Whether you’re cutting back or hosting for guests who are, low-ABV cocktails offer all the flavor with less of the booze. These drinks are thoughtfully crafted to be lighter without compromising on taste — light, tasty, and totally worth making.
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Your ultimate guide to low-ABV drinks
Whether I’m hosting friends or just winding down at home, I love having a few low-ABV cocktail recipes in my back pocket. They’re especially great when you’re entertaining, since these lower-alcohol drinks give guests flexibility to sip at their own pace without feeling left out.
Low-ABV cocktails typically fall between about 0.5% and 10% alcohol, which includes spritzes, beer and wine-based drinks and classics made with a smaller pour or a zero-proof swap.
These low-ABV recipes prove you don’t need a heavy pour to get great flavor: They lean on bubbles, citrus, bitters and smart ratios to keep things light and satisfying. From easy highballs to celebratory bubbles, these drinks are approachable, adaptable and genuinely enjoyable. Think of them as cocktails that work just as hard for your guests as they do for you.
How to make a cocktail low-ABV
While it would be nice to make every cocktail low-ABV, that’s easier said than done. Not all cocktails — especially ones with spirits as the main ingredient — work well with less alcohol.
But there are a few tricks you can use on some recipes to make them a little less boozy:
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- Cut the alcohol in half and replace it with more mixer: This works well for something like a Moscow mule, where the booze won’t be missed thanks to the ginger beer and a spritz of lime.
- Replace some of the alcohol with a zero-proof spirit: Some classic drinks like a margarita thrive on their boozy flavor. You can eliminate some of the alcohol by swapping in a non-alcoholic substitute like zero-proof tequila.
- Omit some alcoholic ingredients entirely: For example, in a pitcher of sangria, you could choose a low-ABV wine, then omit the added liqueurs like brandy or triple sec and use a zero-proof spirit or add some orange juice instead.
Another way people approach lower-alcohol drinking is by alternating alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic ones — sometimes this is called “zebra-striping. Check out our favorite mocktails for more ideas.
The best low-ABV cocktails
Before you start mixing, remember that many classic cocktail recipes call for about 2 ounces of alcohol. To keep things low ABV, start with 1 ounce instead, then adjust the balance with more mixer, citrus or ice until it tastes just right. Think of these recipes as flexible — a starting point you can easily tailor to your taste and your guests.
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