Cutting down on calories doesn't have to mean cutting out alcohol entirely.
By Leah Silverman
Trying to cut back on the calories? Usually, when people want to shed some pesky pounds alcohol is the first thing they cut back on (looking at you dry January), but there are plenty of ways to stay on track with your goals and still enjoy a co*cktail at the bar with friends. The key is scour the co*cktail menu and opt for healthy choices like sticking to soda water mixers, clear, high proof spirits, and fresh fruits, herbs, honey or agave. Once you know what to look for it's easy to avoid co*cktail's deadly "sugar trap", but the best way to know what's in your drink is for you to brush up on your mixologist skills and whip up some co*cktails at home. We've selected 19 of the best health-conscious and easy-to-make recipes to enjoy that will satisfy your co*cktail cravings without the extra calories.
1
Avo-Keto Margarita
Ingredients:
6 oz Don Julio Reposado tequila
1 oz fresh lime juice
1 avocado (remove skin and pit)
Pinch of salt
Cilantro
Chili lime salt
Instructions:
Combine the tequila, lime juice, avocado, and salt into a blender with 2.5 cups of crushed ice. Blend until texture is smooth. Pour into a rocks glass rimmed with chili lime salt over ice. Garnish with cilantro and a lime.
Created by Eric Ribeiro
2
Cucumber Elderflower co*cktail
Ingredients:
2 oz gin
.25 oz elderflower liqeuer
.75 oz bianco vermouth
.75 oz lemon juice
4-5 slice of cucumber, quartered
1 egg white
Cucumber and lemon to zest
Instructions:
Slice your cucumber into quarters, add them along with the gin, elderflower liqueur, vermouth, and lemon juice into a co*cktail shaker. Muddle the ingredients. Add the egg white and ice and shake until it's frothy. Double strain into a coup glass and let it settle. Zest lemon and cucumber on top for garnish.
Courtesy of Morgan from The Drink Blog
3
It's About Thyme
Ingredients:
3 grapefruits (juiced)
.75 oz lime
.75 oz agave
Thyme garnish
Instructions:
Light thyme on fire. Catch smoke in snifter glass and cover with a coaster. Add the grapefruit juice, lime, and agave to a co*cktail shaker, and shake. Strain into the smoked glass and garnish with charred thyme.
Courtesy of Kristine Sorrano at Añejo
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4
Golden Roots
Ingredients:
2 oz Wódka vodka
.75 oz HG Golden Roots syrup
1 oz pineapple juice
.5 oz lemon juice
Instructions:
Add ingredients to a shaker and whip shake, pour into vessel and garnish with a mint sprig.
Courtesy of WestEnd Kitchen & Bar at Hutton Hotel in Nashville
5
The Freshest Margarita
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Milagro Silver
.5 oz agave nectar
1.5 oz fresh lime juice
Instructions:
Pour all ingredients into a Boston shaker. Shake and strain over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Courtesy of Jaime Salas, National Milagro Ambassador
More: 15 Margarita Recipes to Try Today
6
Meyer Lemon & Ginger Mule
Ingredients:
1 oz vodka (80 proof)
.75 oz OM Meyer Lemon & Ginger Liqueur
.5 oz lime juice
Ginger beer
Instructions:
Pour all ingredients into an ice-filled copper mug. Garnish with candied ginger on a co*cktail pick.
Courtesy of Natalie Bovis, The Liquid Muse.
More: 15 Ginger Beer co*cktails You Won't Feel Bad Drinking
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7
Coconut & Lychee Tropical Sidecar
Ingredients:
1.5 ozcognac (80 proof)
.75 oz OM Coconut & Lychee liqueur
.75 oz lemon juice
Lychee for garnish.
Instructions:
Rim the outside a quarter inch of a co*cktail glass with sugar. Set aside. Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into sugar-crusted glass. Serve with lychee on a co*cktail pick.
Courtesy of Natalie Bovis, The Liquid Muse.
8
Lemon Spritz
Ingredients:
1.5 oz vodka
.5 oz lemon juice
Soda
Lemon slice
Instructions:
Add your vodka and lemon juice with ice to your shaker. Shake. Pour over ice. Top with ice. Garnish with lemon.
Courtesy of Morgan of The Drink Blog.
More: Tasty (and Light) Lemon-Flavored co*cktails to Try
9
It's About Thyme
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Angel's Envy Port finished Bourbon
.5 oz lemon juice
.5 oz honey syrup
1 Dash absinthe
6-8 concord grapes (frozen)
1 thyme sprig
Soda water
Instructions:
Pour a splash of soda water over ice in a Collins glass. Add all ingredients, minus soda water, into a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into glass and then add soda water. Garnish with frozen grapes.
Calorie Count: 90
Courtesy of Brooke Harris, Pouring Ribbons, NY.
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10
Scotch & Soda
Ingredients:
2 oz scotch
Soda water
Lemon peel
Instructions:
Pour scotch over large cubes of ice. Top with soda water. Garnish with lemon peel.
Courtesy of Emily Arden Wells for Gastronomista.
11
Apricot Whisky Sour
Ingredients:
2 oz whisky
1 oz apricot preserves
.5 oz lemon juice
Apricot slices
Instructions:
Combine the preserves, whisky and lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Shake. Pour co*cktail over ice. Garnish with apricot slice.
Courtesy of Morgan of The Drink Blog.
12
Pomegranate Cosmopolitan
Ingredients:
1 oz orange liqueur
1 oz pomegranate vodka
1 lime
Instructions:
Combine all in a shaker filled with ice. Shake thoroughly. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with lime or pomegranate seeds.
Courtesy of Kelly Fitzpatrick for Greatist.
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13
Vermouth on the Rocks
Ingredients:
Vermouth at your discretion
Ice
Wedge of lemon/orange
Instructions:
Pour vermouth over large cube of ice. Garnish with a citrusy peel of lemon or orange.
Courtesy of Emily Arden Wells for Gastronomista.
14
No Frills Mint Julep– Without The Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
1 bunch of fresh mint
1 teaspoons powdered sugar (less calories than simple syrup)
Crushed ice
1.5 oz bourbon
1 tablespoon water
Instructions:
Shred mint and place with 1 tsp powdered sugar in bottom of glass. Muddle together. Add crushed ice generously, followed by bourbon, and water. Stir. Garnish with mint.
Courtesy of Jennifer Blumin and James Ramsey for Bon Apetit
15
Aperol Spritz
Ingredients:
3 oz prosecco
2 oz Aperol
Splash of soda
Orange slice
Ice
Instructions:
Pour Prosecco over ice. Add Aperol and a splash of soda. Garnish with orange.
Courtesy of Aperol.com
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16
White Wine Spritzer
Ingredients:
.75 glass very chilled white wine
.75 glass very chilled club soda
Slice of Lime
Instructions:
Pour wine to fill half the glass. Add club soda. Garnish with lime on the rim.
Courtesy of Ree Drummond for Food Network
17
Sweeter Than Sugarless Mojito
Ingredients:
2 oz rum (80 proof)
1 handful mint leaves
Lime (halved)
Club soda
1 sprig mint, for garnish
Instructions:
Use a tall glass, first pour rum. Shred and break mint leaves before combining with rum. Juice half of the lime into beverage. Top with ice, fill with club soda and add a sprig of mint.
Courtesy of Maureen Petrosky, for Today
18
Classic Screwdriver
Ingredients:
1 oz 80 proof vodka
2 oz orange juice
4 oz seltzer
Ice
Instructions:
Drop ice in 8 oz glass Combine vodka and orange juice. Fill remainder with seltzer.
Courtesy of Kelly Fitzpatrick for Greatist.
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19
Pomegranate Champagne co*cktail
Ingredients:
1 tsp pomegranate seeds
4 oz champagne
.5 tsp store bought pomegranate juice
1 tsp cassis
Instructions:
Drop the pomegranate seeds into a Champagne flute. Pour champagne into flute, add pomegranate juice and cassis.
Courtesy of Ellie Krieger for Food Network
