4 low-calorie Cocktail Tricks

Low-Cal-coholic, if you will

As much as we love a full-blooded and full-bodied drink, sometimes it’s in our best interest to cut back on the calories (sometimes, we said).

If you skipped the gym, went to a bakery with a croissant sampler, or both, we have good news for you — you have more choices than just vodka-water.

Here are some of our top tips for mixing up low-cal, high-flavor drinks @ home.

Tip 1: Use your favorite zero-cal Sparkling water

A simple water swap is a great way to upgrade to that basic “booze & water” recipe. If you keep a stock of flavored water, try mixing a few flavors together with ice & a shot of your favorite liquor. The options are truly endless, and you won’t have to spend money on things you don’t already have!

Tip 2: Sub w/Club

If you don’t typically go for flavored waters, you can always bring out the ol’ club soda. This versatile ingredient is a must-have in any simple home bar because it’s a staple in many classic cocktails. Club soda can even substitute the alcohol to make your booze-heavy drinks less…well, boozy.

As an example, check out the Americano, a less-boozy, lower-calorie riff on the Negroni.

If you decide to use Club Soda as a main ingredient, we recommend a quality one.

Our All-Americano Recipe

• 1 oz. Campari
• 1 oz. Sweet Vermouth (see our recommendation)
• Club Soda topper

Mix ingredients with ice in a highball glass. Garnish with orange twist.

Tip 3: Use Fruits & herbs

With a muddler as an essential part of your simple home bar setup, you can crush any number of ingredients to shake up your low-calorie drink. Here are some ways we’ve used fruits & herbs to maximize our dollar and minimize our calories:

• Muddle fruit in your glass to add flavor & sweetness without extra sugar.
• Shake fresh fruit in a cocktail shaker with water & your favorite liquor.
• Muddle leftover herbs from dinner in your drinking glass before pouring.
• Infuse water with a fruit-herb combination to use in your drinks. Try: strawberry & basil, lemon & thyme, cinnamon & apple, etc.
• Start a small herb garden for cocktail essentials (on-demand mojitos, anyone?).
• Keep a bag of frozen fruit & use it to replace your drink ice.

Tip 4: Use Half (or none) of the Alcohol

If you’re like us & love the *ritual* of cocktails more than the creating-a-hangover part, this is an easy switch. Lowering the amount of alcohol in each drink allows you to experiment with more flavors and extend the ritual guilt-free.

Drink longer, stay hydrated, eat your fruit, and relax!