Summertime equals backyard barbeques and celebrations galore. As fun and fabulous as the season of sun might be, more get-togethers typically means more calories consumed. Try one of these five low-cal cocktails to keep you bikini-ready all summer long.
Dark, Stormy and Skinny
6 ounces ginger beer, chilled
2 ounces dark rum
Splash fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon grated ginger, plus 1 slice for garnish
1 lime slice, halved
Ice cubes
Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour in beer, rum, juice and grated ginger. Garnish with lime and ginger. Stir and serve immediately.
Cosmo Light
1 ounce light or sugar-free cranberry juice
2 ounces vodka
Splash fresh lime juice
Orange zest and slice for garnish
Ice
Pour cranberry juice, vodka, ice, lime juice and grated zest in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with orange zest.
Sugar-free Mojito
Juice from 1/2 lime
8 mint leaves
1 ounce Splenda syrup or 1 tablespoon erythritol
1-1/2 ounces white rum
Club soda
Muddle mint, lime and splenda in a highball glass. Fill the glass with ice, add rum and top with club soda. Stir and drink.
Basil Grapefruit 'Tini
4 basil leaves
1 ounce grapefruit juice
1 ounce Splenda syrup
2 ounces gin
Splash of sparkling wine
In a shaker, muddle basil and syrup. Add syrup and gin and shake hard with ice for 20 seconds. Strain ingredients into a martini glass and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a grapefruit twist.
Skinny Girl Margarita a la Bethenny Frankel
2 ounces clear tequila
Juice from 1/2 lime
Splash of Cointreau, Grand Marnier or Triple Sec
Combine all ingredients over ice. Garnish with a lime wedge and salt (optional). For a blended version, blend all ingredients in a blender.