In the words of poet and satirist Ogden Nash, “candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker” – but what if you can have both? Treat your sweetheart to our delicious pick of spirit filled snacks this Valentine’s Day.

SB rounds up the top boozy sweet treats to celebrate Valentine’s Day

Food and drinks boffins across the globe are increasingly finding clever and delicious ways to bring the worlds of mixology and gastronomy together.

The days of dodgy Cognac truffles nibbled by nana at Christmas are fading fast; now there are a plethora of innovative techniques and progressive texture combinations fusing the two industries together in a way never seen before.

From Bourbon-soaked ice cream to Margarita-flavoured popcorn, you’re sure to find something for the dessert lover in your life on our list of cocktail confection perfection. Trust us – bin the flowers this year and treat your valentine to an unforgettable flavour experience.

Click through the following pages for our pick of boozy sweet treats for Valentine’s Day. 

Have we missed your favourite spiked sweets? Let us know in the comments below.

Ben & Jerry’s Urban Bourbon

Make dessert a little more memorable this Valentine’s Day with Ben & Jerry’s latest flavour concoction, which combines burnt caramel ice cream with almonds, fudge flakes and Bourbon caramel swirls. Just save us a spoonful.

www.benjerry.com

Smith & Sinclair Rum Selection

Alcohol confectionery company Smith & Sinclair are quite the experts when it comes to blending candy and cocktails. This particular offering sees dark rum, natural syrups, bitters, and selected spices shaped into individual pastilles – which pack a punch at 6.4% abv per portion. The box contains two flavours: Berry Daiquiri and Spiced Rum.

www.smithandsinclair.co.uk

Joe & Seph’s Margarita Popcorn

Nothing says ‘I love you’ like a bag of Tequila-soaked popcorn. A heady combination of lime, sea salt, 5% Tequila and Triple Sec replicates the flavour of a classic Margarita, without the hangover.

www.joeandsephs.co.uk

Lindt Cognac chocolate

Lindt’s delicious signature milk chocolate – but this time with a rather refined filling. This alcoholic treat contains Cognac from the French region of Charente.

www.lindt.de

Sugarfina Single Malt Scotch Cordials – Cask Strength

Essentially a tiny shot of single malt Scotch whisky encased in a dark chocolate shell. These sweet treats pack an abv of 5%, so try not to eat them all in one go.

www.sugarfina.com

Cocktail Classics 5-Flavor Jelly Bean Gift Box

They might technically be ‘mocktails’, but these Jelly Belly beans are the next best thing to happy hour. The flavours comprise Mojito, Peach Bellini, Piña Colada, Pomegranate Cosmo and Strawberry Daiquiri.

www.jellybelly.com

Pops Moscow Mule Popsicle

Premium ice popsicle brand Pops partnered with premium tonic and mixer brand Fever-Tree and UK-based vodka and gin producer Chase Distillery to craft this Moscow Mule-flavoured ice lolly. Each popsicle is 4.5% abv, and contains just 36 calories – less than the real thing!

www.wearepops.com

The Chocolate & Gin Collection by Hotel Chocolat

Double trouble: not only does this delightful gift box contain gin-spiked chocolates, it also boasts a few small measures of the chocolatier’s own small-batch Cocoa Gin – described as “an original, crisp and refreshing English dry gin infused with a spicy kiss of cocoa and macadamia nut”.

www.hotelchocolat.com