4 Ways to Enjoy Happy Hour Without Added Sugar
Cocktails sometimes catch a bad rap for being loaded with sugar, and they certainly can be. But at Montanya, we’ve never been big on sugar. Our founder is a diagnosed celiac, and has always been careful about what she eats in order to feel her best. Many of our staff are careful too.
It’s one of many reasons we forgo mixers for fresh-squeezed juices, infusions and simple syrups that we make ourselves—we know exactly what goes into every one of our cocktails and they taste better too. That said, we also know that sometimes you want a drink without any sugar at all. Here are four ways to enjoy rum cocktails with less sugar or no sugar at all:
#1: Take the Sugar Out of Classic Cocktails
Many classic rum cocktails made with simple syrup are just as delicious sans sucre. Perhaps the easiest among them is the Mojito.
Leave the sugar out of your mojito or order a Montaya Oro with soda and lime for a refreshing cocktail without the sugary sweetness. Photo credit Mae Mu.
The only added sugar is a bit of simple syrup, which can be left out. (This is a great one to remember if you’re serving drinks at a get-together where some guests prefer the added sweetness and others don’t. It’s easy to adapt by adding the sugar drink by drink.)
Other cocktails that are still yummy without the added sugar are the Daiquiri and the Old Fashioned (click the links for the recipes).
#2: Simplify Your Order
Founder and Owner Karen Hoskin will often order Montanya Oro with soda and lime. It’s a light and refreshing drink that can really hit the spot. Tonic can work too, just be careful of the brand—some have a lot of sugar and salt. We like Q Tonic, because it’s a lot less sweet without sacrificing flavor—they’ve even sponsored some of our events.
#3 Ask for Advice from Your Bartender
If scanning the cocktail menu doesn’t yield any obvious low-sugar or no-sugar solutions, ask the bartender. Karen often asks bartenders if they have any tart rum drinks they like to make or rum drinks that aren’t on the menu—that will often bring up new ideas that are tasty and sugar free.
#4 Learn to Spot High-Sugar Ingredients
We’re talking things like cream of coconut and packaged juices. Anytime a drink is made with fresh squeezed lime, lemon or orange it’s likely to be better tasting and far less sugary than if it’s made from a packaged juice (another good question to ask the bartender).
You’ll see a lot of fresh ingredients behind the bar at the Montanya Distillers tasting room. The Cucumber Templar pictured here features Montanya Bitters which can also be a great way to make flavorful cocktails without sugar.
Watch out as well for many tonics and mixers. When cocktails like the Bloody Mary, the Margarita, the Daiquiri, and the Sweet and Sour are made from mixers, they can be intense sources of sugar. (Looking for alternatives? Try our Hemingway Daiquiri—only a quarter ounce of simple syrup.)
Some brands of mixers are starting to explore alternatives, but they take some sleuthing to find. If you happen live across the pond from us, you may want to check out Sekforde, a female-owned and founded company that offers creative flavors without relying on sugar for taste. How about a blend of lime, mint, rose, and cacao to mix with your rum? Yes, please!
And closer to home, fellow Women’s Cocktail Collective member The Bitter Housewife has launched a new Bitters & Soda Aromatic. They reformulated their Old Fashioned Aromatic bitters to be alcohol- and sugar-free, then mixed them with soda water. We can’t wait to give it a try!
How about you? What tips do you follow to reduce your sugar intake in your cocktails? Let us know in the comments below!
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Enjoy Better Cocktails
This free eBook is filled with simple tips to make better cocktails at home, including a look at gluten in spirits and what to watch for if you’re gluten-free.