Following on from the success of our ‘Summer Drinks we love’ post, here are some more mixed drinks that are perfect for the cooler months. All of them also have the added benefit of being 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 definitely not 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 remember the occasion for all the right reasons, not the wrong ones, you might like to ask for one of these:

Spirit Based Drinks

Cin Cin

More than just Italian for cheers, a squeeze of fresh lemon, Martini Bianco and Gingerale make the perfect, simple refreshing combination.

DIFFICULTY:      EASY
STD DRINKS:     0.53

INGREDIENTS

  • 45ml Martini Bianco
  • 150ml Gingerale
  • 1 Lemon Wedge

BUILD METHOD

  • Measure and pour Martini Bianco into a tall glass
  • Fill glass completely with ice
  • Top with Gingerale
  • Garnish with a lemon wedge and serve

Rum Runner

A mellow take on the classic Dark & Stormy cocktail; Jamaican rum, spice, lime and Angostura bitters

DIFFICULTY:     EASY
STD DRINKS:     0.6

INGREDIENTS

  • 20ml Coruba Rum
  • 3x dashes of Angostura Bitters
  • Mac’s Gingerbeer
  • 4x lime wedges for garnish

BUILD METHOD

  • Fill a short glass with ice
  • Add bitters, Gingerbeer and stir
  • Float Coruba over the top
  • Garnish with 2 wedges of lime squeezed in

Thomas Collins

A rich jammy flavoured twist on the original reliable Collins. Delicious, warm yet refreshing flavours.

DIFFICULTY:     INTERNEDIATE
STD DRINKS:     0.63

 INGREDIENTS

  • 20ml Bulleit
  • 20ml Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 2x barspoons Orange Marmalade
  • 150ml Soda Water

BUILD METHOD

  • Measure and pour lemon juice and marmalade into a tall glass
  • Stir to dissolve marmalade
  • Measure and pour in Bulleit Bourbon
  • Fill glass completely with ice
  • Top with Soda Water

Wine Based Drinks

Apple Turnover

Wither Hills Pinot Gris & Mac’s ginger beer combine beautifully in this Autumnal mix

DIFFICULTY:     EASY
STD DRINK:      0.7

INGREDIENTS

  • 70ml Wither Hills Pinot Gris
  • 60ml Macs Ginger Beer
  • Apple wedges

BUILD METHOD

  • Quarter apple and half again
  • Place the 4 wedges in the wine glass
  • Add ice
  • Add Wither Hills Pinot Gris
  • Top with 60ml Macs ginger beer.

Honeysuckle

Sweet, sparkling Moscato Rose is balanced with savoury Hopt Salted Lychee, lime and honey

DIFFICULTY:     EASY
STD DRINKS:    0.5

INGREDIENTS

  • 75ml Lindauer Enlighten Moscato Rose
  • 75ml Hopt Salted Lychee
  • 10ml Fresh Lime Juice
  • 5ml Honey

BUILD METHOD

  • Measure and pour fresh lime juice and honey into a Champagne Flute and stir to dissolve
  • 1/2 fill the glass with Lindauer Moscato Rose
  • Top with Hopt Salted Lychee

Ravishing Riesling

Wither Hills Riesling twisted with old fashioned lemonade & fresh mint

DIFFICULTY:     EASY
STD DRINKS:    0.6

INGREDIENTS

  • 60ml Wither Hills Riesling
  • 15ml Lemon juice
  • Macs Mandrin, Lime & Bitters
  • Lemon Wedge to garnish
  • Mint Sprig to garnish

BUILD METHOD

  • Fill glass with ice
  • Add riesling and lemon juice
  • Stir and top with Macs Mandrin, Lime & Bitters
  • Add mint sprig & lemon wedge garnish

Beer & Cider Based Drinks

Ginge in Cider

Cider and Mac’s Ginger Beer weave together in a refreshing summer mix

DIFFICULTY:     EASY
STD DRINKS:    0.65

INGREDIENTS

  • 75ml Cider
  • 75ml Macs Gingerbeer
  • Apple Slice

BUILD METHOD

  • Fill tall glass completely with ice
  • Half fill with Isaacs Cider
  • Top with Gingerbeer
  • Garnish with an apple slice and serve

Golden Hour 330ml

Speight’s Summit Citrus lengthened with iced tea & fresh orange

DIFFICULTY:     EASY
STD DRINKS:    0.5

INGREDIENTS

  • 165ml Summit Citrus
  • 165ml Ice Tea
  • 1x Orange Slice to garnish

BUILD METHOD

  • Pour summit citrus
  • Top with Ice Tea
  • Garnish with Orange Slice

Let us know what you think of these and if you have any other great lower ABV drink recipes you would like to share email us at alcoholandme@lionco.com

Alcohol&Me Team