If you’ve attempted to lose weight or simply tried to adopt a healthier lifestyle, you’ll know that one of the things many articles tell you to do is give up the booze. In this post, we’ll highlight a few of the best gin cocktails that allow you to maintain a healthy diet but still enjoy a delicious tipple from time to time.
So why gin? Well, gin has found itself somewhat in a renaissance. Although it was originally created as a form of medicine before going on to become known as “mother’s ruin” during the original gin craze, gin is now popular across the board and is the go-to spirit for men and women alike. If you’re looking for a healthier choice of drink, you can’t go wrong with gin. A single measure of gin has about 110 calories and ZERO carbs and if you use healthy mixers, like a refreshingly delicious sugar free sour blue raspberry syrup, you can have your cocktails virtually guilt-free.
1. All-Natural Gin and Tonic
Ingredients
- 2-3 Kumquats (thinly sliced)
- 15-30 ml Sweetener (such as agave nectar, honey or simple syrup)
- 60 ml dry gin (4 tablespoons yields 2 ounces)
- Ice
- 60-90 ml Unflavoured Sparkling or Soda Water
Method
- Add kumquats, sweetener, and 15ml of gin to a serving glass and muddle to break down the sweetener and release the citrus juices. Then, add the remaining gin and stir thoroughly until combined.
- If you’re not a fan of having pulp or skin in your drink, scoop it out or strain. If you don’t mind, move onto the next step.
- Add ice and top off with soda water to achieve your desired strength of drink. Add 45-75 ml for a stronger drink or 60-75 ml for a weaker drink.
- Taste and adjust the sweetness and strength as needed. If you like, garnish with additional kumquat slices and serve.
Elderflower Collins
Ingredients
50 ml Gin- 20 ml Lemon
- 10 ml Elderflower Cordial
- 10 ml Sugar Syrup
- Soda to finish
Method
- Shake up the gin with the lemon, a dash of elderflower cordial and sugar syrup.
- Pour over ice and top up with sparkling water.
- (Optional) If you’re feeling fancy, top with sparkling wine to make an Elderflower Royale.
3. Sloe Gin Fizz
Ingredients
- 50 ml Sloe Gin
- 20 ml Lemon Juice
- 15 ml Syrup
- 20 ml Egg Whites
Method
- Shake together the sloe gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, the fresh egg white and a rosemary sprig with ice.
- Shake without the ice to ensure that you get as much froth as possible.
- Serve in a wine glass with a rosemary sprig aloft.
4. Negroni
Forget the cocktails you can make in minutes — this takes only a few seconds!
Ingredients
- 25 ml Gin
- 25 ml Campari
- 25 ml Vermouth
- 1 Orange
Method
- Pour the gin, Campari and sweet vermouth into a rocks glass over ice.
- Stir it down to your preferred taste.
- Zest the orange and add the citrus to the delicious mixture.
Blackberry Gin Fizz
For two tall drinks:
Ingredients
35 grams fresh Blackberries- 2 tablespoons Sugar
- 120 ml Gin
- 60 ml fresh Lime Juice
- Diet Lemonade, Sprite or 7UP
- 2 thin Lime wedges (for garnish)
Method
- Purée the blackberries and sugar in a blender until it’s fully liquefied.
- Strain through a fine sieve into two tall glasses.
- Equally divide the gin and lime juice between glasses and stir.
- Add ice to glasses then top each with soda and a wedge of lime.
With these gin cocktails, you can enjoy the occasional tipple without compromising your health kick or weight loss goals.
*collaborative post
