Low-Carb Cocktails

Well here it is. As with any new project, you should start off with a bang! Or a drink, or even both! (as you will see...)

Our first two concoctions were very simple, as I think all drink recipes should be. I honestly don't think any recipe with more than say, 3 ingredients is worth the bother. I can't spend that much time on one cocktail when for less money I could buy a case of smirnoff ice.

So after scouring the net (for a grand total of perhaps half an hour), I chose these two drink mixes for their possible tastiness, and convenience of ingredients.

And remember: the best part of these drinks is they are truly LOW CARB!
Here is the mix of ingredients I used to make both drinks...

Diet Rootbeer, club soda, white rum, absolut citron (lemon vodka), a shot glass, a lemon, and some cream. (18%)

Drink #1: Root Beer Float - Approx. 4g carbs per drink.

Ingredients:

• White Rum
• Diet Root beer (The one I got was caffeine free as well, which is a bonus.
• A Tablespoon of 18% Cream
• A pretty glass :) (I would recommend a tumbler, or something deep. not a martini glass!)

So I found this drink as a note on a forum that just said: "rum, rootbeer, cream. heaven." and was quite understandably intrigued. On one hand, it sounds possibly gross. On the other...possibly GENIUS!

So I started out by pouring a whole shot of rum (provided free in my room when I visited Cuba in April...score!) into one of my stem-less wine glasses. I then filled the glass with the diet root beer about 3/4 of the way up.

And then I decided to get creative. In order to make it more float-y, I was going to take the cream (I started off with 1/4 cup but honestly this would be enough for like 3 drinks...so I've listed less above) and blend it with 2 ice cubes in my magic bullet blender.. This did not work AT ALL. It made scary, violent sounds and didn't crush the ice much...so I screamed a little, and abandoned that plan.

To make a long story short, you need to VERY SLOWLY add the cream to the drink. The second you do...BAM! The rootbeer fizzes right up, and in my case...all over the counter!


So...be careful! And then enjoy. That's honestly it. I know I babbled on and on, but it is as simple as: 1) Shot of rum in the glass. 2) Fill glass 3/4 with the diet root beer. 3) SLOWLY add cream, and then give it a mix!
You could also float an ice cube or two in there to make the drink more cool. I'd suggest throwing the rum in the fridge in advance, as well as the pop so it's nice and cold!

The end result:

(ok...I know it looks a bit gross. But trust me - it tastes like dessert.
The california raisins give it 2 thumbs up, and so do I.)

Drink #2 - Lemon Vodka + Soda (sounds very plain, but bear with me!) - 0 Carbs!

This one is amazingly easy, tasty and fresh! GREAT summer drink.

Ingredients:

• Lemon Vodka (In my case...Absolut Citron. Absolut has no sugar in it, unlike Smirnoff Lemon. But don't be afraid of that if it's all there is.)
• Club Soda
• One lemon (or lime, if you prefer those).
• A fancy glass. This one could use a tumbler OR a martini glass :)

Take a shot of your vodka (I put mine in the freezer to make it lovely cold in advance..) and pour it into your glass, OR into a martini shaker if you have one. Next up, fill your glass up 3/4 way with club soda (or pour the same amount into your martini shaker...about a cupfull). Throw some ice cubes in, and give it a mix! (or a shake! And then strain that into the glass).

THEN to make this more than the average vodka + soda, cut a few slices off a lemon. Squeeze one into the drink itself, and cut a little notch into the other slice so it can sit on the side of the glass as garnish.

Done? Done! Wasn't that easy?

And now for another cheesy photo of the finished product..

(El Torro approves of our Lemon Vodka + Soda)

Until next time...;)