Want a superfresh take on diet-friendly cocktails? Try these low-calorie drinks designed to treat your palate to more exciting flavors all summer long.
This divine sipper is incredibly light with a hint of floral and juniper berries, plus the sweet-tart balance of blackberries and lime juice. It’s made with Hotel Vermont Gin and DrinkMaple water, which adds a little bit of sweetness without a lot of calories.3 muddled blackberries, plus one for garnish1⁄2 oz lime juice1 oz Hotel Vermont GinDrinkMaple water Kaffir lime leafSEE ALSO:Low-Calorie Summer CocktailsShake ingredients and strain into ice-filled collins glass. Top with DrinkMaple water. Garnish with blackberry and Kaffir lime leaf.Calories: 77, Carbs: 1.3g, Sugar: .26g
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Be Mixed Cucumber Caipiriñha
In celebration of the Olympics, this refresher made with the Brazilian spirit cachaça clocks in at a scant 106 calories. The secret is the Be Mixed zero-calorie, zero-guilt mixer, made with natural sweeteners stevia, monk fruit, and erythritol, which creates an instant party with flavors like Cucumber Mint, Ginger Lime, and Margarita. (be-mixed.com)1 bottle Be Mixed Cucumber Mint1⁄2 cup crushed ice 1⁄2 lime 1 1⁄2 oz cachaça (preferably Cuca Fresca)Add Be Mixed Cucumber Mint and crushed ice to a glass. Squeeze in juice from the lime. Add cachaça and stir.Calories: 106, Carbs: 15.5g, Sugar: .57gSEE ALSO:12 Macro-Friendly Cocktail Recipes
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Dances with Wolves (Bailar con Lobos)
This herbaceous mezcal cocktail is a subtle blend of sweet and smoky. Pineapple gum syrup (available at smallhandfoods.com; also useful for punches, virgin drinks, and baking) adds just the right touch of sweetness, and sparkling water gives it a lightness.2 oz Montelobos Mezcal infused with dry hoja santa leaf, if available*1 oz lime juice3⁄4 oz pineapple gum2 oz sparkling waterDehydrated pineapple slice and hoja santa leaf for garnishCombine ingredients in a shaker and shake. Strain over fresh ice cubes in a stemless wineglass; top with soda. Garnish with pineapple slice and hoja santa leaf if available. (Mint works too!)*For the infusion, add 3–4 leaves of hoja santa—a bright, fresh herb commonly used in Mexican cuisine—to one bottle of Montelobos. Leave for 45–60 minutes, then discard.Calories: 184, Carbs: 13g, Sugar: 11g
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Re-Margarita
Drink with your eyes first, then your lips. This sunny cocktail is made with Patrón Silver, a crowd-favorite tequila for good reason. Make the Orange Lime Cordial ahead of time and you’ll have enough for future use. The term “cordial” in the U.S. generally refers to a sweetened liqueur.2 oz Patron Silver Tequila (patrontequila.com)1 1⁄2 oz Homemade Orange-Lime Cordial*1⁄2 oz club soda Orange and lime wheelsCloveAdd all ingredients in pilsner glass. Add ice, stir, and garnish with orange and lime wheels studded with a clove in the middle of lime wheel.Homemade Orange-Lime Cordial Recipe: 2 Limes3 Oranges1/2 oz Patrón Citrónge Lime Liqueur1 Clove1 cup Pure cane sugarDirections:Peel and then juice limes and oranges. Add juice and remaining skins (but not pulp) in blender with all other ingredients. Blend until pureed. Add puree to saucepan and stir over low heat for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for 20 minutes. Place in glass jar for up to 8 hours. Strain cordial through a fine mesh strainer into new glass jar. Place in refrigerator until ready for use.Calories: 154, Carbs: 3g, Sugar: 3gCreated by Rosie Ruiz, Cole’s (L.A.).
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Sangria Margarita
The gluten-free Blue Ice Vodka used in this cross-border fusion cocktail has only 52 calories per 1-ounce serving—far below any other vodka or spirit out there. The Sangria Margarita has beautiful fruity notes from the berries, and the orange liqueur and oranges add a note from the groves. Serves 2.8 strawberries1 lime (juiced)2 oranges (juiced)4 oz Blue Ice Vodka (blueicevodka.com) 1 oz tequila1 oz orange liqueurCoarse salt (or sugar) to rim glassesMix ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake vigorously, and serve in salt- or sugar-rimmed glasses. To draw out extra fruity goodness from the strawberries, muddle them in a rocks glass before adding them to the shaker.Calories: 263, Carbs: 15g, Sugar: 10g
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Elit Vodka
Summer Thyme
This drink is a savory way to enjoy summer’s freshest herbs.2 oz. elit Vodka0.75 oz Sage Infused Dolin Dry Vermouth*2 dashes of celery bittersIn a mixing glass add all ingredients and stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a small sprig of thyme and sage attached to a mini clothespin. Express oils from a small piece of lemon over cocktail and discard.
*Add 40 sage leaves and 6 thyme sprigs in bottle for 2 hours) then strain out. Created by Anthony Bohlinger (Maison Premier, Seamstress NYC)
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More Low-Cal Beverages
Michelob Ultrahas 95 calories and 2.6 grams of carbs per 12 oz serving. (michelob.com)Fruits and Wine is an aromatized wine-based drink that uses fruit juice and infusions to add a subtle sweetness and has 7–8.5% ABV—with only 61 calories per three ounces. (fruitsandwine.com)Miami Cocktail Co.The organic ready-made blends have 100 calories per 4 ounces and 9% ABV. The Small Batch Organics line features the Organic Blood Orange Mimosa and Organic Tropical Sangria. (miamicocktail.com)SEE ALSO: Satisfying Shape-Up Smoothies
This divine sipper is incredibly light with a hint of floral and juniper berries, plus the sweet-tart balance of blackberries and lime juice. It’s made with Hotel Vermont Gin and DrinkMaple water, which adds a little bit of sweetness without a lot of calories.
Shake ingredients and strain into ice-filled collins glass. Top with DrinkMaple water. Garnish with blackberry and Kaffir lime leaf.
Calories: 77, Carbs: 1.3g, Sugar: .26g
Be Mixed Cucumber Caipiriñha
In celebration of the Olympics, this refresher made with the Brazilian spirit cachaça clocks in at a scant 106 calories. The secret is the Be Mixed zero-calorie, zero-guilt mixer, made with natural sweeteners stevia, monk fruit, and erythritol, which creates an instant party with flavors like Cucumber Mint, Ginger Lime, and Margarita. (be-mixed.com)
This herbaceous mezcal cocktail is a subtle blend of sweet and smoky. Pineapple gum syrup (available at smallhandfoods.com; also useful for punches, virgin drinks, and baking) adds just the right touch of sweetness, and sparkling water gives it a lightness.
2 oz Montelobos Mezcal infused with dry hoja santa leaf, if available*
1 oz lime juice
3⁄4 oz pineapple gum
2 oz sparkling water
Dehydrated pineapple slice and hoja santa leaf for garnish
Combine ingredients in a shaker and shake. Strain over fresh ice cubes in a stemless wineglass; top with soda. Garnish with pineapple slice and hoja santa leaf if available. (Mint works too!)
*For the infusion, add 3–4 leaves of hoja santa—a bright, fresh herb commonly used in Mexican cuisine—to one bottle of Montelobos. Leave for 45–60 minutes, then discard.
Calories: 184, Carbs: 13g, Sugar: 11g
Re-Margarita
Drink with your eyes first, then your lips. This sunny cocktail is made with Patrón Silver, a crowd-favorite tequila for good reason. Make the Orange Lime Cordial ahead of time and you’ll have enough for future use. The term “cordial” in the U.S. generally refers to a sweetened liqueur.
Add all ingredients in pilsner glass. Add ice, stir, and garnish with orange and lime wheels studded with a clove in the middle of lime wheel.
Homemade Orange-Lime Cordial Recipe:
2 Limes
3 Oranges
1/2 oz Patrón Citrónge Lime Liqueur
1 Clove
1 cup Pure cane sugar
Directions:
Peel and then juice limes and oranges. Add juice and remaining skins (but not pulp) in blender with all other ingredients. Blend until pureed. Add puree to saucepan and stir over low heat for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for 20 minutes. Place in glass jar for up to 8 hours. Strain cordial through a fine mesh strainer into new glass jar. Place in refrigerator until ready for use.
Calories: 154, Carbs: 3g, Sugar: 3g
Created by Rosie Ruiz, Cole’s (L.A.).
Sangria Margarita
The gluten-free Blue Ice Vodka used in this cross-border fusion cocktail has only 52 calories per 1-ounce serving—far below any other vodka or spirit out there. The Sangria Margarita has beautiful fruity notes from the berries, and the orange liqueur and oranges add a note from the groves. Serves 2.
8 strawberries
1 lime (juiced)
2 oranges (juiced)
4 oz Blue Ice Vodka (blueicevodka.com)
1 oz tequila
1 oz orange liqueur
Coarse salt (or sugar) to rim glasses
Mix ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake vigorously, and serve in salt- or sugar-rimmed glasses. To draw out extra fruity goodness from the strawberries, muddle them in a rocks glass before adding them to the shaker.
Calories: 263, Carbs: 15g, Sugar: 10g
Summer Thyme
This drink is a savory way to enjoy summer’s freshest herbs.
2 oz. elit Vodka
0.75 oz Sage Infused Dolin Dry Vermouth*
2 dashes of celery bitters
In a mixing glass add all ingredients and stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a small sprig of thyme and sage attached to a mini clothespin. Express oils from a small piece of lemon over cocktail and discard.
*Add 40 sage leaves and 6 thyme sprigs in bottle for 2 hours) then strain out.
Created by Anthony Bohlinger (Maison Premier, Seamstress NYC)
More Low-Cal Beverages
Michelob Ultrahas 95 calories and 2.6 grams of carbs per 12 oz serving. (michelob.com)
Fruits and Wine is an aromatized wine-based drink that uses fruit juice and infusions to add a subtle sweetness and has 7–8.5% ABV—with only 61 calories per three ounces. (fruitsandwine.com)
Miami Cocktail Co.The organic ready-made blends have 100 calories per 4 ounces and 9% ABV. The Small Batch Organics line features the Organic Blood Orange Mimosa and Organic Tropical Sangria. (miamicocktail.com)
