No-Guilt, Low-Calorie Summer Cocktail

by: Maddie Ruud

Moscow Mule

* 1 ½ oz vodka
* 5 oz diet ginger ale
* juice of 1 fresh lime
* handful ice cubes

Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker and mix well. Strain out ice, pouring into chilled glasses.

Gin And Tonic

* 1 ½ oz gin
* 5 oz diet tonic water
* slice of fresh lime
* glass of ice

Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into glass of ice, garnish with lime.


Caipirinha
* 1 packet Splenda
* 1 Tbsp water
* 1 fresh lime
* 1 ½ oz white rum
* glass of ice cubes

Let lime sit to room temperature. Cut into quarters, and put in cocktail shaker, along with Splenda and water. Mash lime with the back of a wooden spoon and mix until dissolved into mush. Add rum and ice cubes, shake well. Pour into glass.

Mojito
* 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
* 1 packet Splenda
* 4-5 fresh mint leaves
* 1 ½ oz light rum
* 2 oz club soda
* glass of ice cubes

Pour lime juice into glass. Add mint and Splenda, stir until dissolved. Add rum and ice cubes, followed by club soda. Garnish with a fresh spring of mint.

Margarita
* 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
* 1 ½ oz low-calorie triple sec
* 2 oz tequila
* slice of lime
* kosher salt
* glass of ice cubes

Add lime juice, triple sec, tequila, and ice to cocktail shaker. Shake well for a slow count of 10. Rub lime along outside rim of glass, then roll in kosher salt, before pouring mixed margarita into glass. Garnish with fresh slice of lime.

Long Island Iced Tea
* 1/3 oz vodka
* 1/3 oz rum
* 1/3 oz gin
* 1/3 oz tequila
* 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
* 2 packets Splenda
* 2 Tbsp water
* diet cola
* fresh slice lemon
* tall glass of ice

Dissolve Splenda in water. Add mixture to cocktail shaker, along with all liquors and lemon juice. Shake well. Pour into tall cocktail glass filled with ice, add diet cola until filled. Garnish with fresh slice of lemon.

Sangria
* 4 packets Splenda
* 4 Tbsp water
* fresh orange slices
* fresh lemon slices
* fresh lime slices
* fresh peach slices
* fresh grapes
* 1 bottle wine
* club soda

Dissolve Splenda into water. Add to pitcher, with fruit slices and grapes (white for red wine, red for white wine), and bottle of wine. Stir, then chill. Top pitcher with drizzle of club soda just before serving.

Bellini
* 3/4 small flute champagne
* 1/4 flute peach puree

Spoon peach puree in bottom of champagne flute. Fill to top with champagne.

Also, look into sugar-free, low-calorie cocktail mixes such as Baja Bob's, perfect for low-carb dieters, Weight Watchers members, or just those diet-conscious social drinkers!