Blog Layout
Low Calorie Holiday Wine & Cocktail Options from The Hart Agency
Dec 05, 2019
You're probably feeling sluggish after a week of Thanksgiving leftovers. You want to look fabulous in your NYE dress. Maybe you're starting your resolutions early with a pre-holiday diet challenge, but still want to enjoy the party when the time comes. We've got the insights on how to do just that without going overboard. Our list includes cocktail & wine options that fit in exactly with your current dietary needs.
SPIKED SELTZER
We're going to assume everyone has heard of the newest craze among us Millennials, but in case you're unfamiliar, Spiked Seltzer is a great option to stay on track while counting calories. Most are around 100 calories, gluten free, just a few carbs, and 4-5% alcohol. Convenient, refreshing, perfect for parties, Keto friendly, and not just for summer! There are an array of brands, but we've listed our favorites:
- White Claw sticks to their signature five plus a limited edition "Pure" which is their take on the vodka & seltzer.
- The Facts: 100 Calories, Gluten Free, 2g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 5% Alcohol
- So popular it's selling faster than they can produce it!
- Truly allows you to explore 12 different flavors (Find a mixed pack with four flavors each: Berry, Citrus, or Tropical).
- The Facts: 100 Calories, Gluten Free, 2g Carbs, 5% Alcohol
- Their website even lists delicious cocktail options, however be careful because that will add calories to your cocktail. Our favorite recipe of theirs is the Truly Merry Berry Cocktail: add one ounce of gin (75 calories), a splash of cranberry juice (look for diet or lite options), and a sprig of rosemary, to 6 ounces of their Wild Berry flavor. Serve over ice in a Collins glass.
- High Noon Sun Sips is the only canned option on the market right now that boasts of real vodka and real juice.
- The Facts: 100 Calories, Gluten Free, No Added Sugar, 4.5% Alcohol.
- Their 4 flavors include grapefruit, watermelon, black cherry, & pineapple.
WINE
Sometimes there's just nothing that can beat that craving for WINE! Fortunately, there are wines available for the fitness junkie in mind. Here are a few of our top choices:
FITVINE
was a line of wines created for the health-conscious in mind, while providing a great tasting yet lighter option. They range from 92-120 calories per 5 ounce glass depending on the varietal, have hardly any sugar, and still pack a punch with 11-14.1% Alcohol. What makes them so unique is their proprietary fermentation process that results in less than 1 gram of sugar per liter (around 0.09 grams per glass).
In addition, they are sustainable and one of the vegan-friendly options out there (yes many wines are not vegan if you can believe it!).
Varietals include: Holiday Red, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Rosé, Albariño, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Prosecco, and Sauvignon Blanc. Look for the runner on the label when shopping!
LIFEVINE is committed to growing wines without the use of harmful pesticides. They are Certified Pesticide Free and the winner of the Clean Label Project Award. They also have 25% more antioxidants than the average wine, and less than 1 gram of sugar per serving.
In addition to the Cabernet, they offer two lower calorie wines; their Chardonnay contains 118 calories and the Pinot Noir rings in at 114 per serving. They use "clean & honest ingredients", so the taste results in a pure, delicious wine.
Their sister wine, RASCAL,
is also pesticide free and supports the Humane Society of the United States, as well as other local Animal Welfare Societies.
BONTERRA
is one of our favorites for certified organic wines, and this brand focuses on sustainability, plants flowers that attract beneficial bugs, and even employs sheep to "cut the grass" between the vines.
Organic means less sulfates, which means less sugar, and less of a wine headache the next morning. They also have Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, and a Young Red Blend in cans which not only provides convenience, but allows you to enjoy a glass without committing to opening an entire bottle. Portion control is built right in for you!
Many of their wines have earned 90+ Points on Wine Spectator & Wine Enthusiast so you know
they are great tasting.
VODKA
Vodkas are typically around 97 Calories for a 2 ounce pour, so an easy cocktail is to mix with seltzer or flavored club soda with a lime or lemon garnish. And of course there's always diet soda, but let's get more creative.
Look for light options of your favorite juices, which may cut the calories in half: orange juice, cranberry juice, or lemonade.
But our recommendation this season? ABSOLUT JUICE APPLE EDITION,
which is only 99 calories per serving. Create a delicious take on the Classic Mule: grab a bottle of Fever Tree Ginger Beer, (just 40 calories per bottle), add a splash of lime juice and garnish with cranberries for a light, festive, and flavorful cocktail.
GIN
Gin typically checks in at about 145 Calories for a 2 ounce pour, and our excitement is mounting over the Limited Edition HENDRICK'S ORBIUM. As their website describes, Obrium is "instilled with additional extracts of Quinine, Wormwood and Lotus Blossom, the result is an oddly exquisite gin that sits roundly on the palate, complementing our beloved cucumber and rose essences."
It is flavorful like you wouldn't believe, so a simple Gin & Soda or Gin Martini works beautifully for a refreshing option. Add a sprig of Rosemary or even Pine to enhance the experience while adding some holiday cheer, or keep it simple with a few slices of cucumber instead.
Look out for the deep cerulean blue bottle on shelves, and get your bottle quick before they sell out!
WHISKEY
Add 2 dashes Orange Bitters & 2 dashes Angostura Bitters to a rocks glass, followed by 2 parts Glenlivet 14 Year Old, 1/4 Part simple syrup, and a large ice cube. Garnish with Orange Peel & Sprig of Rosemary.
BOURBON |
A one ounce shot of bourbon is 97 calories, and we recommend looking into the family of OLD FORESTER.
What makes them unique is they provide a wide variety of styles to explore, with their most common listed here:
1870 Original Batch
1897 Bottled in Bond
1910 Old Fine Whiskey
1920 Prohibition Style
Classic 86 Proof
Rye Whiskey
Signature 100 Proof
Warm up with a Hot Toddy by adding one ounce of Old Forester, honey, lemon, and cinnamon stick to hot water.
IRISH | We enjoy a good Irish Whiskey just as much as the next lass, and love the triple-casked SLANE IRISH WHISKEY
which has a smooth and flavorful finish. Create a low calorie Irish Coffee by adding one ounce Slane (about 70 calories) to fresh brewed coffee and topping off with Cool Whip Lite (2 tbsp. are only 20 calories).
It will give you the jump in energy you need, while satisfying your sweet tooth.
TEQUILA
We've said it before, and we'll say it again: HAVE YOU TRIED ROCA PATRON? Yes there are other brands we know and love, but this season we are particularly smitten with this tequila that uses the old style tahona process. Essentially, they use a 2 ton volcanic rock wheel to crush the agave plant, which results in a crafted, ultra-smooth tequila. At only 64 calories per ounce, the agave used to make tequila is naturally sweet so you don't need to go crazy with added sugars. You'll want to sip it on its own, or create a craft cocktail for a premium drink.
One great option is their Basil Lime Margarita. Rim glass with Kosher Salt, add 2 ounces Roca Patron Silver, 1 ounce lime juice, 1 ounce simple syrup (50 calories), 4-5 basil leaves & stir. Add lime wheel or wedge for garnish.
Remember to measure our your portions, otherwise you may end up doubling your calories by slipping a 2 ounce pour into your glass when you meant to add only one! Since most wines & liquors are already gluten free, you're safe there too. If you're nervous, you can always check but once distilled there is no gluten in the mash. Most are also low-carb or carb-free, so keto-dieters can rejoice too.
We hope this list has provided you some insight for how to stay focused on your fitness goals! Don't forget to check out our social media @hartagency for more. We'll continue to post about the newest products on the market, as well as upcoming events & promotions in New York.
Hope you enjoy!
Cheers for now,
The Hart Team
#promo #promotion #promotionalagency #promomodel #promotionalmodel #model #brandambassador #hart #hartagency #hartteam #blog #event #tasting #wine #vodka #spirit #tequila #scotch #bourbon #gin #drink #drinkme #drinkup #cocktail #mixologist #bartender #bartend #irish #coffee #liqueur #rosemary #ginger #gingerbeer #lemon #lime #margarita #mule #diet #keto #ketofriendly #glutenfree #newyork #newyorkstate #newyorkcity #longisland #westchester #upstate
What is Tequila? Tequila is a distilled spirit and a type of mezcal. The liquor is made from agave plants and produced only in specific parts of Mexico. Depending on where the agave is grown, the taste of tequila can vary by the bottle. Similar to the way whiskey can be broken down into more specific categories like bourbon and scotch, tequila can be broken down as well. There are three main types of tequila—blanco (silver, unaged), reposado (aged for 2 to 9 months in wood barrels), and añejo (aged for a minimum of 1 year in wood barrels).
At The Hart Agency, we at times have the pleasure to introduce new and unusual products to consumers. Here are a few of our favorites!
With the beginning of March, we're feeling slightly warmer weather which has us yearning for spring. St. Patrick's Day is March 17th, so we're going to look at the differences in Irish Whiskeys and your best cocktails to go along with them.