The start of a new year means making new year’s resolutions for most. It’s the perfect time to reset and refresh. Although January has been known for its “dry” quality—and we’re not talking about the biting winter air—in the past, with the continuous troubles facing the world, from the pandemic to political stress, it’s understandable that this may not be the year to give up a weekend (or evening) cocktail. However, you can certainly make them healthier!
With so many of us turning to healthier habits in the kitchen, these 8 light and delicious cocktail recipes by MurLarkey Distilled Spirits—a family-owned craft distillery in Virginia—are the perfect way to enjoy a drink, while still cutting out extra calories and staying relatively healthy, for the days or nights that a drink is a must.
Clean & Light Mojito
Ingredients:
1 ½ oz MurLarkey ImaGINation Gin (An International Gold Medal Winner, and On Sale in VA starting January 1!)
1 lemongrass or ginseng tea bag
Lemon slice
Mint sprig
Directions:
Infuse tea bag in a cup of gin for 30 minutes. Add infused gin, lemon slice, and mint sprig into a tall glass filled with ice. Shake well to muddle. Top with your choice of low-calorie soda. Garnish with another mint sprig.
Clean & Light Hibiscus Berry Blush
Ingredients:
1 ½ oz MurLarkey Divine Clarity Vodka
1 hibiscus berry tea bag
Your choice of berries (blackberries, blueberries, raspberries)
Directions:
Infuse tea bag in a cup of vodka for 30 minutes. Add infused vodka and berries into a highball glass filled with ice. Shake to muddle. Top with your choice of low-calorie soda. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary, basil, or mint.
Clean & Light Martini
Ingredients:
2 oz MurLarkey ImaGINation Gin
¼ oz dry vermouth
Directions:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
All-Natural Divine Cranberry Splash
Ingredients:
1 oz MurLarkey Divine Clarity Vodka
4 oz club soda
Splash of cranberry juice
Directions:
Pour ingredients into a glass filled with ice. Stir and garnish with a lime wedge.
Divine Mule
Ingredients:
1.5 oz MurLarkey Divine Clarity Vodka
3.5 oz ginger beer
Juice from 1/2 a lime
Garnish: Lime wedge
Directions:
Pour all ingredients into a copper mug with ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Divine Martini
Ingredients:
2 oz MurLarkey Divine Clarity Vodka
Dash of olive juice
Garnish: 3 olives
Directions:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with 3 olives.
Gin & Tonic
Ingredients:
1.5 oz MurLarkey ImaGINation Gin
4.5 oz tonic water
Garnish: Lime wedge
Directions:
Add all ingredients into a tall glass with ice and stir well. Garnish with lime wedge.
Paloma
Ingredients:
1.5 oz MurLarkey ImaGINation Gin
3 oz Ruby Red grapefruit juice
1 cucumber slice
1 lime wedge
Tonic water
Garnish: Cucumber wheel & lime wedge
Directions:
Add all ingredients except tonic water into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Pour into a highball glass. Top with tonic water. Garnish with cucumber wheel and lime wedge.
Read full Washington Times Now article here.