Good Libations columnist Gordon Kendall

• Gordon Kendall's column, "Good Libations," runs monthly in Extra. He welcomes readers' questions and comments about wine, beer or spirits.

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During the third century, the Roman Empire faced many challenges. Economic times were hard and the empire faced a variety of aggressive foes from without and within.

Threats from Mongolians, Huns and Turks forced the government to maintain an effective military packed with young men in optimal physical condition.

Emperor Claudius II prohibited marriage because he felt that it emasculated men and rendered them unfit as warriors. Roman citizens acquiesced, but there was a certain Bishop Valentine who felt the pain of frustrated young lovers and performed illegal marriage ceremonies.

As soon as Claudius got wind of this, he had Valentine arrested. While imprisoned, Valentine received a request from his jailer, Asterius, to use his divine power to cure the jailer's daughter's blindness. Valentine helped the blind girl but refused to accept the Roman gods that Claudius worshipped, and that earned Valentine the privilege of being sentenced to execution.

In the meantime, Valentine and Asterius's daughter had become fast friends. Before he met the executioner, Valentine sent a note to the girl signed "From your Valentine." Bishop Valentine was executed on Feb. 14, and the phrase lives on to this day, or so the story goes.

Key ingredients

Today, couples plan romantic Valentine's dinners ignited by cocktails. A cocktail is generally defined as a mixture of a base spirit mixed with one or more flavoring agents. The term is thought to have evolved from the French term, "coquetel," which means mixed drink.

Cocktails have evolved over time as thousands of mix masters have concocted countless permutations of blended ingredients. So what makes a cocktail romantic? Let's take a look at a few ingredients.

Consider the unique liqueur Ty Ku, a blend of sake, soju oriental vodka and various fruits, teas and herbs thought to possess aphrodisiac qualities.

Ty Ku contains pomegranate and yuzu, a fruit that has sweet, perfumed lemon flavors balanced by snappy acidity. Other ingredients are honeydew melon and mangosteen, a fruit indigenous to Indonesia and Malaysia that is a rich source of antioxidants. Also present is ginseng, which is believed to increase energy and romantic stamina, green tea, which helps regulate metabolism and digestion, and beta-carotene rich goji berries.

Ty Ku contains less than half the sugar of most liqueurs. Ty Ku was created as a graduate-school project by a student who immersed himself in oriental drinking culture. Creative packaging led to a bright, neon-colored bottle that illuminates when it is poured. Unfortunately, this product is not available at Virginia ABC stores. It is available, however, in South Carolina, Maryland and Tennessee.

How about some X-Rated Fusion Liqueur? This sweet pink potion is concocted from French vodka distilled from wheat and roseberry grain from Madagascar. Provence blood oranges, mangoes and passion fruit bring flavor to the party. While too sweet to drink straight, X-Rated can contribute to lively cocktails and is available locally.

Pomegranate has been valued for centuries to promote health and fertility, and is considered by some to be an aphrodisiac. PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur is made of California pomegranate juice, vodka and a touch of tequila and is stocked at the ABC store.

Chocolate is popular on Valentine's Day and can be incorporated into a tasty libation. Most of these drinks are sweet, but what would be better for your sweetheart? A properly mixed drink will help you avoid the fate of the original St. Valentine. Here are a few recipes.