Low Cal Cocktails

I have a confession to make. I absolutely LOVE a good cocktail! Anyone else? I always like to have a fully stocked bar and if you come over to my house after 5, you will most definitely be offered a drink. What I don’t like is the high caloric content that so many of them seem to have. It can really be scary! Here are calorie amounts for some of your favorite cocktails:

Cosmo (4oz) – 220 calories

Margarita (8oz) – 500 calories

Rum and Coke (8oz) – 200 calories

Mimosa (6oz) – 150 calories

Classic Champagne (4oz) – 95 calories (570 if you drink a whole bottle)

The best way to cut calories when having your NYE cocktail is to AVOID MIXES! These are laden with sugar and preservatives and terrible for your waistline. Take the time to squeeze fresh limes or muddle fresh fruit. The final drink is 10x better than any mix could give you and so much healthier. You also want to avoid using concentrated fruit juices and if mixing with a soda use diet or zero calorie instead of regular. I’m obsessed with Bai carbonated drinks. They are only 5 calories, sweetened with stevia and contain added antioxidants for better health benefits. Plus they come in great flavors! Zevia also has a new line of mixers, but I love their classic flavors as well.

When creating a low-cal cocktail, you want to try to avoid adding an calories to the drink other than what the liquor itself contains. This can easily be done, you just have to be prepared! Here are some of my favorite low cal cocktail recipes:

Tequila Based:

Tequila Refresher (70 calories)

1.5oz tequiila

juice of 1/2 lime

4oz club soda

I like my drinks a  bit on the stronger side and not sweet. This is my personal recipe that is my go-to. just pour your tequila in the glass, add the lime juice, then top with club soda. Add ice if needed. Easy peasy.

Coconut Margarita (85 calories)

1.5 oz 1500 Coconut tequila

6oz coconut water

juice of 1/2 a lime

Pour it all in a shaker and give it a little shimmy shake. Serve over ice.

Y’all this recipe is so refreshing and perfect for a hot day. The coconut water adds hydration and a touch of sweetness. That coconut tequila is simply amazing and also works well in the Tequila Refresher recipe.

Skinny Frozen Margarita for 2 (85 calories per drink)

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

1/4 cup tequila

1/4 cup orange juice

2 cups of ice

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

*if you need a little sweetness, add 1tsp stevia.

 

Vodka Based:

Key Lime Spritzer (100 Calories)

1.5oz whipped cream flavored vodka

1oz key lime juice

6oz lime flavored sparkling water (I like La Croix)

Fill a glass 3/4 with ice. Pour in tequila then key lime juice. Top with sparkling water.

SO GOOD y’all! And so easy!

 

Blueberry Vodka Mojito (100 Calories)

1.5oz vodka

1 handful blueberries (about 8-12)

4 mint leaves

4oz club soda

Add a small scoop of ice to a glass with blueberries and mint leaves. Muddle well, until blueberries are a soft mush and mint leaves are broken up. Add tequila then fill remainder of glass with ice. Top with club soda.

*Everyones tastes are different. I personally believe the blueberries add enough sweetness, but you can add a small pinch of stevia to the original muddle if you like sweeter drinks.

Vodka Lemonade (100 Calories)

1.5oz vodka

6oz low cal lemonade drink (like Crystal Lite or True Lemon)

Mix ingredients together and pour over ice.

This is definitely the easiest recipe. Get more lemon flavor by cutting the amount of water back when preparing your lemonade!

 

Rum Based:

Skinny Mojito (110 Calories)

The classic mojito uses sugar. Switch out for stevia for a huge caloric savings. Or you can muddle fresh strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or rasberries to add natural sweetness and flavor!

1.5oz crystal rum

4-6 mint leaves

1tsp stevia or handful of berries

4oz club soda

Just like the vodka mojito recipe above, add a small scoop of ice to a glass with the mint leaves stevia/freshberries. Muddle until smooth and pour in the crystal rum. Fill remainder of glass with ice and top with club soda.

 

Skinny Rum and Coke (98 Calories)

This is another super easy recipe. Just sub out regular Coke for Coke Zero or Bai or Zevia Cola.

1.5oz dark rum

4oz Zero Calorie Cola

Pour together over ice.

 

Hemingway (110 Calories)

1.5oz crystal rum

4oz grapefruit juice (fresh is best)

juice of 1/2 lime

Add all ingredients to a shaker glass with ice and mix well. Best if only served chilled (not over ice)

 

Your cocktail isn’t complete without the right glass and barware. Here are some of my necessities!

1. A Good Barware Set: This one comes with a shaker, measuring shot glasses, mixing spoon, muddler, strainer and more and that color is GORGEOUS! This is definitely a stunning piece for your home bar!
2. Pretty Copper Mugs: I’m a sucker for a good copper mug set. They are so beautiful sitting out on a bar and when you serve your guests cocktails in these pretty things, you will without a doubt be the hostess with the mostest!
3. 
4. Classic High Ball Glass: These are perfect for your collins, mojitos and spritzers! This set is such a great value and the simple design of the glasses really helps the beauty of your cocktail shine through!
5. Low Ball/Rocks Glasses: These are another classic bar glass. They are perfect for whisky sours or rum and coke. Again, these are a very simple design so all the emphasis is on your cocktail.

 

Comment below and let me know what you think of these cocktails (or you can reach out to me on Instagram!)