During the summer months, cocktails are traditionally our tipples of choice. That said, they tend to suffer a pretty bad reputation in the world of healthy living. The reason? Many of them are packed with sugar.
Here at Pai HQ, we refused to believe that all cocktails deserve a bad name. So, for the sake of looking after the interests of our blog readers we diligently did some digging.
Our mission? To find (and sample) health-conscious concoctions that give cause for celebrations!
The good news: we found some great brands out there creating well-crafted and clean (as they can be!) spirits. Coupled with some super-healthy mixing ingredients, here are summer cocktails that promote wellbeing.
Cucumber Collins
Consuming alcohol can leave you parched, particularly in hot weather. Soda water is an excellent choice for cocktails – it contains no sugar and keeps you hydrated. Cucumber Collins is a seriously refreshing drink that’s ideal for a hot day.
The ingredients
Shot of Gin (we only use Sipsmith)
Lots of ice
Shavings of cucumber
Soda water
Lemon
Elderflower cordial (optional)
Mix well and serve.
Green machine
Take your favourite green juice (homemade or bottled) and add a shot of vodka.
Shake over ice and serve with lemon.
We love juices from Plenish, Radiance Cleanse and The Detox Kitchen – the bonus is they’re all delivered straight to your door.
Bloody Mary
There are many traditional recipes, but our comes courtesy of Jamie Oliver. The main ingredients of a Bloody Mary are just brimming with goodness; this concoction also serves as a fantastic ‘recovery drink’ if you’ve been indulging the night before!
Tomatoes contain a great source of lycopene – an antioxidant powerhouse that wards off a whole host of health complications. Don’t hold back on the Tabasco either; it contains a high concentration of capsaicin. This raises your body temperature, helping you to burn more calories.
It also contains vitamin C, so it’s perfect for adding liberally – the spicier the better for the ultimate health kick!
