Drinks Cocktails 11 Low-Alcohol Cocktails Every Party Host Needs to Know Keep the festive spirit going with these easy-to-drink cocktail recipes. By Food & Wine Editors Food & Wine Editors This is collaborative content from Food & Wine's team of experts, including staff, recipe developers, chefs, and contributors. Many of our galleries curate recipes or guides from a variety of sources which we credit throughout the content and at each link. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on February 27, 2023 Close Photo: Photo by Huge Galdones / Food Styling by Christina Zerkis There's no time of year more packed with celebrations, and the festive, delightful cocktails that tend to come with them. Whether you've got fifteen or five parties to make it to, we know a thing or two about hitting pause on the Martini madness (no matter how good they are), or swapping out a Negroni for a Dirty Shirley. Low-ABV doesn't mean low-in-flavor, and we rounded up eleven of our favorite cocktails that make use of lighter ingredients like sherry, Campari, Aperol, and vermouth to prove it. Cin-cin! 01 of 11 Stop the Hourglass Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Rishon Hanners / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis Amontillado sherry, with notes of vanilla and toasted hazelnuts, adds a sweet, pleasant complexity to this frozen, party-ready sipper. The mint tea ice cubes are especially good for taming the heat of the alcohol and ginger. Get the recipe 02 of 11 The Spaghett Photo by Huge Galdones / Food Styling by Christina Zerkis A light beer spiked with Campari is the perfect lower-ABV Negroni alternative we can't get enough of. Get the recipe 03 of 11 Sparkling Rosé Cocktail Caitlin Bensel Bright and bubbly, this simple cocktail is as drinkable as it is endlessly riffable. For added sweetness, stir in an extra spoonful of jam, or try grilling your peaches for a hint of smoke that accentuates the tequila. Get the recipe 04 of 11 Dirty Shirley Photo by Huge Galdones / Food Styling by Christina Zerkis The classic cocktail for children gets an adult upgrade with a shot of vodka; a maraschino cherry on top keeps things whimsical. Get the Recipe 05 of 11 Ranch Rosé Photo by Sarah Crowder / Food Styling by Chandra Ram Ranch Water has become noticeably more popular in recent years as people seek out cocktails that are low in alcohol. It's light and citrusy, making it especially drinkable towards the end of the night. Get the recipe 06 of 11 Fino-Nonino Collins © Carey Jones Sherry is, without a doubt, one of our favorite underdog cocktail ingredients. It adds a layer of savory complexity without upping the alcohol content too much. Get the Recipe 07 of 11 Campari Spritz Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Christina Daley We swap out the slightly sweeter Aperol with Campari, and mix in a little blood orange juice, prosecco, and grapefruit flavored sparkling water for an altogether refreshing cocktail. Get the Recipe 08 of 11 Beet-and-Lemon Shrub The Ingalls With a relatively low amount of alcohol, this refreshing and tart cocktail is perfect for holiday brunch. Fresh beet juice is key here — purchase it from a juice bar, or press it at home; shelf-stable bottled juices won't have the same flavor or color. Get the Recipe 09 of 11 Rebujito Guillermo Riveros / Food Styling by Oset Babür-Winter Refreshing and surprisingly simple, this classic Spanish cocktail is perfect for lazy afternoons. Get the Recipe 10 of 11 Uffizi © Lucas Allen This cocktail is a lighter take on the Salty Dog, the time-honored mix of vodka and grapefruit juice in a salt-rimmed glass. It's made with two kinds of aperitif (drinks with bitter flavors designed to spark the appetite): quinine-infused Bonal and citrusy, bittersweet Cocchi Americano. Get the recipe 11 of 11 Kalimotxo Photo by Huge Galdones / Food Styling by Christina Zerkis At first glance, combining red wine and cola sounds like sacrilege, but don't knock it until you try a Kalimotxo (sometimes written as it is pronounced, Calimocho). This easy-drinking combination originated in the 1920s, in the Old Port area of Algorta, a coastal town in the Basque region of Spain. Get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit