The holidays are in full swing ushering in a parade of parties. Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry. If your goal is to indulge without the bulge, don’t forget to count the liquid calories in holiday cocktails.
The standard 1.5-ounce serving of 80-proof alcohol has 96 calories — before you add any mixers. Whether you’re drinking a beer or a Bellini, the higher the alcohol content, the higher the calories. For example: 80-proof vodka (40 percent alcohol; most common) contains 64 calories per ounce. 100-proof vodka (50 percent alcohol) contains 82 calories per ounce. Too much math? Just remember to drink a glass of water in between cocktails to hydrate and moderate consumption.
Culinary cocktails
Drinking in moderation is easier when cocktails are so delicious you want to sip slowly to savor the flavors. Case in point is a unique cocktail created by Ben Yabrow for the bar menu at Himitsu, a newly opened lounge in Buckhead. Called the Toryufu and served in a tall flute, this drink is a fragrant and sparkly mix of pear vodka with white truffle-scented honey, grapefruit juice and tonic. You had me at white truffle.
Caterer Sean O’Keefe slows down the pace of holiday drinking by going ga-ga for garnishes in a whimsical set up for a build your own Bloody Mary bar. “Why not offer guests a choice of garnishes way beyond celery sticks?” says O’Keefe. “Anything that can go on a stick will work, from hard-boiled eggs to beef jerky or even tuck in a crab claw!” By the way, the protein in those garnishes will help slow down the absorption of alcohol.
Dessert in disguise
Martinis lined with chocolate sauce or Key lime pie martinis with graham cracker cookie crumbs on the rim are sweet and creamy and loaded with up to 400 calories in a 5-ounce drink. If you must imbibe, say hello to your liquid dessert!
Super drinks?
Now, about that pomegranate martini that sounds so heart healthy. Most studies looked at the effects of 8 ounces of pomegranate juice per day for 45 days — not eight drops in a martini on a Friday night. Same goes for green tea-infused vodka. There’s not enough in the mix to pack a health promoting punch. Enjoy the flavor. It’s a cocktail, not a cure-all.
Under 200
Martini (2.5 ounces), 160 calories: This is a small martini by restaurant standards.
Red wine (5 ounces), 120 calories: Higher alcohol reds have more calories.
White wine (5 ounces), 120 calories: Sweeter whites have more calories.
Champagne (5 ounces), 106-120 calories: Look for brut Champagne, lowest in sugar.
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