Staying physically and mentally fit is the young person's holy grail, but there's simply no one right way to do it. In our Body Conscious series, we'll explore how some people protect their minds and bodies. Today, we mix up four fresh and fruity low-calorie cocktails.
So far this Summer's been scorching, and it gives no indication of letting up. One of the best remedies for the heat is a cold, refreshing drink to sip on while you kick up your feet in the shade (or AC, let's be real). But getting crunked out at the bar often leads to cranking it out at the gym. In this heat? We'd rather not. To save you all from weight-watching grief, we hit up the visionary dudes at The Drink in Brooklyn and brought back a list of seasonal, low-cal nectars you can make at home.
Click through for all four recipes.
Tempest
I used to think Mike's Hard Lemonade was great and bourbon was gross. Eventually I grew a pair and a sensible palette, and changed my mind. I'm still not one to drink bourbon straight-up, but I love The Drink's Tempest punch. It's loaded with fresh cantaloupe and lime juices, mixing murky bourbon with the light touches of summer. Delicious.
Directions:
Combine 1 cup of cantaloupe juice with a 1.5 ounce shot of bourbon, a dash of green tea syrup, a dash of sea salt, some sprigs of mint and a few squeezes of lime. Shake and pour over ice. Garnish with mint leaves. 196 calories per serving.
Mutiny
Tequila is like a bad friend you stop talking to. Then you forget your grudge and spend a night in their company—only to wake up with your face in the toilet bowl. Mutiny is a deep pink brew full of fruit juices that looks and tastes good enough to make you forget you're fraternizing with the enemy. At least in the morning, when you're nursing your hangover, empty calories won't be on your list of regrets.
Directions:
Drain one cup of juice from a watermelon (have extra). Combine juice with 2-3 wedges of lime, 1.5 ounces of tequila, a teaspoon of sugar and two dashes of rhubarb bitters. Throw in some fresh mint leaves and leave more leaves for garnish. 183 calories per serving.
Bora Bora
If you can't travel to to a honeymoon locale with clear blue seas and drinks with umbrellas served as you bask in poist-coital, tanned glory, you can still drink like you're in paradise. The Bora Bora is gloriously yummy and forgivingly low-cal.
Directions:
Pour 1.5 ounces of rum into a cup of freshly juiced pineapple. Mix in a dash of cinnamon syrup and two dashes of mole bitters. Squeeze in a thick wedge of lime and stir. Pour over ice and garnish with a few mint or pineapple mint sprigs. 224 calories per serving.
The Close Haul
The Drink's The Close Haul, full of gin and fresh juice (shout out to Snoop), had me feeling like an OG, but with the forgiveness factor of being seriously low-cal.
Directions:
In a frosted glass, combine one cup of freshly juiced cucumber with 1.5 ounces of gin and two wedges of fresh lime. Pour in one dash of chamomile syrup and two dashes of lemon bitters. Pour over ice and serve. 161 calories per serving.