#its basically a shot of gin a shot of lemon juice/simple syrup (or just lemonade) and topped with champagne (or just sparkling white wine) | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

barinacraft · 3 months

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NFL Football Team Cocktails - Drinks For Every Roster

Game Day Drinks And Cocktails For All 32 NFL Football Teams

Football season means great tailgate parties away at the stadium for home games and at your in home bar for away games when your team is on road. These NFL football team inspired cocktails* will give you lots of game day party ideas for themed drinks for all 32 NFL teams out on the gridiron.

The cocktails were chosen based on a number of factors including team names, colors, mascots, player and squad nicknames as well as city, regional and state monikers, landmarks, festivals and more. A few were created as signature drinks for specific football teams, but most were added to the roster because they were a good fit for that club.

Whether its pre-season scrimmages, regular season games or the playoffs; Wild Card, Divisional, Conference and the Superbowl, there's a drink listed here that's perfect for your pigskin party. Some of the squads have several symbolic sips which lets you substitute your drink line-up based on the schedule.

So, with one hand waving your favorite team's foam finger shouting you're #1 and the other hand free for a refreshment, the only question is:

Are You Ready For Some NFL Football Team Cocktails?

American Football Conference Team Themed Drinks

AFC East

Buffalo Bills:

Buffalo Bill - equal parts apple cider or juice and bourbon or rye whiskey.

Niagara Falls - a fancy drink named after the natural attraction nearby the city along the Canadian border.

Miami Dolphins:

Mojito - the national drink of Cuba is a favorite in Little Havana as well as one of the most popular cocktails in Florida and throughout the rest of the states.

New England Patriots:

New England Highball - when it comes to cocktails, what's better than a highball while watching football?

Red, White and Blue - a pousse-cafe drink layered in patriotic colors.

New York Jets:

Manhattan - along with Brooklyn has the highest concentration of fans according to a 2013 Facebook study.

Bronx - followed by Queens borough, the former home of Shea stadium, also love the J-E-T-S. This drink is basically an Income Tax cocktail minus the bitters.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens:

Purple Hooter - black raspberry liqueur colors these tailgate party potations plum perfect.

Cincinnati Bengals:

Bengal Tiger - the namesake is a tawny, red brandy drink while an original recipe adds black licorice stripes to an orange vodka cocktail that could be a spooky sip on Halloween too.

Cincinnati Cocktail - fill your favorite beer glass half full with a bold brew and top off with soda water.

Cleveland Browns:

Brown Cocktail - equal parts gin, light or dark rum and dry vermouth.

Brown Derby Drink - legendary football coach Paul Brown who the NFL team is named after was known for wearing his iconic hat on the gridiron sidelines. It was a fedora, but the (brown) derby is de rigueur.

Brown University Cocktail - their namesake college football team drink would love to be drafted by pros for game day. The “Brunonian” is equal parts bourbon and dry vermouth with a couple dashes of orange bitters.

Pittsburgh Steelers:

Black & Gold - refining iron ore put this steel town on the grid. Their NFL football team inspired gridiron drink adds a precious metal to the mix. Combine black vodka with gold flaked cinnamon schnapps two to one.

Monongahela Cobbler - named for one of the waterways which flows past Heinz Field (formerly Three Rivers Stadium) that's known for its rye whiskey.

AFC South

Houston Texans:

Black Gold - a nod to the city's former franchise, the Houston Oilers.

Longhorn - another college sports team themed cocktail that would like to be drafted by the NFL, especially from the same great state and mascot. The burnt orange color of the University of Texas at Austin inspired this recipe with lemon rum, orange rum, vodka, orange vodka, orange soda, ice and oranges.

Indianapolis Colts:

Horse's Neck - this drink is named after its garnish.

Jacksonville Jaguars:

Jaguar - a Barina Craft original drink recipe that is spotted with southern sipping favorites.

Tennessee Titans:

Lynchburg Lemonade - Tennessee whiskey, sweet & sour mix, orange liqueur and lemon-lime soda makes a southern sip worth suing the distillery over.

Tennessee Tea - same as above, just substitute cola for lemon-lime soda.

AFC West

Denver Broncos:

Orange Crush - this NFL football team inspired drink celebrates the nickname given to Denver's opponent crushing 3-4 defense and the Broncos bright colored home uniform jerseys in the 1970s.

Kansas City Chiefs:

Arrowhead Cocktails - the Chiefs' logo is carved in stone and one of these drinks is cherry.

Kansas City Ice Water - flows thru the fountains at Arrowhead stadium and in the veins of the players and fans who as of this writing boast the loudest sports crowd roar.

Las Vegas Raiders:

Casino Cocktails - now that the team is located in the Entertainment Capital of the World, famous for gambling and other activities throughout all the city's mega casino-hotels, these drinks are a sure bet for Raiders fans.

Oakland Raider Cocktail - a black rum and cola mixed with a shot of silver tequila over ice. This silver and black drink symbolizes Raider Nation whether they're playing in Oakland, Los Angeles or Las Vegas.

Los Angeles Chargers:

Charger Cocktail - toast the team's moniker to 'charge' when the bugle call sounds with this cherry brandy and rum sour.

San Diego Seabreeze - this legacy drink preserves team history. 1 oz vodka, ½ oz each blackberry brandy and blueberry & raspberry schnapps, plus 2 oz each orange and pineapple juice in a tall collins glass over ice.

National Football Conference Team Themed Drinks

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys:

Cowboy Cocktail - throw the cream away and drink the shot of whiskey straight up.

Fedora Cocktail - in honor of their legendary head coach Tom Landry who wore his heralded headgear on the sidelines for 29 seasons.

Thanksgiving Cocktails - dubbed America's team, they always play football on this holiday.

New York Giants:

The New York Cocktail - the entire state loves the NY Football Giants, except for parts of the city per Facebook 2013. This is an interesting whiskey sour style drink with rye, lime juice, grenadine and an old fashioned sugar cube.

Philadelphia Eagles:

Eagle Cocktail - Philly is the perfect roosting place for this classic drink.

Eagle's Dream - sugar and egg whites substitute for maraschino liqueur in this variation of the Aviation drink recipe.

Washington Commanders:

Cherry Blossom - this national flowering festival held locally is closely associated with the area as is a rumored story of a namesake founding father chopping down a certain tree.

Gin Rickey - “air conditioning in a glass” is the unofficial official drink of D.C.

Political Cocktails - any number of these drinks could be served at a game day party in this city if you want to mix politics with religion, er, football that is.

NFC North (Black and Blue Division)

Chicago Bears:

The Chicago Cocktail - pretty fancy for football but it is the city's namesake drink.

Detroit Lions:

Lion's Tail - Detroit is one of two NFL teams along with Dallas to always play a game on Thanksgiving to start the Xmas holidays so the use of an allspice liqueur, dubbed “Christmas in a glass” by Murray Stenson, in combination with the drink's name make this cocktail a perfect match. 2 oz bourbon, ½ oz each pimento dram and lime juice, ½ tsp simple syrup and 1 dash aromatic bitters.

Green Bay Packers:

Blood and Sand - Johnny ‘Blood’ McNally, who took his nickname from the movie and loved to sing Galway Bay while standing up on bar table tops, was a star player for four championship Packer teams in Green Bay and one of the original members inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

Brandy Old Fashioned - to wet your whistle in Wisconsin, just replace the bourbon or rye you normally use in the recipe.

Minnesota Vikings:

Purple People Eater Elixir - raise your Viking drinking horn and toast possibly the best defensive line of any football team in NFL history.

Scandinavian Glogg - this Nordic mulled wine really packs a punch.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons:

Georgia Peach Cocktails - did you know some suggested the Falcons be christened after the official state fruit?

Scarlett O'Hara & Rhett Butler - these two drinks are both named after characters in Gone With The Wind which was set in and around Atlanta.

Carolina Panthers:

Carolina Iced Tea - spiced rum, vodka and both peach liqueur & schnapps along with some southern style sweet tea in a tall glass or mason jar.

New Orleans Saints:

Sazerac - the official drink of New Orleans often referred to as America's oldest cocktail.

Vieux Carré - the signature drink of the French Quarter named after the “old square” at the center of the Crescent City.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Bumbo - a pirate's poison.

Filibuster - although its more closely associated with politics these days, the word originally derives from the Dutch term vrijbuiter for pirate, which means "to plunder," where vrij means "free" and buiter means "booty."

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals:

Cardinal Cocktail - a Kir drink variation also known as Communard which substitutes red wine for white.

Los Angeles Rams:

Greatest Show On Turf - a nickname for the team's record breaking offense during the 1999 through 2001 National Football League seasons when they were the Saint Louis Rams.

Ram Cocktail - seems appropriate that the helmet battering Rams namesake drink is a variation of a Harvey Wallbanger.

San Francisco 49ers:

Barbary Coast Cocktails - a pair of pigskin party picks named after the city's seedy, crime ridden, red-light district during the California gold rush and beyond. One drink has equal parts gin, scotch whisky, white chocolate creme de cacao and light cream or half and half. The other is mixed with dry gin, cherry brandy, lemon juice and grenadine.

Frisco Sour - the tasteless moniker given to this gold drink garnished with a red cherry which matches the football team colors.

Seattle Seahawks:

Emerald City - a signature drink for this city with the blue green nickname whose major league football, baseball and soccer teams all sport these colors.

Share & Compare This List Of NFL Team Drinks For More Ideas

This list of libations is a work in progress. Be sure to check back for updated ideas, more NFL football team inspired cocktails and links to additional information.

Have a suggestion for a game day drink recipe for your favorite NFL team? Contact us or post on our Facebook wall.

Want a generic gridiron geared gulp instead? Check out these pigskin potations penned for plays, points and positions like the Block & Fall, Quarterback and Touchdown.

Please, always drink responsibly.

* - DISCLAIMER: NFL related images, logos, etc. are shown only as a point of reference / commentary for names, mascots, colors and so on as potential drink inspirations and do not represent an affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement by the league, any individual team or associated person or group.

#Cocktails #Drinks #Football #Sports #Party #Themes #Tailgating

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eat-travel-live-repeat · 4 years

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When Life Gives You a Lockdown, Make a Quarantini – Every Damn Day

And guess what, what time you have it, is totally IRRELEVANT.

As every hour is – Happy Hour 😜

While we all have been stuck at home, ever since the lockdown was imposed by our respective Governments, to curb the spread of the deadly pandemic, COVID – 19, I am trying to make the most of this Quarantine Life, by penning down travel blogs from my past travels, that I never got to write at that time, due to some or the other reason, apart from publishing photo blogs, to enable my readers to travel virtually to places like Bhutan and Sighisoara, Romania, through my eyes. Another thing that I started to do, since Day 2 of the lockdown, was to create a different cocktail, or rather a different Quarantini, every other day, which is one of the 30 + Awesome Things to do at home during this Lockdown to keep your sanity intact.

Now please note, that all these Quarantinis that I have been making, are made of basic essentials such as :

Fruit Jams ( Mixed fruit | Marmalade )

Juice Concentrates ( Roohafza | Melon Squash | Orange Tang | Lemon Rasna )

Carton Juices ( Mango | Guava | Orange | Cranberry )

Fizzy Drinks ( Sprite | Coke | Soda | Appy)

Fresh Mint

Green Tea | Infusion Tea

Simple Sugar and Mint syrup

Alcohol used – Anything and everything that’s available.

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Some of you who follow me on Instagram where I go by the name of @theETLRblog might have seen some of the step by step tutorial videos, I post on my stories, whenever I make a new Quarantini. As its been more than a month, that the lockdown has been enforced, and I have made a couple of drinks, taking the cue from a lot of my followers on Instagram, I am sharing the recipes of these 15 Quarantinis, that you can make at home, in the form of this blog post.

I am well aware that a lot of you don’t have the drinks stock with you, but that’s the beauty of these Quarantinis – They are just as tasty without the Alcohol (some of them 😜). And you can always try these Cocktails, at home, when you are able to get your hands on your Booze, post lockdown.

The beauty of a Quarantini is that there is no fixed recipe. It’s literally making the most of what’s available, when you are stuck at home.

[toc]

Strictly Alcoholic

ROOHGASM

Roohgasm | Name Credits – Tanya Dhar

Ingredients

75 mls Gin

20 mls Roohafza

Prep Time – 2 minutes

Instructions

Coat the rim of the glass with lemon, so that salt can stick.

In a tumbler / shaker, add some ice, 75 mls of Gin, 20 mls of Roohafza and shake it up.

Fill half of the tall glass with crushed ice.

Strain and pour the mix from the shaker, and top up with soda.

APPLETINI

Ingredients

75 mls Vodka / Bacardi

100 ml Appy

Fresh lemon, mint leaves

25 mls Apple simple syrup.

Prep Time – 2 minutes

Instructions

Take a tall glass and fill half of it with crushed ice.

Add 75 mls Vodka / Bacardi.

Add 25 mls of Apple Simple syrup.

Top up with 100 ml of Appy.

Squeeze some fresh lime, give it a gentle stir, garnish with a twig of mint leaves.

And serve.

PS – If you don’t have Appy, but have Apple Juice. Add 100 mls of Apple Juice and top up with Soda.

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NEON LIGHTS

Neon Lights | Name Credits – Saumya Vats

Ingredients

60 mls Vodka

20 mls Melon Squash / Green Apple Syrup

Prep Time – 2 minutes

Instructions

In a tall glass, first add 4-5 ice cubes, then 60 mls Vodka, and 20 mls Melon Squash / Green Apple Syrup, and give it a nice stir.

Fill up the rest of the glass with Soda / Sprite.

Add a pinch of salt and chaat masala, for some added flavour.

MINT – O – RUM

Mint – o – Rum | Name Credits – Heena Raheja

Ingredients

60 mls Rum / Spiced Rum /Bacardi

30 mls fresh lime juice

60 mls sugar syrup

A Slice of Orange

Lemon Wedges

Fresh Mint

Prep Time – 5 minutes

Instructions

In a tall glass, add 1-2 slices of Orange, 1-2 lemon wedges, some fresh mint leaves and muddle them together.

Add 30 mls fresh lime juice, and 60 mls simple sugar syrup.

Add 60 ml of Bacardi / Gin / Vodka (anything that’s available ) and give it a nice stir. ( Preferably Bacardi )

Top up with soda, and serve.

RUM PUNCH

Ingredients

Makes 4 portions

1 Orange

1 Lemon

200 mls Rum / Spiced Rum / Bacardi

250 mls Orange Juice

Fresh Mint and Ginger

60 mls Lemon Rasna concentrate

Prep Time – 5 minutes

Instructions

Take 1 orange, 1 lemon, some ginger and fresh mint leaves in a jug, and muddle them together.

Add the Lemon Rasna concentrate, and 250 mls Orange Juice.

Add 200 mls Rum, and mix the contents of the jug.

Let it sit for 15-20 minutes in the fridge.

Strain it and pour it in the glasses (upto three quarters), and top up with soda.

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ESPRESSO MARTINI

Ingredients

60 mls Vodka

Espresso Shot (60 mls)

Prep Time – 2 minutes

Instructions

In a tumbler / shaker add 4-5 ice cubes, 60 mls Vodka, 60 mls black coffee ( espresso shot ), 15 mls sugar syrup and shake it up. (Until you can see the froth)

Strain and serve in a martini glass.

Add 2-3 coffee beans on the top of the froth as garnish.

PS – If you have a coffee liqueur like Kahlua, ditch the sugar syrup, and add 30 mls of this coffee liqueur instead,

BEER RADLERS

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Guava Beer Radler

Cranberry Beer Radler

Ingredients

Beer

Guava Juice / Appy / Sprite / Cranberry Juice / Mango Juice / Orange Juice / Lemonade

Prep Time – 2 minutes

Instructions

In a beer glass / mug, first add the juice (75 – 100 mls)

Top up with Beer.

Give it a nice stir, and squeeze some fresh lime.

Serve chilled.

VODKA CRANBERRY

Vodka Cranberry | Flickr | TheCulinaryGeek

Ingredients

60 mls Vodka

150 mls Cranberry Juice

15 mls Fresh Lime Juice

Prep Time – 2 minutes

Instructions

Add 4-5 ice cubes in the glass, and pour 60 mls Vodka.

Add 150 mls of Cranberry Juice, and 15 mls of fresh lime juice.

Stir it up, sprinkle some salt and chaat masala, and serve.

Alcoholic / Non – Alcoholic

Please note, that while I have used some sort of alcohol in all these drinks, you can very well enjoy these Quarantinis, specially the ones listed below without alcohol in it, or use whatever is available in the mentioned quantities.

FRUIT PUNCH

Ingredients

Makes 4 portions

1 Orange

1 Apple

Some Grapes

300 mls Rum / Spiced Rum / Bacardi

250 mls Guava Juice

Fresh Mint and Ginger

Infused Tea

Prep Time – 5 – 10 minutes

Instructions

Take 1 Orange, 1 Apple (in small pieces), some ginger, grapes (in halves) and fresh mint leaves in a jug. DON’T MUDDLE !

Add 300 mls Rum or any alcohol, and mix the contents of the jug.

Let it sit for 15-20 minutes in the freezer.

Add 250 mls Guava Juice, mix it up and again let it sit in the freezer.

Boil some infused tea, and let it cool.

Put everything in one big container / jug.

Add 9-10 ice cubes, and top up with soda.

Strain it and pour it in the glasses, and add some fruits from the mix.

Have the rum infused fruits towards the end. It’s yummy.

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JIM JAM

Jim Jam | Name Credits – Saumya Vats

Ingredients

75 mls Bacardi / Gin / Vodka

Mixed Fruit Jam

30 mls Lemon Rasna concentrate

Prep Time – 5 – 10 minutes

Instructions

Take 1 tbsp mixed fruit jam, boil it in 100 ml water and let it cool.

Pour 75 ml of Bacardi / Gin / Vodka (anything that’s available ) in a tall glass (Preferable 25 mls Gin and 50 mls Vodka).

Add the Lemon Rasna Concentrate ( 30 ml) and the jam liquid (60 ml).

Give it a nice stir, and top up with soda / sprite.

MANGIFIER BREEZE

Mangifier Breeze | Name Credits – Akansha Sharma

Ingredients

30 mls Vodka

60 mls Gin

30 mls Green Tea

60 mls Mango Juice

Prep Time – 5 – 10 minutes

Instructions

Make half a cup Green Tea, and let it cool.

Add 4-5 ice cubes to the glass, and pour 30 mls Vodka and 60 mls Gin.

Add 60 mls of Mango Juice / Maaza / Slice, and 30 mls of Green Tea.

Stir it up, and serve.

TEQUILA SUNRISE

Ingredients

60 mls Tequila

150 mls Orange Juice

10 mls Roohafza

Prep Time – 2 minutes

Instructions

Add 4-5 ice cubes in a tall glass, pour 60 mls Tequila and 150 mls Orange juice, and stir.

Add 10 mls Roohafza, and let it settle down.

Top up with Soda, and serve.

PS – If you don’t have Orange canned juice, Orange Tang would make for the perfect substitute.

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TIPSY ORANGE TEA

Ingredients

60 mls Vodka

150 mls Green Tea

Orange Marmalade

Prep Time – 5 – 10 minutes

Instructions

Make a cup of Green Tea / Infusion Tea and add 1 tbsp orange marmalade and let it cool.

Add 4-5 ice cubes in the glass, and pour 60 mls Vodka.

Add 150 mls of Green Tea mixed with Orange Marmalade.

Squeeze half a lemon.

Stir it up, and serve.

PS – If you don’t have Orange Marmalade, substitute it with 1 tbsp of Orange Tang.

MANGO SPRITZ

Ingredients

75 mls Vodka

30 ml Mango Juice

Fresh Mango, lime wedges, mint leaves

Prep Time – 5 minutes

Instructions

In a tumbler / shaker, add some fresh mango, 1-2 lemon wedges, some fresh mint leaves and muddle them together.

Add 30 mls Mango Juice.

Add 75 ml of Bacardi / Gin / Vodka (anything that’s available ) and give it a nice stir. ( Preferably Vodka)

Give it a nice shake.

Strain, and pour in a glass (upto three quarters), and top up with soda / Sprite.

But before you pour, make sure to Coat the rim of the glass with lemon, so that salt and red chilli powder can stick, when you sprinkle it along the rim (Optional).

WATERMELON COOLER

Ingredients

Makes 4 portions

60 mls Vodka

60 mls Gin

60 mls Rum

200 mls Cranberry Juice

75 mls Roohafza

Fresh Watermelon, lime wedges, mint leaves

Prep Time – 5 minutes

Instructions

Take 1/4th of a Watermelon, 1 lemon, some ginger and fresh mint leaves in a jug, and muddle them together.

Add Cranberry Juice and Roohafza.

Add the alcohol, some ice cubes, and mix the contents of the jug.

Let it sit for 15-20 minutes in the fridge.

Empty out a 500 mls bottle of Soda, in the jug.

Give it a nice stir.

Strain and Serve chilled.

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Pin these 15 Easy DIY Lockdown Quarantini | Cocktail Recipes for later

I hope you enjoyed checking out these 15 Easy Do It Yourself Cocktail Recipes. Don’t forget to Pin these Lockdown Cocktail Recipes, for ready reference.

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15 Easy DIY Quarantinis | Lockdown Cocktails You Can Make at Home When Life Gives You a Lockdown, Make a Quarantini - Every Damn Day And guess what, what time you have it, is totally IRRELEVANT.

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kickoffme-blog · 7 years

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20 Healthy (Alcoholic) Drinks to Sip This Weekend

New Post has been published on http://www.kickoffme.com/20-healthy-alcoholic-drinks-to-sip-this-weekend/

20 Healthy (Alcoholic) Drinks to Sip This Weekend

Sure, an ice-cold margarita (or two) can be a refreshing treat, but most cocktails are huge sugar bombs, thanks ingredients like simple syrup, juice, and sweet liqueurs. Not all cocktails are nutritional landmines, however, and healthy alcoholic drinks do exist. We’ve rounded up 20 drinks that won’t totally ruin your diet—just in time for 4th of July weekend.

And while we know the word “healthy” is relative when it comes to booze, there are several ways to make occasional imbibing decidedly guilt-free. But remember: Everything in moderation. A few glasses of brut Champagne is OK, a few bottles is not.

1. Red wine

The antioxidants found in red wine, such as flavonoids and a substance called resveratrol, have heart-healthy benefits, so feel free to enjoy a glass or two.

2. Though if you’re looking to cut calories, go white

Red wine may have the health benefits, but white wines tend to be slightly lower in calories. Light whites such as Riesling and pinot grigio have fewer calories than those with higher alcohol content such as Chardonnay and sauvignon blanc.

MORE: 3 Perfect Cocktails for the Fourth of July: One Red, One White, and One Blue

3. Basic Bloody Mary with fresh tomato juice

The problem with these—though made with healthy tomato juice—is that pre-made mixes are typically packed with salt and additives. Try ditching the pre-bottled stuff and use no sugar-added, low-sodium tomato juice instead. From there, add in your fixings like one shot of vodka, a squeeze lemon, a teaspoon of horseradish, and a nice big celery stalk.

4. Dark and Stormy—that’s more like a Light and Stormy

This classic cocktail is made with fresh rum and ginger beer, which is packed with artificial sweeteners. Instead, mix 1 shot of light rum with two shots of sugar-free ginger ale and serve over ice.

5. White sangria without sugary extras

Sangria is wine-based, but it’s also packed with sugar, brandy and, often, ginger ale. To cut major calories, use white wine, tons of chopped fruit (we like apples, strawberries, pears, and peaches) and seltzer. You won’t miss the sweet stuff at all.

6. Tom Collins sans sugar

This lemonade-like cocktail is typically mixed with gin, sugar, lemon juice, and club soda. To lighten it up, use a shot of gin, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and top with seltzer. No penalties if you don’t have a Collins glass.

7. Light White Russian

This creamy dessert drink is packed with fat and calories, but it’s possible to still get the taste using lighter ingredients. Instead of heavy cream or half and half, combine chilled coffee with skim milk. From there, add a shot of vodka and lots of ice. Yum!

8. Margaritas done light

Most margaritas are loaded with calories, as they usually include sugar-filled liqueurs and mixers, like triple sec or simple syrup. Instead, combine tequila with fresh lime juice. If that’s too strong, pour in a dash of orange liqueur, but only a dash, as that’s where the calories are.

9. Healthier mimosa

Overall, orange juice and Champagne aren’t the worst ingredients, but you can still cut calories by using only fresh-squeezed OJ and replace half the bubbly with seltzer.

10. Guinness (yes, really!)

Despite its reputation, this super-thick Irish beer isn’t as caloric as you’d think. In fact, according to Men’s Fitness, a serving of the stout brew clocks in at just 126 calories, which is 19 less than a Budweiser and 24 less than a Heineken. Guinness also contains just under 10 carbs, which is less than something like Sam Adams Boston Lager (18 carbs per serving). Why? It’s partly due to Guinness’ low alcohol content.

MORE: 5 Premixed Cocktails That Actually Aren’t Terrible for You

11. Vodka and club soda

It might be a bit on the snoozy size, but this clean cocktail is a sure bet when it comes to low-cal imbibing. Spice it up with lots of fresh lemon, lime, or even sliced cucumber.

12. Mojito with honey, not syrup

Mojitos are typically loaded with simple syrup, which is quite easy to replace. Muddle a sliced lime with fresh mint leaves, and add rum, club soda and a half-teaspoon of honey for a touch of sweetness sans extra calories.

13. Champagne—but check the label

All sparking wines have sugar—it’s required for fermentation—but there are measures you can take to cut calories. According to Shape, it pays to stick with Brut nature varieties of Champagne (“brut” signifies that little extra sugar has been added), Cava (Spain’s sparking wine), and sparking wine from the U.S, as these regions have stricter rules about added sugar than Italy, the home of prosecco. Shape pointed out that a five-ounce glass of brut nature bubbly has about 120 calories, compared to around 175 for a non-brut variety.

14. Straight bourbon

You don’t have to sacrifice flavor for health: According to Gizmodo, Bourbon generally ranges between 97 and 110 calories per 1.5 ounces, and it’s packed with complex flavors unlike, say, vodka.

15. Spicy michelada

This zesty drink features a bottle or can of light lager mixed with lots of low-cal extras like fresh lime, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, pepper, sea salt, and ice.

16. A seasonal hot toddy

Unlike eggnog, this classic winter cocktail won’t pack on the pounds and it’ll keep you toasty. Combine 1 to two ounces of scotch, whiskey, or bourbon with hot water, a little honey, lemon juice, and either cloves, a cinnamon stick or star anise.

17. A classic martini

Martini culture has been muddled with high-cal impostors like Cosmos, apple martinis, and—the biggest offender—creamy dessert martinis. Take a cue from “Mad Men” and enjoy a classic vodka or gin martini, which is mixed with dry vermouth and include no fattening additives. Those bleu cheese-stuffed olives, however, are another story.

18. Gin and tonic—with less tonic

A refreshing gin and tonic might not seem terribly bad for you, but tonic water is made with high fructose corn syrup or sugar and clocks in at over 125 calories per can or small bottle. Instead, try mixing gin with club soda and only adding a small splash of tonic for fizzy sweetness.

19. Lighter Pina Colada

Everyone knows that pina coladas are a one-way ticket to calorieville thanks to the use of lots of rum and super-thick cream of coconut. In fact, some versions pack in more calories than a Big Mac! However, there are ways to still get the fruity flavor without all the guilt. One way: Replace cream of coconut with coconut milk or even coconut water.From there, add a shot of rum and fresh pineapple juice.

20. A French 75 with a colored twist

This bygone cocktail usually mixes Champagne, lemon juice, cognac or gin, and sugar. Instead of the sugar, add a small splash of antioxidant-packed pomegranate juice or kidney-healthy cranberry concentrate (that’s 100% pure cranberry juice). Not only will it taste super-tangy, but it’ll have a seasonal red tint.

Originally published August 2014. Updated June 2017.

June 28, 2017 7:28 am (Source)

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