Cooling off with a summery cocktail doesn’t have to mean consuming a ton of sugar. TZR asked mixologists and nutritionists alike for some options that feature fresh ingredients for flavorful but not-too-sweet concoctions you’ll want to sip all season. Sasha_P/Shutterstock
Spiked Coconut Water
Christina Towle, certified clinical nutritionist, recommends adding a splash of coconut flavored rum or vodka to your coconut water for a healthier, tropical delight. “You get all the benefits of coconut water with a little spike of fun,” she says. Here Asia/Shutterstock
Green Tea Margarita
To create “the perfect spa cocktail,” Townes recommends trying this combo of green tea infused tequila with lots of fresh citrus juice for added sweetness in lieu of syrup and other sweeteners. Anna_Pustynnikova/Shutterstock
Rye Iced Tea
“An iced tea cocktail with rye, a touch of honey simple syrup, black tea, and some fresh lemon,” recommends Jordan Catapano, co-founder of This Girl Walks Into a Bar. “Simple to make yet complex to the palate.” contrse/Shutterstock
Kombucha Fizz
Cesar López of Casa Amate at Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya recommends combining herbaceous gin with a low-sugar kombucha (like Wild Tonic) for a cocktail that may give digestion a boost.Oksana Mizina/Shutterstock
Raspberry Mint Margarita
Mckenzie Hathaway, a Mindbody Nutrition expert, creates a low-sugar option by mixing tequila blanco, Raspberry Lime Spindrift, fresh raspberries, and mint. Goskova Tatiana/Shutterstock
Grapefruit-Rosemary Vodka Spritzer
"Rather than bottled juice, we use pure, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, and the muddled rosemary adds such a wonderfully fresh flavor that you don't even miss the simple syrup,” says Amanda McGrory-Dixon of Burrata and Bubbles. “It's refreshing, quick, and so easy to make." Victoria Kondysenko/Shutterstock
Spicy Mezcal Margarita
“Mezcal with fresh squeezed lime juice, a splash of club soda, and jalapeno: Perfect for summer, low in carbs, no added sugar, and a healthier version of a margarita,” says Amy Shapiro, founder of Real Nutrition. Katelyn Racanelli/Shutterstock
Summer Negroni
The Wayward’s manager Scott Hunter recommends the restaurant’s seasonal twist on the classic cocktail, “Back to Bordeaux,” which includes Lillet, Dolin Blanc, and Conque Apertivo.The Wayward
Watermelon Mojito
“Mojitos are delicious and refreshing and this version is an even better option,” says Timo Torner of Cocktail Society. “Simply leave out the sweetener and use fresh watermelon juice and you have your perfect [low-sugar] summer cocktail.” Kolpakova Svetlana/Shutterstock