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60 Healthier Drinks for Boozing

Photo by Nicole Fara Silver

Alcoholic drinks can be a sneaky source of calories, sugar, and even salt — but not when you play bartender. Try to get a few

healthier alternatives under that (suddenly much looser) belt to impress friends and family and order with confidence when out at

the bar.

(Check It:

88 Unexpected Snacks Under 100 Calories

)

Here are the eight key guidelines that make our drinks healthier options:

Use only fresh-squeezed or 100 percent fruit juice to reduce added sugars.

Fruit juice

can still be a dangerfood, though, so

sometimes it’s best to dilute it with water or ice to cut back on calories.

1.

Choose seltzer water over other

carbonated waters

to eliminate added sodium and other additives. For recipes that call for

soda, skimp on portions, or opt for diet or natural (read: less added sugar) versions — though those can have their

pitfalls

, too.

2.

Make simple syrup with honey which, though sugary, has some added benefits, like a healthy dose of

antioxidants

. It also

gives you better control of the sugar content. Any recipe that calls for simple syrup will use the following recipe: ½

tablespoon honey mixed with ¾ tablespoon warm water.

3.

Use whole fruit instead of sugar or flavored syrups. The fruit itself adds fiber, natural sugars, and

vitamins

.

4.

Choose light alcohol over dark alcohol. The dark stuff contains more compounds known as congeners, which

can worsen

hangovers

.

5.

Limit yourself to one shot per drink. Multi-alcohol cocktails can pack in serious calories, so we kept ours to one shot (or 1

½ ounces) each. The shooters and shots we included actually contain less than one shot each to further lessen the caloric

load.

6.

Size matters — especially when it comes to consuming liquid calories. That’s why we kept all our drinks right around the

8-ounce mark.

7.

Choose nutritious ingredients.

Ginger

,

coffee

, and

lemon

star in several of our drinks. They’ve each got their own proven

health benefits, even though they may not totally counteract the negative affects of alcohol. (Note: Too much alcohol and

8.

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caffeine

can both

dehydrate

— making hangovers even worse — so try to keep it at no more than one cup of Joe for the night.)

*We’ve tried to simplify the recipes to make them easier to understand. So we simplified all the liquid measurements to shots or cups

— none of this “ounces” nonsense!

Cocktails

1. Classic Mojito

In the bottom of a glass, muddle 12 fresh mint leaves, the juice of ½ lime, and 1 tablespoon simple syrup. Add a few ice

cubes and pour in 1 ½ ounces (one shot) of light rum and ¾ cup seltzer. Garnish with a lime wedge.

2. Fruit Mojito

Prep a classic mojito, but before pouring in the rum and soda, muddle in ¼ cup fresh or thawed frozen fruit like strawberry,

blueberry, mango, or kiwi in the bottom of the glass. Top with ice, rum, and seltzer and garnish as desired!

3. Bloody Mary

Scrap the mix and make a Bloody Mary from scratch! Start with ¾ cup of no sugar-added, low-sodium tomato juice and add the

juice of ½ lemon, a dash each of hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce, fresh ground pepper to taste, and 1 shot of vodka.

Garnish with a lemon wedge and celery stick. Bonus points for adding a cocktail shrimp for some extra protein!

4. Mint Julep

Muddle together 12 fresh mint leaves and 1 tablespoon of simple syrup. Pour in one shot of Kentucky bourbon and 2

shots seltzer water.

5. Sidecar

In a shaker with ice, mix together: 1 shot of cognac, ½ shot Cointreau (or other orange liqueur), and the juice of 1 lemon.

Pour into glass with or without ice and garnish with lemon slice.

6. Cape Codder

Pour 1 shot of vodka and 2 shots cranberry juice (100 percent juice, no sugar added) over ice. Add 2 shots seltzer water,

stir, and garnish with a lime wedge.

7. Sea Breeze

Pour 1 shot vodka, 1 shot cranberry juice (100 percent juice, no sugar added), and 1 shot fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice

over ice. Add a splash of seltzer and enjoy! (Preferably in a beach chair by the water!)

8. Lime Rickey

Combine ½ a shot of fresh-squeezed lime juice, 1 tablespoon simple syrup, and ⅔ shot bitters. Top with 1 cup seltzer.

9. Screwdriver

In an 8-ounce glass with ice, combine 1 shot of vodka and 2 shots fresh-squeezed orange juice. Fill remainder of glass with

seltzer.

10. Tequila Sunrise

In a glass with ice, combine 1 shot of tequila and 2 shots fresh-squeezed orange juice. Top with a splash of cranberry

juice (no-sugar-added, 100 percent juice).

11. Vodka Sunset

Muddle ¼ cup blackberries in the bottom of a glass. Top with ice and add 1 shot fresh-squeezed lemon juice, 1 shot

fresh-squeezed lime juice, ½ shot simple syrup, 1 shot of vodka, and a splash of sparkling wine.

12. Light & Stormy

Into a short glass with ice, pour 1 shot of light rum and 2 shots

ginger

ale.

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13. Legend of Jack Sparrow

In an 8-ounce glass with ice, combine 1 shot coconut rum and the juice of 1 lime. Fill the rest of the glass with ginger ale

(about ¾ cup). Garnish with a slice of lime.

14. Berry Lemonade

In the bottom of an 8-ounce glass, muddle the juice of 1 lemon, ¼ cup frozen

blueberries

or strawberries, and ½ shot

simple syrup. Pour in 1 shot of vodka and top with seltzer (about ¾ cup).

15. Minty Iced Tea

In a heatproof mug, combine 6 fresh mint leaves, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 black tea bag, and 1 cup boiling water. Cover and

let sit for 2 minutes. Then, place mug in fridge or freezer until chilled. Remove tea bag and mint, and pour liquid into a glass with

ice. Add 1 shot of vodka and garnish with a lemon wedge.

16. Fizzy Lemonade

In a shaker with ice, mix together 1 shot of tequila, ½ shot simple syrup, and the juice of 1 lemon. Transfer to an 8-ounce

glass and fill rest of glass with seltzer (about ¾ cup).

17. On the Rocks

Drink it straight! Water down 1 shot of any favorite liquor by pouring over ice cubes for sipping!

18. Tom Collins

In a shaker with ice, combine 1 shot of gin and the juice of 1 small lemon. Strain into an 8-ounce glass and top with seltzer

water (about ¾ cup).

19. Grapefruit Margarita

Combine 1 shot of tequila, the juice of 1 lime and ½ a grapefruit, and ¾ shot of orange liqueur. Pour over ice.

20. Light White Russian

Combine 2 shots brewed coffee (or espresso!) chilled and ¾ cup skim milk. Add 1 shot of vodka and a few ice cubes

and stir.

21. Gin and Seltzer

Instead of a G&T, combine 1 shot of gin with 2 shots of seltzer water and garnish with a lime wedge (or a few!).

22. Gin Gimlet

In a glass with ice, combine 1 shot of gin, the juice of 2 small limes, and 1 shot simple syrup. Garnish with a lime wedge.

23. Vodka Soda

It almost goes without saying, but spice up 1 shot of vodka and 2 shots of seltzer with a lemon or lime wedge (or both).

Works with any other liquor, too!

24. Drunken Arnold Palmer

Combine 1 black tea bag, ¾ cup hot water, the juice of 1 lemon, and 1 teaspoon honey. Chill. Add 1 shot vodka and

garnish with a lemon wedge.

25. Pom Cosmo

In a shaker with ice, combine 1 shot pomegranate vodka, 1 shot orange liqueur, and the juice of 1 lime. Shake, strain into a

martini glass, and garnish with a slice of lime.

26. Pear Martini

Muddle half a very ripe peeled pear in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add ice, ½ shots fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and

1 shot pear vodka. (Regular vodka works, too.) Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a slice of fresh pear.

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27. Sex on the Beach

In a glass with ice, mix 1 shot peach-flavored vodka, 2 shots cranberry juice, and 1 ½ shots fresh-squeezed orange

juice. Add a dash of seltzer and enjoy!

28. Rosemary-Cucumber Lemonade

Stir together juice from 3 lemons and 1 teaspoon honey. Add 1 shot

rosemary-infused vodka

and ¾ cup seltzer. Garnish

with a cucumber spear and lemon wedge.

29. Cinnamon Sour

In a cocktail shaker, combine: 1 shot mango vodka, 1 shot simple syrup, and 1 shot fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Pour

over ice and garnish with a mango slice and cinnamon stick.

30. Grapefruit and Vodka

For a zesty cocktail, combine the juice of ½ a grapefruit and 1 shot of vodka topped with ½ cup seltzer.

31. Sour Apple Spritzer

Pour 1 shot sour apple vodka and ½ cup seltzer over ice and garnish with a green apple slice and a cinnamon stick.

32. Tropical Rum Punch

Stir together ½ cup fresh-squeezed orange juice, ½ cup pineapple juice (100 percent juice only!), and 1 shot light rum.

Pour over ice and put on some shades.

33. Gin and Juice

Pour over ice: ½ cup of fresh-squeezed orange juice, 1 shot of gin, and ½ cup seltzer.

34. Refreshing Gin Cup

Mix together 1 shot of gin, ½ cup ginger ale, and 2 shots seltzer water. Garnish with a cucumber spear and lemon slice.

35. Gingered Pear and Brandy Cocktail

Create a ginger-infused simple syrup by mixing together 1 shot warm simple syrup and ¾ tablespoon chopped and peeled

fresh ginger. Let stand 15 minutes, then strain. Mix together ginger syrup, 1 shot of cognac, and ½ cup pear juice or nectar

and pour over ice.

Shots and Shooters

36. Redheaded Slut Lite

In a shaker with ice, combine ⅓ shot schnapps, ⅓ shot Jagermeister, ⅔ shot cranberry juice, and ⅔ shot water.

37. Fuzzy Navel

In a shaker with ice, combine ⅓ shot peach Schnapps, ⅔ shot fresh-squeezed orange juice, ⅔ shot fresh-squeezed

lemon juice, and ⅔ shot water.

38. Scooby Snacks

In a shaker with ice, combine ⅓ shot coconut rum, ⅓ shot banana rum, ⅓ shot pineapple juice, and 1 tablespoon light

whipped cream. Strain into a short glass.

39. Peppermint Patty

Muddle 6 fresh mint leaves with ⅔ shot vodka. Add a splash of water and 1 teaspoon light

chocolate

syrup. Mix in a

shaker with ice. Strain before serving.

40. Lemondrop

In a shaker with ice, combine ⅓ shot. vodka, ⅓ shot fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and ¼ teaspoon honey.

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Frozen Drinks

41. Pina Colada

Blend together ½ cup ice, ½ cup coconut milk, ¼ cup fresh pineapple chunks, and 1 shot white rum.

42. Frozen Lemonade

Combine 1 shot simple syrup, 1 shot of vodka, juice from 1 lemon, and ¾ cup of ice. Blend until smooth

43. Frozen Mudslide

Mix together 1 packet diet hot cocoa mix with 1 shot warm simple syrup and ¼ cup hot water. Blend the cocoa mixture, ¼

cup vanilla soy milk, 1 shot vanilla-infused vodka, 1 teaspoon chocolate syrup, and ½ cup ice.

44. Melon-Mint Granita

Puree 1 cup watermelon and 5 fresh mint leaves until liquefied. Freeze in an ice cube tray. Once solidified, blend with 1 shot

white rum until it reaches the consistency of a slushie.

45. Strawberry-Lime Daiquiri

Combine 1 shot simple syrup, 1 shot white rum, 2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lime juice, a small handful of frozen

strawberries, and ½ cup of ice. Blend.

46. Margarita

Blend 1 shot simple syrup, the juice from ½ lemon and 1 lime, 1 shot of tequila, and ½ cup of ice. Garnish with a slice of

lime, but skip the salt.

47. Blueberry-Lime Margarita

Mix together the standard margarita but substitute ¼ cup ice for ¼ cup frozen blueberries.

48. Melon Kiwi-tini

Puree ¼ a honeydew melon and 1 kiwi (peeled), the juice from 1 lime, simple syrup (mix 1 shot honey with 2 tablespoons

warm water), and ½ cup sake. Blend with ½ cup ice.

Wine Drinks

49. Mimosa

Into a Champagne flute, pour 2 shots fresh-squeezed orange juice, 2 shots sparkling wine, and ¼ cup seltzer.

50. White Sangria

In a wine glass, combine two strawberries (halved), ½ a fresh peach (diced), ½ a pear (diced), 2 shots white wine,

and ¼ cup seltzer.

51. Red Sangria

Toss ½ an apple (sliced), ½ an orange (sliced), and 4 grapes into a glass. Add ½ cup fruity red wine and ¼ cup seltzer.

52. Pomegranate Fizz

Into a champagne flute, pour: ½ cup pomegranate juice, the juice from 1 lime, and 2 shots sparkling wine. Garnish with a

lime wedge.

53. Pear Sparkler

Puree ½ a pear until liquefied and add to a champagne flute. Pour in 2 shots sparkling wine and add three slices of pear.

54. Sparkling Apricot Punch

In a glass, combine ½ cup diced apricots and ½ cup apricot juice (100 percent juice, please!). Add ½ cup sparkling wine

and ¼ cup seltzer and stir to combine.

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Hot Drinks

55. Hot Toddy

In a mug, combine 1 shot bourbon, 1 tablespoon honey, and 2 teaspoons lemon juice. Pour in ¼ cup boiling water and

stir to dissolve honey.

56. Irish Coffee

In a mug, combine 1 shot of whiskey, 1 teaspoon raw sugar, and ¾ cup hot coffee. Pour 1 tablespoon skim milk on top

and don’t stir!

57. Mojito Tea

In a mug, combine 5 fresh mint leaves, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, 1 black tea bag, and 1 cup boiling water. Cover and let

stand 2 minutes. Remove tea bag and add 1shot of light rum and juice from ½ a lime. Remove mint leaves and enjoy!

58. Bitter Tea

Brew a cup of fruity black tea and stir in ½ shot bitters and 1 ½ shots pomegranate juice.

59. Mulled Wine

Over low heat, simmer ¾ cup fruity red wine, a pinch of orange zest, 2 whole cloves, 1 black peppercorn, 1 cinnamon

stick, and a pinch of sugar. Heat for about 10 minutes, then strain and enjoy!

60. Mint Hot Chocolate

Heat 1 cup skim milk and stir in 1 packet light hot cocoa mix. Add 1 shot tequila and ⅓ shot peppermint schnapps.

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