These tasty low-alcohol cocktails are making the buzz | Good food

“Sharing a drink with other people is like sharing a meal,” says Natasha David, author of “Drink lightly.” His low-alcohol cocktail creations appeal to the social aspect of consumption and community. She finds dilution with a good sip of seltzer or water to be essential for keeping the alcohol content low.

On her first menu at her Nitecap bar, she created the Pinkies Out drink as a tribute to her mother’s white wine spritz. David completes his version with sparkling apple cider. The formula for an easy low-alcohol cocktail is a little wine, a little flavor, and some bubbles. “There’s always something in the fridge you can make,” she says.

Based on classic cocktails, David’s approach is to give low-level alcohol the limelight. In her Giggle Fit cocktail, she combines Lillet Rosé, aquavit, lemon juice, carrot brandy, honey and pomegranate grenadine – her version of a French 75. The Lillet Rosé has tangy strawberry notes while the aquavit serves as a “disruptor,” with its savory ride taking those on a journey.

endless spring
For 1
Glassware: Highball
Ice: in cubes
Garnish: ½ strawberry

Ingredients

• ½ strawberry
• 1 ounce of Lillet Rosé
• ¾ ounce Amaro Ramazzotti
• ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• Sparkling water, to top it off

Instructions

1. Slightly crush the ½ strawberry in the bottom of a shaker.
2. Add the Lillet Rosé, the Ramazzotti, the lemon juice and the syrup to the shaker.
3. Add ice and shake.
4. Fine strain into a highball glass with ice cubes.
5. Top up with sparkling water. Stir to incorporate all the ingredients.
6. Garnish with the remaining strawberry half. Serve with a straw.

“Reproduced with permission from Drink Lightly. Copyright © 2022 by Natasha David. Photographs copyright © 2022 Kristin Teig. Illustrations copyright © Andrés Ouais. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

At her former New York bar, Nitecap, Natasha David has created more than 60 versions of a spritz over the years, her emotional connection being the memory of her mother drinking a fizzy white wine version. Photo by Kristin Teig.

The formula for an easy low-alcohol cocktail is a little wine, a little flavor, and some bubbles. “There’s always something in the fridge you can make,” says Natasha David. Her new cocktail book is “Drinking Lightly”. Photo courtesy of Penguin Random House.