There’s something about February that makes us want to take care of ourselves. Maybe it’s the freezing cold wind that calls us back to to cozy chairs and warm blankets, or the urge to greet the sun again…we know it’s right around the corner in springtime, and a lighter cocktail doesn’t weigh us down the way heavy holiday sips did (we’re looking at you, eggnog).

Maybe you’re stretching those post-holiday hosting muscles after a dry January, or just a much needed break from guests. No matter how much you love your crew, we all needed the break, and now we’re back, but we want things to feel fresh and intentional. We don’t want February to weigh us down, literally or figuratively.

Delicious cocktails can still be healthy-ish.

Healthy-ish cocktails aren’t always the first draft pick, so to speak, but we like to look at it this way: they’re mindful, not boring. Especially the versions we’ve whipped up here.

But before we dive in, we’ll answer the question about low calorie cocktails that everyone asks us…

It’s like that Meghan Trainor song from back in the day — “it’s all about that bass…” Are we ageing ourselves? Maybe, but it’s true. Base spirits can ease your effort to concoct an excellent cocktail under 100 calories, because so many don’t come along with hefty calorie counts on their own…it’s the sugary mixers that really crank up the calculator.

Example? 1.5 oz of tequila is about 96 calories. The same tequila in a traditional margarita with mix? About 250 calories.

So, we like to lean on our bases for flavor, for interest, and to really carry the weight of a low-cal cocktail. But that doesn’t mean we skimp on flavor. Have you met us? When you operate multiple locations of one of Louisville’s best liquor stores, you gotta know your goods.

For cocktails under 100 calories, we weave in “extras” that aren’t high in sugar or calorie-dense. The importance of fresh citrus, soda water, and fresh herbs cannot be overstated here. We’ll shout it from the rooftops (or from behind the bar): FRESH IS BEST.

Fresh cocktail mixers are also surprisingly easy to keep on hand too. Lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits…all of these gorgeous fruits pack a punch of distinct flavor, and can keep in the fridge for a surprisingly long time.

The same is true for fresh herbs…rosemary, thyme, mint. These three can carry you through a wide variety of spirit bases and healthy-ish cocktail recipes. Try gin with a little soda water, fresh lime, and a sprig of mint, and it’s a flavor combo that doesn’t disappoint, and doesn’t add up in calories.

A quick cheatsheet for other simple swaps to make cocktails more low-cal without sacrificing taste and texture:

• Swap it for Stevia: If you’re comfortable with Stevia, the sweetener can add that layer of flavor without building up the caloric count.
• Make any cocktail a spritzer to cut the calories in half: Europeans do this frequently, especially in summer or when drinking throughout the day. Simply add as much soda water as you enjoy, and half the normal amount of wine or cocktail. Sip slowly to stretch both the pleasure and the calories.
• Squeeze. Those. Citrus. Fruits.

• Vodka – Neutral flavor, and its unique distilling process means its not left with much residual sugar, so you’re working with an excellent foundation with endless options.
• Tequila (100% agave) – It’s not only low-sugar, it’s also carb-free thanks for the agave fermentation and distillation process. The earthy flavor makes it a great pairing with those citrus fruits you know we love.
• Gin – Flavored with botanicals, not sugar. Aromatic and herbal, it can be easily jazzed up with just a few bits of fruit or fresh herb and soda water/tonic alternative.
• Light rum – Is it fermented from sugarcane? Yes. Is it distilled without residual sugar? Also an enthusiastic “yes.” Subtly sweet, it doesn’t need much added for your cocktail to still feel special.

Healthy low-calorie cocktails don’t need to be dull. They’re just different, and often, different is delicious. A little imagination and guidance can bring low sugar cocktail recipes to the front of your bartending skills. That’s why we’re here — we stock the best ingredients, from spirit bases to low-calorie mixers and alternatives, and we love to share our insights on what, when, and how much. This list might as well be Exhibit A. We take mindful drinking seriously, and low-calorie doesn’t always translate to weight loss or counting every sip. Personally, we feel that finding balance – not overloading your system – with anything, whether it’s alcohol, calories, or sugar, is another form of self-care. And we’re always on board with valuing your body, mind, and spirit. So without further ado, the low-calorie cocktail recipes you’ll make again and again…

A vodka soda is simple, classic, and crisp. You can order it at any bar, or mix it yourself at a friend’s house without needing to ask for special ingredients. It has a clean, mineral flavor that bursts with juicy sweetness depending on which citrus fruit you prefer.

Vodka Soda Recipe:

• Calorie Range - 65-100 calories
• 1.5 oz vodka
• 4 oz sparkling water or soda
• Squeeze of lime, orange, lemon, or grapefruit

1. Fill rocks glass with ice.
2. Pour vodka, top with soda. Squeeze citrus juice in, stir gently to combine.

Plenty of folks like a skinny margarita, but we like to jazz things up with its cocktail cousin, the skinny Paloma. The flavors are ripe with tequila’s vibrant edge, softened slightly by the natural sweetness of grapefruit, but with the customary pucker we all know from that beautiful pinky-peach fruit. It feels sophisticated, but pleases almost any tequila drinker.

Skinny Paloma Recipe:

• Calorie Range - 80-100 calories
• 1.5 oz tequila
• 3 oz fresh grapefruit juice (about ½ grapefruit)
• Splash of soda water (or use a flavored sparkling water like Spindrift grapefruit)

1. Fill rocks glass or margarita glass with ice.
2. Pour tequila, top with juice and with soda. Stir gently to combine.

There’s a reason the gin & tonic cocktail is a perennial favorite. Gin-based cocktails are forever customizable (and forgiving with substitutions) making them the perfect platform for our tweaks that lower the calorie count while maintaining the brisk, botanical and floral notes of a classic G&T.

Gin & Tonic Lightened Up Recipe:

Calorie Range - 55-115 calories

• 1.5 oz gin
• 3-4 oz light tonic water (we recommend Fever Tree Light or Schweppes Diet)
• Squeeze of fresh lime or lemon

1. Fill rocks glass with ice.
2. Pour gin, top with tonic water and squeeze of lime or lemon.
3. Stir gently to combine (garnish with a rosemary sprig to open up the herbal notes).

In a past life, cucumber and mint were in love. These two flavors fit so naturally and smoothly together, a spritz is the natural low-calorie cocktail for their union, and vodka’s neutral palate gives the perfect stage for a bubbly, elegant cocktail that feels elevated and easy at the same time.

Cucumber Mint Vodka Spritz Recipe:

Calorie Range - 60-100 calories

• 1.5 oz vodka (we like to use cucumber vodka to intensify the flavors)
• 3-4 oz soda water
• 3 mint leaves (smack the mint against the rim of the glass before using to release the oils)
• 3 thin cucumber slices
• Squeeze of lime

1. Muddle the mint leaves and cucumber in a highball glass.
2. Add ice, lime juice, and vodka.
3. Top with soda water. Garnish with mint and cucumber slices

This is a twist on the skinny margarita, and in our opinion, it’s brighter, bubblier, and irresistible. The salt rim keeps it familiar, while the sparkling soda is a welcome addition to the classic tequila-lime pairing.

Tequila Lime Soda with Salt Rim Recipe:

Calorie Range - 90-120 calories

• 1.5 oz blanco tequila
• 3-4 oz soda water (lime flavored for bonus flavor)
• Freshly squeezed juice of half a lime
• Coarse salt for the rim

1. Prep the rim: Rub a lime wedge around the rim of your highball or rocks glass, and dip in salt on a plate.
2. Fill glass with ice.
3. Pour in tequila, lime juice, and top with soda water.
4. Garnish with lime.

Rum and lime together have a way of instantly transporting us to a tropical vacation…an ideal mental getaway during the frigid tundra known as February. To make this a skinny mojito, simply muddle 3 mint leaves before adding the ice to your glass, and do include the Stevia for that signature Mojito kiss of sweetness.

Rum + Lime Highball Recipe:

Calorie Range - 80-100 calories

• 1.5 oz white rum
• Squeeze of fresh lime juice
• 2-3 oz club soda
• Optional: 2 drops of Stevia if you like the sweetness

1. Fill rocks glass with ice.
2. Pour in rum, lime juice, and top with soda.
3. Garnish with lime.

We love a little heat in winter! This low-sugar cocktail leans on the jalapeño to bring the party…and it delivers! This is a perfect and easy recipe for Game Days when you’re snacking on queso, wings, and pizza.

Spicy Jalapeño Tequila Soda Recipe:

Calorie Range - 110-125 calories

• 1.5 oz silver or blanco tequila
• 2 slices of fresh jalapeño
• 2 oz fresh lime juice (about ½ a lime)
• 2-4 oz club soda or sparkling water (Topo Chico is a great fit here)
• Optional: 2 drops of Stevia, or ½ tsp agave nectar or honey for sweetness

1. Muddle the jalapeño slices and lime juice with the optional sweetener in a shaker.
2. Pour in ice, then tequila.
3. Shake for 10-20 seconds. Strain into a highball or rocks glass filled with fresh ice.