When it comes to alcohol, not all drinks are born equal. On the market today, we have wines ranging from 0.5% to 14% alcohol, beers from 0% to 12% as well as ciders, RTD’s, spirits and more – the options are limitless but below is a selection of our favourite mixed drinks that are less than 1 Standard Drink.
Why less than 1 Standard drink you ask? Well a standard drink (a.k.a 10gms of pure alcohol) is all the adult human liver can process in 1 hour. Anything more than 1 standard drink per hour and the alcohol will start to impact your mind and body. You can find out more about how alcohol affects you here and here. Alcohol is by no means essential to a good time. In fact, too much alcohol typically leads to more harm than good but if you are looking for a smarter drink choice that will help you to last the distance in style you might like to ask for one of these:
Spirit Based Drinks:
Enlightened Cup
Classic Pimms Cup; fresh, tall & fruity
DIFFICULTY: INTERMEDIATE
STD DRINKS 0.59
INGREDIENTS
- 30ml Pimms
- 5 x Mint Leaves
- 1 x Orange Piece
- 1 x Lemon Piece
- 1 x Long Piece of Cucumber
- 75ml Ginger ale
- 75ml Traditional Lemonade eg Bundaberg
BUILD METHOD
- Fill a highball glass completely with ice
- Add Pimms
- Top with 1/2 Traditional Lemonade, 1/2 Ginger ale
- Arrange fruit and serve with a straw
Saoco
A classic mix of the Cuban working class from the 1800’s, this is a refreshing, soft and delicate drink with a zing of citrus.
DIFFICULTY: EASY
STD DRINKS 0.59
INGREDIENTS
- 20ml Bacardi White Rum
- 150ml Coconut Water
- 1 wedge fresh lime
BUILD METHOD
- Measure and pour Bacardi into a highball glass
- Fill glass completely with ice
- Top with coconut water
- Squeeze lime over top and place in drink
Endless Summer
42Below Feijoa vodka lengthened with Mac’s Feijoa, Pear & Elderflower soda & finished with fresh pear
DIFFICULTY: EASY
STD DRINKS: 0.6
INGREDIENTS
- 20mls 42Below Feijoa Vodka
- Mac’s Feijoa, Pear & Elderflower soda
- Pear Slices
BUILD METHOD
- Add vodka and Mac’s Feijoa, Pear & Elderflower soda to Highball Glass
- Fill glass completely with Ice
- Stir to combine
- Garnish with Pear Slices
Garden Party
Tastes like happiness; elderflower, cucumber & basil feature in this fresh & fruity mix
DIFFICULTY: EASY
STD DRINKS: 0.8
INGREDIENTS
- 25ml Bombay Sapphire Gin
- 10ml Elderflower Syrup
- Tonic Water
- Cucumber slices
- Basil leaf to garnish
BUILD METHOD
- Fill a highball glass with ice
- Build in Bombay Sapphire, Tonic Water & Elderflower Syrup
- Add cucumber slices and stir
- Garnish with a basil leaf
Wine Based Drinks:
Marlborough Sounds
Wither Hills Chardonnay combines with tropical fruits & soda
DIFFICULTY: INTERMEDIATE
STD DRINKS: 0.6
INGREDIENTS
- 15ml Lemon Juice
- 15ml Lime Juice
- 15ml Pineapple Juice
- 60ml Wither Hills Chardonnay
- 45ml Soda Water
- 10ml Runny honey
BUILD METHOD
- Combine all ingredients except soda in shaker
- Shake to mix
- Half fill glass with ice
- Strain shaker into glass
- Top with soda water
- Garnish with lemon wedge
Leaf Boat
Fresh, clean flavours with a hint of spice.
DIFFICULTY: EASY
STD DRINKS: 0.71
INGREDIENTS
- 75ml Lindauer Brut
- 75ml Strange Love Cloudy Pear & Cinnamon Lo-Cal Soda
- Basil Leaf
BUILD METHOD
- Half fill Champagne flute or coupe with Lindauer Brut
- Top with Strange Love Soda
- Garnish with Basil leaf and serve
Sangria #1
Fruit and Wither Hills Pinot Noir love hanging out together in this crisp sangria
DIFFICULTY: EASY
STD DRINKS: 0.7
INGREDIENTS
- 70ml Wither Hills Pinot Noir
- 50ml Soda Water
- Orange slices
- Apple slices
BUILD METHOD
- Add sliced apple and orange into Large wine Glass
- 2/3 fill glass with ice
- Add Wither Hills Pinot Noir
- Top with soda & stir
Beer & Cider Based Drinks:
Beer Punch 330ml
Hoppy Three Wolves pale ale balanced with tropical fruits & soda
DIFFICULTY: EASY
STD DRINKS: 0.7
INGREDIENTS
- 180ml Mac’s Three Wolves Pale Ale
- 50ml Pineapple Juice
- 100ml Watermelon & Mint Soda
BUILD METHOD
- Add pineapple juice and Soda to a glass
- Add the beer and stir
Club Tropicana
Fun and sunshine – there’s enough for everyone
DIFFICULTY: EASY
STD DRINKS: 0.65
INGREDIENTS
- 165ml Apple Cider
- 20ml Shott Mango
- 1x Lemon Wedge
- 1x Mint Sprig
BUILD METHOD
- Measure and pour Shott Mango into glass
- Fill glass with ice
- Top with Apple Cider
- Garnish with lemon wedge and mint sprig
Snake Nibble 330ml
A light twist on the classic Snake Bite, where beer, cider & blackcurrant meet
DIFFICULTY: EASY
STD DRINKS: 0.8
INGREDIENTS
- 200ml Mid Strength Beer
- 120ml Apple Cider
- 10 ml Blackcurrant syrup
BUILD METHOD
- Add Mid Strength Beer & Apple Cider to a glass
- Add Blackcurrant syrup to top
- Stir to combine
Give them a try – we hope you enjoy them as much as we do. If you have any other great lower ABV drink recipes you would like to share email us at alcoholandme@lionco.com and don’t forget to check out our online modules here for practical tips and friendly advice on making smarter drinking choices. You might also like to have a play with our Standard Drinks Calculator.