Spritzes and low-alcohol cocktails
Long, cold and lighter on the alcohol. These are the drinks for an afternoon in the sun, or a second round when you want to keep a clear head.
Most are topped with soda, tonic or something sparkling, so keep the mixers cold and pour them in last.
16 recipes
What makes a cocktail lower in alcohol
A lighter cocktail either uses less spirit or uses lower-strength ingredients, such as wine, vermouth and bitter aperitifs, and then adds a lot of mixer. The Americano is 25 ml Campari, 25 ml sweet vermouth and soda water, with no spirit at all.
To work out units, multiply the volume in ml by the ABV and divide by 1,000. A 25 ml measure of a 40% spirit is one unit, so a 50 ml gin and tonic is two. Check the labels on your own bottles.
Lower-strength drinks still count towards your weekly units. A spritz has more than one alcoholic ingredient, so add the wine and the aperitif together to see the total.
How to make a good spritz
A spritz is a bitter or fruity aperitif, something sparkling and a splash of soda, served over ice. The Aperol spritz here uses 90 ml prosecco, 60 ml Aperol and 30 ml soda water, which is three parts, two parts and one.
Use a large wine glass, plenty of ice and a cold bottle. Add the soda last and stir once, gently. The elderflower spritz follows the same pattern with no alcohol at all.
If the drink tastes thin, you have probably added too much soda or let the ice melt. Use a cold bottle and fresh ice, and serve the drink straight away.
A thin orange slice is the traditional garnish, and it adds a little aroma.
Sparkling wine drinks that are light and quick
A little sparkling wine goes a long way. The Bellini is 50 ml white peach purée and 100 ml prosecco, and Buck's Fizz is 100 ml sparkling wine and 50 ml orange juice.
The Kir royale is 15 ml crème de cassis topped with 120 ml sparkling wine. More ideas are on the Prosecco cocktails page.
Use dry or brut sparkling wine for these drinks, because the fruit and liqueur add plenty of sweetness. Pour slowly down the side of the glass to keep the bubbles.
Pacing yourself and alcohol-free alternatives
Lighter drinks make it easier to pace an afternoon, but they still contain alcohol. Alternate with water, and keep an alcohol-free option on the table.
The alcohol-free Negroni spritz and the elderflower spritz are both alcohol-free. You will find more on the mocktails page.
Questions people ask
What is the lowest-alcohol cocktail?
The Americano is one of the lowest-alcohol classic cocktails, because it contains Campari and vermouth, both lower in strength than spirits, topped with soda water. The Bellini and Buck's Fizz are also light, with only sparkling wine and fruit. Alcohol-free spritzes have none at all.
How do you make an Aperol spritz?
Fill a wine glass with ice, then add 90 ml chilled prosecco, 60 ml Aperol and 30 ml soda water. Stir once gently and add an orange slice. The drink is a simple 3:2:1 ratio of prosecco, Aperol and soda, and takes about two minutes.
What is the difference between an Aperol spritz and an Americano?
An Aperol spritz is prosecco, Aperol and soda, so it is fizzy, orange and gently sweet. An Americano is Campari, sweet vermouth and soda, which makes it more bitter and herbal. Neither needs a shaker, and both are served over ice.
How many units of alcohol are in a cocktail?
It depends on the recipe. To estimate, multiply each ingredient's volume in ml by its ABV and divide by 1,000. A 25 ml measure of a 40% spirit is one unit. Add up every alcoholic ingredient, including wine and liqueurs.
Can I make a spritz without alcohol?
Yes. The elderflower spritz uses elderflower cordial, lemon juice, alcohol-free sparkling wine, cucumber and mint, built over ice. The alcohol-free Negroni spritz is a bitter, orange option. Both can be served next to the alcoholic versions at a party.
What can I drink on a long afternoon that is not too strong?
Choose a long drink with a low-strength base, such as an Americano, Garibaldi, Aperol spritz or Bellini. Use plenty of ice, add the mixer generously and alternate with water. Lighter does not mean alcohol-free, so keep count of your units.