Not quite ready to give up that evening cocktail but still looking for a gentler sip this January? The following drinks, from floral and bubbly (the Lavender 75) to nutty and rich (La Vida Dolce), are all delicious but relatively low in alcohol. They’re ideal to relax with, yet not blow those virtuous New Year’s resolutions. And for those who seek something zero proof, check out our mocktail coverage.
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Lavender 75
Breakfast in Bed
L’appel du Vide
Gingerman
6th and 42nd
La Vida Dolce
Courtesy Cheston Overman, lead bartender, Bookstore Bar & Café, Seattle
If the French 75, which is usually based on gin or Cognac, is your jam, here’s a kinder, gentler alternative. The floral lilt of lavender syrup may even remind of the botanicals found in some gins.
- ¾ ounce lavender syrup (recipe below)
- ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
- 4 ounces dry sparkling wine
- Lemon twist (for garnish)
Combine lavender syrup and lemon juice in a Champagne flute. Top slowly with sparkling wine. Garnish with lemon twist.
In small saucepan, mix 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and 1 ounce dried lavender. Simmer and stir for 3–4 minutes, until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat. Let cool, and strain.
Courtesy Natasha David, co-owner, Nitecap, New York City
This is a cobbler-style drink—a 19th-century cocktail served over crushed or pebble ice. They were often served with an elaborate garnish, so don’t skimp on the mint bouquet! This version starts with a base of rich sweet vermouth, given additional depth by small amounts of orange marmalade and Branca Menta, a minty amaro.
- 2 ounces sweet vermouth, like Carpano Antica Formula
- ¾ ounces lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1 teaspoon Fernet Branca Menta
- 1 teaspoon orange marmalade
- Mint bouquet (for garnish)
In cocktail shaker with ice, combine ingredients (except garnish). Shake well, then strain into rocks glass over crushed ice. Garnish with mint bouquet.
Courtesy Daniel Zacharczuk, general manager, Bibo Ergo Sum, Los Angeles
Yes, this drink includes a bit of the stiffer stuff, but the main ingredient is Lillet Rosé, a refreshing, easy-drinking French aperitif wine. Overall, the effect is layered and complex, but carries only a modest punch.
- 1¾ ounces Lillet Rosé
- ¾ ounce London dry gin
- ⅓ ounce aquavit, like Krogstad
- 1 teaspoon Green Chartreuse
- 1 dash orange bitters
- 2 drops saline solution (mix 1 part salt to 3 parts water, and stir to dissolve)
- Castelvetrano olive (for garnish)
In mixing glass filled with ice, stir together all ingredients (except garnish). Strain into Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with olive speared on cocktail pick.
Courtesy Jim Lynch, bartender, Panzano, Denver
Naturally, this Italian restaurant emphasizes ingredients from the homeland in this fruity-spicy number, like Mandarinetto, a mandarin orange liqueur from the Amalfi coast. It’s often likened to limoncello. This also features Prosecco, Italy’s signature sparkling wine.
- 1 ounce ginger liqueur
- 1 ounce orange liqueur, like Mandarinetto Liqueur
- 2 ounces Prosecco
- Lemon twist (for garnish)
In rocks glass, gently stir together all ingredients (except garnish) with ice. Garnish with lemon twist.
Courtesy Sean M. Johnson, head bartender, Gabriel Kreuther, New York City
This drink’s name points to the location of the restaurant at the edge of New York City’s Bryant Park. The cocktail takes inspiration from the classic Garibaldi cocktail, a citrusy aperitivo from the piazzas of Italy.
- 1½ ounces grapefruit juice
- 1 ounce Campari
- ½ ounce Demerara syrup (stir together equal parts Demerara sugar and hot water, until sugar dissolves)
- ½ ounces sparkling wine
- Grapefruit slice (for garnish)
In cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine first three ingredients. Shake well, then strain into Collins glass over fresh ice. Top with sparkling wine. Garnish with grapefruit slice.
Courtesy Travis Sanders, bartender, Pennyroyal, Seattle
Swap the usual Manhattan or other boozy cocktail for this Sherry-forward sipper. Nutty Manzanilla Sherry mixes with Bonal, a French wine-based aperitif similar to sweet vermouth. A small amount of walnut liqueur adds satisfying richness.
- 1 ounce Lustau Manzanilla Sherry
- 1½ ounces Bonal
- ½ ounce Nocino (walnut liqueur)
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- Lemon twist (for garnish)
In mixing glass filled with ice, stir all ingredients (except garnish). Strain into coupe glass. Garnish with lemon twist.
1Lavender 75
2Breakfast in Bed
3L’appel du Vide
4Gingerman
56th and 42nd
6La Vida Dolce
