Summer and Cocktails make a perfect couple. One of the pitfalls of this marriage however is the unwanted pounds from sipping on one too many. Summers are extremely hot in the Caymans and a girl just needs a cool drink. I wanted to curate a list of amazing cocktails that I could drink all summer long (in moderation) that wouldn’t ruin all the hard work I put in at the gym. Here are my 5 amazingly tasty, low on calories (under 200 per drink) cocktails that are ‘hot girl summer’ approved! By my friends at least! LOL
We are blessed with summer weather all year round. However summer just brings its own vibe that screams let’s gather. I love entertaining and summer just puts me in the mood. Whether I’m meeting friends at the beach (most likely) or gathering on my porch, we have a party. But the calories can quickly add up. Here are 5 amazing cocktails I will be making this summer for my friends and I to imbibe on.
I enjoy a nice refreshingly crisp glass (or bottle) of wine depending on my mood. This will not go well if I want to preserve all the hard work I put in at the gym weekly. A white wine spritzer allows me to stretch my wine while still enjoying the flavour. I dare say, trying to hold on to your ‘hot girl summer’ body while drinking all summer are mutually exclusive. But we can try to limit the damage 🙂
1. White Wine Spritzer
All the wine without the guilt. Pour me a second glass please! This is a very simple mix of your favourite white wine. I like the fruity flavours and strong aromatic qualities of a Sauvignon Blanc. Club soda or Sparkling water. This two ingredient drink is a simple a matter of getting a formula that is perfect for you. You want to achieve a drink that doesn’t taste watered down. Common formulas are 3 parts wine to one part soda/water or 2/3 wine, 1/3 soda/water. Another fun option if you are home is to whip this up in a blender and make a froze, yum.
I made this drink over the weekend when my girlfriends popped by for a visit. I chose the Batasiolo for its crisp and lemony tones and it came in just under $20CI per bottle. But you can choose any good white wine that you like.
Ingredients: 3 oz. wine, 1-2 oz. sparkling water, lemon wheel for garnish.
Instructions: Pour wine into glass then add sparkling water. Add lemon wheel, stir gently and enjoy (you can add an ice cube if desired).
This 5oz. serving comes in at approximately 50 calories! Less if you enjoy with friends! 🙂
Trying to hold on to your ‘hot girl summer’ body while drinking all summer are mutually exclusive, lol.
2. Rum Cooler
I like my rum and I cannot lie. But how do I enjoy this drink guilt-free? Rum based drinks are high in calories mainly due to the added mixers/chasers. Chasers are usually high sugar drinks like fruit juices, or soda. A friend of mine introduced me to this dragon berry flavoured rum by Bacardi a while back. I was a bit skeptical as I prefer my rums on the darker side. However, it was so great that it is now one of my favourite summer cocktails to make.
The rum is so flavourful and sweet on the palette it really requires very little in enhancements. So skip the fruit juices and soda for coconut water (the fresh ones available locally). Another great pairing is sparkling water and a few drops of Angostura bitters. Fun fact, Angostura produces a very tasty lemon lime bitters drink that is the perfect pairing. However it is soda and packs 160 calories per 330ml can. So go easy with this option.
I like the price point of the rum and it’s the perfect base for a refreshing summer drink that is high on flavour. It has a sweet note (from the lemon lime soda) but not overly sweet. This is also a great drink to mix ahead in large batches if you are entertaining. Whip up a batch the next time you have friends over, soon they will all be converts as I was!
Ingredients: 1.5oz Bacardi Dragonberry Rum, 4oz Angostura Lemon Lime Bitters / sparkling water / coconut water.
Instructions: Fill a tall glass with ice. Add rum, mixer and 2 drops of Angostura Bitters. Stir and poor in garnish with strawberry slices or a lemon wheel. Sip and enjoy.
Each serving is approximately 110-160 calories. Confession I never drink less than two!
3. The French 75 Goes Green
Inspiration for this drink came from my Earth Day 2021 green room experience at the Kimpton Seafire. Gin & Champagne make a lovely pairing but it is a heavy drink. I was exited to replicate this drink, but with a lighter touch. I did this by substituting honey for sugar when making the Aloe vera simple syrup.
Ingredients: 1.5oz Amazonia Gin, 1oz Aloe Vera simple syrup. 2-3oz of champagne.
Instructions: To make the Simple Syrup – Scoop the insides of about 2 inches of aloe vera in a small saucepan. Add 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup water. Bring to a slow boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until combined well. Remove from heat, cool and strain.
To make the cocktail: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, pour in the gin and aloe vera simple syrup. Shake vigorously to chill. Strain into a champagne flute and top with champagne.
This drink is still on the heavy side with approximately 200 calories. This is a nice celebratory drink and the aloe vera just elevates the flavour profile. Enjoy responsibly.
4. Kombucha, but make it fancy
A sure way to look like you are having a fancy cocktail without the alcohol . I’m calling this one the Komtail and it my lunch meeting drink of choice. With zero alcohol and maybe 12-14 grams of sugar this fermented tea comes in under 100 calories. There a wide selection of this brewed tea available on island. What I like about drinking my dressed up kombucha is all the gut preserving goodness it has.
Kombucha
All the benefits and none of the guilt. My secret is out but the bartenders at the Anchor & Den are pretty chill about camouflaging my favourite mocktail. Order up one the next time you are out and need something light, your friends will never know! Or make it at home – see recipe below.
Ingredients: One 330ml bottle Saucha Cayman Lime Cayenne, I large watermelon ice cube, Orange peel to garnish.
Instructions: Pour Kombucha in a large balloon glass. Add ice cube and garnish. Simple right? Now sit back and enjoy!
5. Tequila Me Softly
Nothing starts a party quite like tequila. But how do you avoid that pesky hangover? Choose a pure tequila made from 100% agave, for its lower sugar content. Skip the soda for sparkling water to keep the integrity of the tequila and the calorie count low. I made this cocktail at home using freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, lemon juice and aloe vera simple syrup. The result, a deliciously sweet and tart taste in every sip!
Ingredients: 1.5oz Tequila, 2oz fresh grapefruit juice, 1tbsp lemon juice, 1tbsp aloe vera simple syrup. Pink Himalayan Salt to rim your glasses. 2oz sparkling water.
Instructions: Prepare your glass by rubbing the rim with a wedge of grapefruit and dipping in the salt. Mix the tequila, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, sparkling water and aloe vera simple syrup into the glass. Fill glass with ice. You can adjust the drink to your taste by adding more sparkling water. Sip and enjoy by taking a trip to Mexico in your head like we did!
This drink comes in at approximately 178 calories.
Bonus – Amazing Cocktails that are Ready to Drink
Weekend boat trips or an impromptu trip to the beach sometimes calls for a simple grab and go ready cocktail. Depending on your choice of base alcohol you can find a variety of light mixers to suit your taste. Most of these come in under 5% alcohol and 100 calories per serving.
Another great call is grabbing your favourite wines in minis. Most of these minis hold approximately one serving and an estimated 100 calories. My personal favourites are a Rose’ or Prosecco on a hot day! So here is a round up of my favourite cooler bag fillers for these on the go moments.
- Mini Prosecco – Approximately 130 calories per 200ml bottle
- Magners Irish Cider Pear – A 330ml bottle contains 4.5% alcohol by volume and approximately 170 calories
- Hard Seltzers – A 355ml can contains 5% alcohol by volume and 100 calories
- Seven Fathoms Rum & Cola (Local) – A 330ml can contains 7.5% alcohol by volume and approximately 150 calories
- Mango Tango (Local) Fruit Beer – A 330ml bottle contains 4.8% alcohol by volume and an estimated 100 calories
I really enjoyed putting this list together for you. But I enjoyed making and drinking them even more and I hope you do too. Please stay safe and drink in moderation. I would love to hear from you if you try any of these or what are your go-to cocktails for light summer or anytime drinking.
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