It’s February, and you know what that means:
L-O-V-E is in the air! Let me channel my inner Nat King Cole to break down what that means for you.
“L” is for lots of merchandising opportunities.
“O” is for making your orange suppliers happy.
“V” is a very, very, simple drink recipe.
“E” is even more of those register rings that you adore.
In this month of amore, whether you want to show appreciation for your gals, your pals, your lads, or moms and dads, I have the perfect libation to share with the special people in your life—including your shoppers.
I’m calling this delicious beverage Crooner’s Delight because the combination of zesty orange and indulgent chocolate makes me want to belt out a love song á la legends like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Etta James, and, of course, Nat King Cole (if you can’t tell from the introduction).
As the citrus season here in the States is in full swing, get ready to fly your shoppers to the moon with this unique, citrusy twist on the Valentine’s Day classic: chocolate-dipped strawberries.
Already stocked up on chocolate for the quintessential dessert, all consumers will need is some fresh oranges, granulated sugar, and vodka—which can easily be cross-merchandised in the produce aisle—and flash, bam, alakazam! They’ve got a delightful drink that will have them singing “something’s got a hold on me, oh, it must be this cocktail.”
So, pull out your record player for added romance—although your phone speaker works, too—put on your favorite balladeer’s tunes, and get ready to dance cheek to cheek with extra shopper dollars all February long.
Orange Syrup
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
Zest of 2 oranges
Cocktail
4 shots (4.5 oz) vodka
8 oz crème de cacao
4 oz orange syrup
4 oz fresh-squeezed orange juice (about 2 oranges, squeezed)
Ice
Dark or milk chocolate, grated for garnishing the rim
Prep Time: 20 min
Servings: 4–5 glasses
1 First, make the orange syrup by combining water with granulated sugar and orange zest in a pan. Bring to a boil, then cool and strain the syrup with a fine mesh colander.
2 Chill 4 or 5 coupe glasses, then dampen the rims with a little water and dip them top-down in the grated chocolate.
3 In a cocktail shaker, shake the vodka, crème de cacao, orange syrup, and orange juice with ice. You may need to make it in 2 batches. Pour into the glasses.
4 Enjoy with someone “you’ve got under your skin” to let them know that they are unforgettable and that your love is here to stay.
Inspired by: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/jackos-chocolate-orange 
