Las Vegas Weekly

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In Greek mythology, Aphrodite is the goddess of beauty and love, and she’s often depicted nude with voluptuous curves and come-hither eyes. It makes sense, then, that she gets a little extra attention come the second week of February. This year, the goddess even has her own namesake cocktail at Wynn’s Parasol Up & Down bars.

On the menu from February 10-14, the Aphrodite ($18) by master mixologist Patricia Richards does everything a Valentine’s Day cocktail should do. Champagne lends the drink a flirty presence, while Absolut Raspberri and organic raspberry syrup add just a hint of fruit, and a rim of dried raspberry and sugar finishes things off on a sweet note. It’s dangerously easy drinking, and as Richards puts it, “all about feeling good.” Which is exactly how we should all be feeling come February 14.

Aphrodite

Ingredients:

4 oz. Perrier Jouët Grand

Brut Champagne

.5 oz. Absolut Raspberri vodka

.5 oz. Flavorganics organic raspberry syrup (available at Whole Foods)

1 raspberry

Dried raspberries

Extra fine sugar

Method: Pulverize the dried raspberries in a food processor with sugar to taste. Rim a champagne flute with a thin rim of the raspberry/sugar mixture (the color should be dark pink). Build cocktail, by first pouring the vodka, then the syrup and finishing with the champagne. Garnish with one fresh raspberry.