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8 Skinny Summer Cocktails Under 200 Calories

You've worked hard to get that body beach-ready for the summer, so keep it that way by ditching high-calorie libations and sipping on skinny cocktails instead. Cut the calories, not the flavor and enjoy these tasty under-200 calorie cocktails guilt-free.

Blueberry Ginger Bellini
Blueberry cocktail
Photo Credit Thinkstock

Champagne is surprisingly light on calories, around 120 calories for a 5 ounce flute. Blueberry and ginger add a refreshing summer twist to an otherwise ordinary glass of Champagne.

Calories: 185
Serves: 4

  • 1/2 cup blueberries
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • Juice of 1/2 a lemon
  • 2 cups blueberry juice
  • 1/2 cup Champagne, divided

Muddle blueberries, ginger, sugar and lemon juice. Add blueberry juice and let steep for at least 5 minutes. Strain and divide among 4 champagne flutes, topping each with 1/2 cup of Champagne.

Michelada
Michelada

Traditional Micheladas made with Corona typically contain around 160 calories. Use a light beer to lighten the calories even more. And while light beers can be, well, lacking in flavor, you can dress them up by turning them into spicy micheladas.

Calories: 160 or less
Serves: 2

  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (from about 2 medium limes), rinds reserved
  • 1 1/2 cups light Mexican beer, such as Corona
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons hot sauce, such as Tabasco
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • Ice
  • Salt, for rimming
  • Freshly ground black pepper, for garnish

Rub the rims of two glasses with the reserved lime rinds and dip the glasses into the salt. Fill the glasses with ice and set aside. Add the lime juice, beer, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and soy sauce in a pitcher and mix to combine. Pour into the prepared glasses, top with a few grinds of pepper, and serve.

Skinny Gin and Grapefruit Cocktail
Skinny Gin and Grapefruit Cocktail
Photo Credit Thinkstock

An ounce of 90-proof gin weighs in at approximately 73 calories. Create a simple, refreshing gin cocktail by using low-calorie mixers like sugar-free simple syrup and grapefruit juice to keep the calorie consumption down.

Calories: 110
Serves: 1

  • 1 1/2 ounces Gin
  • 1 ounce Sugar-Free Simple Syrup
  • 3 ounces Fresh Grapefruit Juice

Combine all of the ingredients in a shaker filled with ice and shake well.  Pour into a glass filled with ice and garnish with a slice of grapefruit.

Strawberry Basil Lemonade
Strawberry Basil Lemonade

Nothing says summer quite like a refreshing glass of fresh lemonade. Make it a cocktail by adding vodka and kick it up with the addition of fresh strawberries and basil.

Calories: 130
Serves: 1

  • 2 to 3 strawberries
  • 2 to 3 basil leaves
  • 1 ounce vodka
  • Fresh lemonade

Muddle strawberries in a glass, then add basil leaves and gently bruise. Add vodka and lemonade and stir. Add ice and enjoy.

Green Tea Martini
Green Tea Martini

Green tea is a 0-calorie beverage that offers many health benefits, so why not add it to cocktails? An ounce of 80 proof vodka contains approximately 64 calories. Lighten this cocktail up by using Skinny Girl vodka, which contains 50 calories per ounce.

Calories: 180
Serves: 1

  • 2 ounce vodka
  • 1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
  • 1 ounce green tea (chilled)
  • Fresh-squeezed lemon juice, to taste

Combine vodka, grand marnier, green tea, and fresh-squeezed lemon juice in a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and pour into a martini glass.

Jalapeño Margarita
Jalapeño Margarita

Ditch sugary, calorie-laden margarita mixes and opt for fresh-squeeze lime juice and agave nectar to lighten up this classic cocktail.

Calories: 164
Serves: 1

  • 2 ounces jalapeño-infused tequila (Recommended: Tanteo Jalapeño Tequila)
  • 1 1/4 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1/2 ounce Agave nectar
  • 1 Lime wheel

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and pour into a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.  Note: Use tequila of choice and muddle in fresh jalapeno in lieu of infused tequila.

Whiskey Smash
Whiskey Smash

Bourbon and whiskey contain around 70 calories per ounce, so lighten calories by pairing with fresh, low-calorie ingredients.

Calories: 150
Serves: 1

  • 7 fresh mint leaves
  • Half of a lemon
  • 1 Tbsp. Simple Syrup
  • 1/4 cup whiskey or bourbon

Muddle mint leaves, 1 lemon half (quartered lengthwise) and 1 Tbsp. Simple Syrup in a cocktail shaker 4 to 5 times to release juices and oils. Add 1/4 cup bourbon and transfer to an Old Fashioned glass. Fill halfway with crushed ice, stir, then mound more crushed ice on top. Garnish with mint sprigs.

Raspberry Thyme Sangria
Raspberry Thyme Sangria

Combine fruity raspberries with sweet, cool rose wine for a refreshing treat.

Calories: 110
Serves: 6

  • 1 bottle of Rosè or Prosecco (E. Guigal Rosè or another dry rosè), chilled
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup of Framboise
  • 1 1/2 cup of raspberries
  • 6 sprigs of fresh thyme, washed
  • Ice

Bring sugar, water, and Framboise to a simmer in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Pour syrup over the raspberries and let stand 5 minutes. Add wine and stir well. Chill, covered, until ready to serve. Serve over ice with a sprig of fresh thyme as garnish.

A Minnesota native that was born and raised Up North, Minneapolis is where Christina Kalinowski currently calls home. Christina appreciates irony, loves bacon, enjoys a hearty libation (drink responsibly, folks), and is an avid proponent of the Swanson Pyramid of Greatness. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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