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Cleaner Cocktails!

Writer's picture: Elena NicoleElena Nicole

Updated: Jul 24, 2020

While we all know that mixing fruit with alcohol doesn't make it "healthy".... there are always better options than the high calorie/sugar and artificially loaded premixed drinks on the store shelves. They do take a little more time, but in my opinion - they are totally worth it!


When I'm at home and want a cocktail, I do the best I can to incorporate real ingredients, minimizing additives, colorings, and artificial flavorings whenever possible. Does it always happen? Absolutely not. But once you make a few of these clean, fresh cocktails, Ill warn you - its hard to go back!


Below are some of my favorite “cleaner cocktail” recipes - for a night out or in!

Cleaner Cocktails - At Home Recipes


White Sangria / Wine Punch

Ingredients

  • 1 Bottle Semi-Dry white wine 

  • Fresh Pineapple / Orange blend (blend ½ c. pineapple with ½ c. fresh orange juice - either fresh squeezed or a brand that is minimally processed a.k.a. just fruit )

  • 3 ounces brandy (optional)

  • Strawberries

  • Orange Slices

  • Mango (or peaches)

  • Blueberries

  • Sparkling Water or Champagne

Instructions:

  • Mix up all ingredients other than sparkling water / champagne, let sit for several hours up to overnight. Prior to serving, fill glasses with ice, add sangria and top with sparkling water / champagne.



Berry Sangria / Wine Punch

Ingredients:

  • 1 bottle red wine (I used a blend, but use whatever red you like) 

  • 1 cup @nataliesorangejuice (ideally one ingredient - oranges!)

  • 3 ounces brandy (optional)

  • ½  t. Cinamon (optional) 

  • 2-3 cups muddled berries (I used blackberries, jam grapes, and strawberries)

  • 1 T. Honey or agave (optional, to muddle berries)

  • Lemon, lime and orange slices (optional) 

  • Sparkling water or dry champagne to top off and add a little fizz 

  • Frozen berries (optional)

Instructions:

  • Mix up all ingredients other than sparkling water / champagne, let sit for several hours up to overnight. Prior to serving, fill the glasses with frozen berries or ice, add sangria and top with sparkling water / champagne.


Skinny Margarita

Ingredients

  • 2 -3 oz. tequila

  • ⅓ c. fresh squeezed lime juice (make sure there is no added sugar or preservatives) 

  • ⅓ c. purified water

  • 1.5 - 2 t. Agave nectar 

  • 3 oz. fresh squeezed orange juice (or orange slices)

  • Sugar or salt, to rim glasses


Note: This may be a bit more tart than you are used to, since it is a fresh margarita, so adjust to taste - more tequila, more/less lime etc.


Instructions

  • Rub margarita glass rims with lime and roll in sugar or salt (I prefer sugar!)

  • Fill glasses with ice

  • Pour all ingredients in shaker (this set is great!) and shake until well chilled

  • Pour margarita into glasses

  • Garnish with lime wheel if desired


Adult Blueberry Lemonade 

Ingredients

  • Sugar, to rim glasses

  • Lemon or lime wedge, to rim glasses

  • ¼ c. frozen blueberries

  • 3 oz. Deep Eddy’s Lemon Vodka

  • ½ lemon, cut into lemon wheels

  • 6 oz. wat

  • 1 t. Agave nectar (optional)

  • Sparkling water

Instructions

  • Rub rim of glass with lemon or lime and roll in sugar

  • Put blueberries, vodka, lemon wheels, water, agave (optional) into shaker and shake until well chilled.

  • Pour into glass

  • Top with sparkling water and additional ice if needed


Fresh Strawberry Margarita

Ingredients

  • ½ c. chopped strawberries, pureed in blender

  • ¼ -⅓ c. fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice

  • 1 t. Honey or agave

  • 2-3 oz. tequila

  • Water / ice if needed to blend

  • Sugar, to rim glasses

Instructions

  • Rub margarita glass rims with lime, and roll in sugar or salt (I prefer sugar!)

  • Pour all ingredients in blender, blend until smooth, adjusting for preferred consistency and taste

  • Pour margarita into glasses

  • Garnish with lime wheel  or strawberry if desired. Drink up!

Some of my "Cleaner cocktail" favorite items!
























Cleaner Cocktails - For a Night Out


  • White Wine or White Wine Spritzer

Order a glass of dry white wine, such as a pinot grigio, chardonnay or sauvignon blanc. If you want something a little more exciting with some sweetness, ask for it with a SPLASH of sprite or soda water with a twist of orange and a cherry. 


  • Dry Red WIne or DIY Sangria

Order a glass of dry red wine on its own, or ask to jazz it up a little bit! If the bartender is friendly - ask them to mix the wine with lemon, lime, orange, a splash of cherry juice, topped with a splash of soda water or sprite. If they will shake it up before adding the soda water/sprite, even better!


  • Vodka + Water + Splash of juice with lemon and lime

My go-to! If the bar has any Deep Eddy’s Vodka flavors, I always ask for those (lemon is my fave!) mixed with water and a splash of cranberry OR pineapple, with a lemon and lime. This can also be simplified to just vodka + water/soda water + lemon/lime.


  • Vodka + water + lemon, lime, splash of agave nectar, shaken, topped with soda water

This is basically a DIY adult lemonade without all the added garbage! Ask the bartender to mix vodka water in a shaker, with lemon and lime and a splash of agave nectar. Once shaken, top with soda water. Yum!


Drinks already on the menu, that are typically (slightly) lower in calories and sugar:

  • White Wine

  • Red Wine

  • Light Beer

  • Shots of unflavored liquor - vodka, tequila, rum, etc. (if you want to get really crazy! )

  • Skinny Margarita

  • DIrty Martini

  • Rum or Vodka and Diet Soda

  • Lemon Drop Martini (depending on how its made. If this is with pure lemon juice, plain vodka and a splash of triple sec, it’s typically under 200 calories)


*This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you purchase something from one of my links, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products that I use and believe in. Thanks for helping to support this blog!


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