My Three Favorite Low-ABV Cocktails to End Dry January
Is it still January? Unlikely, but yes. Is it still dry? Well, it all depends on how you look at it. Perhaps you’re interested in bringing some alcohol back into your life, or maybe you’ve never enjoyed a drink that’s too strong, no matter the month.
I think the answer is the same in both of these scenarios: switch to low-ABV (alcohol by volume) cocktails. They are lightweight, comfortable and offer a wide range of options to suit every taste. I have three recommendations to get you started.
What is a low strength cocktail?
First of all, let’s understand the terminology. Again, ABV means alcohol volume. This usually refers to what percentage of the drink is alcohol. Pure vodka can contain 30% or 40% alcohol. Thus, a martini with vodka mixed with ice and vermouth may contain 25-35% alcohol. It’s definitely not low strength.
Wines can vary greatly, but typically range from 13% to 18% ABV, and beer can range from 4% to 12% ABV. While there is no exact ABV rating that defines low-ABV cocktails, I generally prefer them to be around 5% ABV or lower. It’s not something that will make me feel insecure, but it’s enough to add some spice to the occasion. If you’re at a bar or restaurant, they may have a different opinion about what falls into low-proof territory, so be sure to ask (or check the menu for strength) if you’re interested.
How to Make a Low-ABV Cocktail at Home
Besides buying a mocktail cookbook and adding a splash of gin to any of these concoctions (which you totally can do—try The Mocktail Club , an excellent cookbook that I recently reviewed), you can take a closer look at your home bar and do some easy experiments . . Personally, I like to think that low alcohol drinks give the “supporting characters” a little shine. This is an opportunity to highlight aperitifs, vermouths, bitters, juices, syrups, tonics and carbonated drinks. Either way, this is where many of the brightest and boldest scents are found.
If you’re starting from scratch , start simple and try juicy sprinkles. A loose ratio could be 1:3:3: one part minor alcohol, three parts juice and three parts carbonated soft drink. Choose an aperitif, liqueur or liqueur you like and add equal parts extra juice and sparkling water. Serve in a glass with plenty of ice.
If you’re starting with a classic cocktail recipe , try replacing the spirits with more seltzer or even sparkling wine. The strength of the latter, of course, will be higher than when using seltzer water, but sometimes you just want to lower it a few notches. For example, 12% prosecco contains much less alcohol than 40% gin. In fact, this is exactly what a negroni sbagliato does – it replaces gin with prosecco. Both are delicious cocktails, but the classic Negroni is about twice as strong.
My Three Favorite Low-ABV Cocktails
I’ve always enjoyed sipping socially, but not the inevitable headaches from strong drinks. Here are three that I rely on when I want to relax. Guys, don’t try to reinvent the wheel: simplicity is often better.
Low ABV Bellini
Bellinis are light, flirty sparkling cocktails that are made in the classic style by mixing a small amount of white peach puree with a generous amount of prosecco. To reduce the strength, cut the prosecco in half and replace it with a small amount of seltzer water. Alternatively, you can use fruit juice instead of seltzer to get a big dose of fruity flavor. (By the way, you can use any fruit puree you like, it doesn’t have to be peach.)
Negroni Sbagliato or Americano
As I noted above, Sbagliato is a lower ABV version of the classic Negroni, while Americano is the next step down. To make sbagliato , mix equal parts Campari, sweet vermouth and prosecco (pour the latter as a topper). Serve in a glass with plenty of ice. For an Americano, simply replace the prosecco with more sparkling water. If I’m making at home, I add a little simple syrup.
Juicy Aperol Spritz
The classic Aperol Spritz uses three parts prosecco, two parts Aperol and one part sparkling water. To make the drink less alcoholic, I knock out the prosecco and add a little juice. To make a juicy Aperol Spritz , combine two parts Aperol and one part orange juice in a glass half filled with ice. Fill with three parts sparkling water.