Regional Favorite Cocktails - Cooking Light

Photo: Oxmoor House

Have a really happy hour at home with these low-cal boozy beverages.

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Lovely Libations

Photo: Oxmoor House

Each region of the country has its own favorite to reach for when 5 o'clock rolls around. If you want to sidestep the extra calories that come with mixing cocktails, use fresh fruit juices and calorie-free beverages rather than mixes, which are loaded with sugar.

The Old Fashioned is a big hit in the Northeast.

Place 1 brown sugar cube on a cocktail napkin. Sprinkle 2 to 3 drops orange bitters and 2 to 3 drops Angostura bitters over sugar cube. (Napkin will soak up excess bitters.) Transfer cube to a 10-ounce old-fashioned glass. Add 1 orange slice and a few drops bourbon to glass. Mash sugar cube and orange slice, using a muddler, until sugar is almost dissolved. (Avoid mashing the rind; doing so will release a bitter flavor.) Add 3 tablespoons bourbon, and fill glass with ice cubes. Stir until well chilled.

SERVES 1 (serving size: 1 cocktail)

CALORIES 110; FAT 0g (sat 0g); SODIUM 1mg

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East: Long Island Iced Tea

Photo: Oxmoor House

Fill cocktail shaker with crushed ice. Add 4 tablespoons sweet-and-sour mix, 2 tablespoons vodka, 2 tablespoons gin, 2 tablespoons orange liqueur, 2 tablespoons light rum, and 2 tablespoons tequila. Cover with lid, and shake until thoroughly chilled. Strain into 4 chilled small martini glasses. Pour 2 tablespoons sugar-free cola into each glass. Garnish with lemon slices, if desired.

SERVES 4 (serving size: 1 cocktail)

CALORIES 105; FAT 0g (sat 0g); SODIUM 9mg

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Southeast: Mojito

Photo: Oxmoor House

Combine 1 cup fresh mint leaves, 3/4 cup white rum, 1/3 cup agave nectar, and 1 cup ice cubes in pitcher. Mash mint leaves, rum, and agave together; stir in 1 cup fresh lime juice (about 10 limes) and 1 cup sparkling water. Pour into 4 glasses.

SERVES 4 (serving size: 1 cocktail)

CALORIES 190; FAT 0g (sat 0g); SODIUM 5mg

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South: Sazerac

Photo: Oxmoor House

Fill cocktail shaker with 1 cup ice. Add 3 tablespoons rye whiskey, 1 teaspoon simple syrup, and 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters; cover with lid, and shake until thoroughly chilled. Coat inside of a chilled 3 1/2-ounce glass with 1/4 teaspoon anise liqueur; pour out excess. Rub lemon rind strip over rim, and place in glass. Strain whiskey mixture into prepared glass.

SERVES 1 (serving size: 1 cocktail)

CALORIES 106; FAT 0g (sat 0g); SODIUM 0mg

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Midwest: Chicago Attack

Photo: Oxmoor House

Rub rim of an old-fashioned glass with a lemon slice, and dip in powdered sugar. Add cracked ice to glass. Stir in 2 ounces brandy, a dash of Angostura bitters, and 1/4 teaspoon curaçao or triple sec over cracked ice. Garnish with lemon wedge, if desired.

SERVES 1 (serving size: 1 cocktail)

CALORIES 70; FAT 0g (sat 0g); SODIUM 0mg

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Southwest: Margarita

Photo: Oxmoor House

Rub rim of a chilled small margarita glass with lime wedge, and dip rim in margarita salt to coat, if desired. Fill cocktail shaker with 3/4 cup ice. Add 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 tablespoon orange liqueur, and 2 tablespoons premium tequila; cover with lid, and shake until thoroughly chilled. Strain into prepared glass. Garnish with a lime wedge, if desired, and serve immediately.

SERVES 1 (serving size: 1 cocktail)

CALORIES 120; FAT 0g (sat 0g); SODIUM 1mg

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West: Mai Tai

Photo: Oxmoor House

Fill a 4-ounce glass with ice. Pour in 1 tablespoon light rum, 1 tablespoon orange curaçao, 2 tablespoons orange juice, 1/2 tablespoon fresh lime juice, 1 dash orgeat, and 1 dash simple syrup. Drizzle 1/2 tablespoon dark rum on top. Garnish with mint, pineapple slice, and paper umbrella, if desired.

SERVES 1 (serving size: 1 cocktail)

CALORIES 114; FAT 0g (sat 0g); SODIUM 3mg

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Northwest: Montana Sky

Photo: Oxmoor House

Combine 1 ounce bourbon, 1/2 ounce tawny port, and 1 dash Angostura bitters over ice in a small glass. Stir to combine, and garnish with brandied cherries, if desired.

SERVES 1 (serving size: 1 cocktail)

CALORIES 89; FAT 0g (sat 0g); SODIUM 2mg

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Regional Favorites: Classic Cocktails

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Lovely Libations

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East: Long Island Iced Tea

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Southeast: Mojito

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South: Sazerac

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Midwest: Chicago Attack

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Southwest: Margarita

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West: Mai Tai

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Northwest: Montana Sky

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Regional Favorites: Classic Cocktails

1 of 8

Lovely Libations

1 of 8

2 of 8

East: Long Island Iced Tea

2 of 8

3 of 8

Southeast: Mojito

3 of 8

4 of 8

South: Sazerac

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5 of 8

Midwest: Chicago Attack

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Southwest: Margarita

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West: Mai Tai

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Northwest: Montana Sky

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