold and daring pairing or to keep things light and sweet, there are different ways to pair foods and drinks to your liking. Here's how to get started:

Understand the Flavor Profiles

Chocolate and alcohol both have very different flavor profiles. Understanding the different flavors found in tequila versus vodka will help you find the best chocolate or fruit pairing.

It's important to understand that not all chocolate is created equally. Chocolate-covered strawberries will have a sweeter flavor profile than toffee or coffee, which can also change the mood.

Look for Complementary Ingredients

Sweet and salty, savory and sweet, citrus and herbs, and sweet and sour are popular flavor pairings for complimentary ingredients. Using these pairings to pick snacks and spirits is a great way to create balance and harmony while still allowing yourself to explore complex flavors.

Consider a Regional Pairing

Are you looking for a date night theme? Consider a regional pairing. Exploring flavors naturally found in Mexico, the South of France, or Scotland can help elevate the experience. 

Experiment With Flavors 

Testing different chocolate and alcohol pairings with someone special is a fun way to experiment with different flavors. Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and have fun with the food pairings.

This is a great way to ignite your taste buds while changing up the date night with something completely new.

Invest in Premium Spirits With IGNITE

No matter what your Valentine's Day plans are, Ignite has the spirits for the occasion.

Our tequila and vodka are made with premium ingredients and feature flavors you won't find in traditional spirits. 

Shop our spirit selection today.