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CocktailHQ

Lighter pours

Low-alcohol cocktails

12% ABV or under — properly mixed drinks, just not the strongest ones on the menu.

A cocktail's strength depends far more on its build than its base spirit — a Negroni and an Aperol Spritz can both be built from roughly 40% ABV bottles, but one is stirred with almost no dilution and the other is stretched over ice with soda and prosecco, and the finished drinks land in completely different places. Across the drinks on this site, ABV ranges from around 6% up to 32%, so "low alcohol" here means the lighter third of that range rather than an arbitrary round number.

These are proper cocktails, not watered-down ones — spritzes, highballs and long drinks where a smaller pour of spirit is stretched further by mixer, juice or fizz, so the flavour doesn't suffer for the lower strength.

67 cocktails

Shandy

Pale lager cut fifty-fifty with cloudy lemonade — a low-alcohol, high-refreshment pub classic.

refreshingsweetsour
easy3 minbeer
A michelada in a chilli-salt-rimmed pint glass with a lime wedge

Michelada

Mexican lager built over ice with lime, tomato juice, hot sauce and Worcestershire — savoury, spicy, and endlessly adjustable.

spicysourrefreshing
easy5 minbeer

Snakebite

Equal parts lager and cider, built together — a straightforward, hard-hitting British pub pint.

refreshingdrystrong
easy3 minbeer

Pimm's Cup

Pimm's No. 1, lemonade and a garden's worth of fruit and cucumber — the quintessential English summer cup.

fruityrefreshingsweet
easy5 minliqueur led
A pale, fizzy Hugo Spritz in a large wine glass with mint and a lime wedge

Hugo Spritz

Prosecco, elderflower cordial, soda and fresh mint over ice — a paler, more floral cousin of the Aperol Spritz.

refreshingsweetherbal
easy4 minsparkling wine
A Mimosa in a champagne flute, pale orange and fizzingPhoto by JÉSHOOTS on Pexels

Mimosa

Sparkling wine and fresh orange juice, half and half — brunch's simplest cocktail.

fruityrefreshingdry
easy3 minsparkling wine

Midori Sour

Midori melon liqueur shaken with lemon and a touch of sweetness — a vivid green, easy-drinking 1980s classic.

soursweetfruity
easy4 minliqueur led
A Garibaldi in a highball glass, deep orange with a light foam on top

Garibaldi

Campari and orange juice, and the orange juice is aerated until it is almost foam — two ingredients, one technique.

bitterfruityrefreshing
easy3 minliqueur led

Sloe Gin Fizz

Sloe gin, lemon and sugar shaken and lengthened with soda water — a fruitier, deep-red take on the classic Fizz.

sourfruityrefreshing
medium5 mingin
A blended Piña Colada in a hurricane glass with a pineapple wedge and cherryPhoto by Marcelo Verfe on Pexels

Piña Colada

White rum, pineapple juice and coconut cream, blended smooth and cold — Puerto Rico's national drink.

tropicalsweetcreamy
easy5 minrum
A Bloody Mary in a highball glass garnished with a celery stalk and lemon wedgePhoto by Gilario Guevara on Pexels

Bloody Mary

Vodka, tomato juice and a savoury shake of spice — the definitive brunch cocktail.

spicystrongsour
easy5 minvodka

Mexican Mule

Tequila, lime and ginger beer over ice — the Moscow Mule's agave-forward cousin.

spicyrefreshingsour
easy3 mintequila
A Ranch Water in a highball glass with lime wedges and a bottle of sparkling mineral water alongside

Ranch Water

Tequila, lime and sparkling mineral water — a bone-dry, three-ingredient West Texas highball.

drysourrefreshing
easy3 mintequila
A Bloody Maria in a highball glass garnished with a celery stalk and lime wedge

Bloody Maria

Tequila in place of vodka in a classic Bloody Mary — the same savoury build with an earthier, agave-forward backbone.

spicystrongsour
easy5 mintequila
An Americano in a highball glass with an orange slicePhoto by Szymon Shields on Pexels

Americano

Campari and sweet vermouth topped with soda water — the bittersweet forerunner of the Negroni.

bitterrefreshingdry
easy3 minliqueur led

Ramos Gin Fizz

Gin, citrus, cream, egg white and orange flower water, shaken at length into a tall, silky, cloud-like fizz.

creamysourfruity
advanced10 mingin

Chi-Chi

Vodka, pineapple juice and coconut cream, blended with ice — a lighter-tasting, vodka-based cousin of the Piña Colada.

tropicalcreamysweet
easy5 minvodka
An Amaretto Stone Sour in a rocks glass with an orange slice and cherry

Amaretto Stone Sour

Amaretto, lemon and orange juice over ice — a fruitier, egg-free cousin of the Amaretto Sour.

soursweetfruity
easy4 minliqueur led

Wine Spritzer

Chilled white wine lengthened with soda water — the simplest, lowest-alcohol way to make a glass of wine last longer.

refreshingdryfruity
easy2 minliqueur led
A Tequila Sunrise highball showing a red-to-orange gradient with grenadine settling at the bottomPhoto by Roy Muriithi on Pexels

Tequila Sunrise

Tequila and orange juice with a grenadine sunrise settling at the bottom of the glass.

fruitysweetrefreshing
easy4 mintequila
A tall Whisky Highball in a highball glass with a lemon twist and large ice cubesPhoto by George Shervashidze on Pexels

Whisky Highball

Whisky and soda water over ice — the simplest way to make good whisky last longer.

strongrefreshingdry
easy3 minwhisky

Sea Breeze

Vodka, cranberry and grapefruit juice over ice — a pale pink, easy-drinking highball.

refreshingfruitysour
easy3 minvodka

Sherry Cobbler

Sherry, sugar and fresh seasonal fruit over crushed ice — one of the oldest cocktails still served today.

fruityrefreshingsweet
easy5 minliqueur led
An Irish Coffee in a footed glass with a floated cream layer on top

Irish Coffee

Hot coffee, Irish whiskey and brown sugar, topped with a float of lightly whipped cream.

strongcreamybitter
medium5 minwhisky

Vodka Collins

Vodka, lemon and sugar, built long over ice and topped with soda — a tall, easy-drinking Collins for vodka drinkers.

sourrefreshingsweet
easy4 minvodka
A bright blue Blue Hawaiian cocktail blended and served in a hurricane glass with a pineapple wedgePhoto by Denys Gromov on Pexels

Blue Hawaiian

White rum, blue curaçao, pineapple and cream of coconut, blended until frosty — the definitive electric-blue tiki drink.

tropicalsweetcreamy
easy6 minrum

John Collins

Whiskey, lemon and sugar lengthened with soda — the Tom Collins' whiskey-based older relative.

refreshingsoursweet
easy5 minwhisky

Black Velvet

Stout and sparkling wine, layered together in equal parts — a dark, celebratory pairing of two very different fizzes.

drybitterstrong
medium4 minbeer
A tall mojito in a highball glass with mint sprig and lime wheelPhoto by Milan Trninic on Pexels

Mojito

A Cuban highball of white rum, lime, mint and soda — bright, herbal and endlessly refreshing.

refreshingsourherbal
easy5 minrum
An Aperol Spritz in a large wine glass with an orange slicePhoto by Gonzalo Acuña on Pexels

Aperol Spritz

Prosecco, Aperol and a splash of soda over ice — Italy's low-alcohol answer to the aperitif hour.

bittersweetrefreshing
easy3 minliqueur led
A tall, reddish-pink Singapore Sling in a hurricane glass garnished with pineapple and a cherryPhoto by Dextar Studio ™ on Pexels

Singapore Sling

Gin, cherry liqueur, herbal liqueurs and juice, topped with soda — a layered, tropical classic.

fruitysweettropical
advanced8 mingin
Sex on the Beach in a highball glass with an orange slice and cherryPhoto by Augustinus Martinus Noppé on Pexels

Sex on the Beach

Vodka, peach schnapps, orange and cranberry juice, built long over ice — a bright, easy-drinking 1980s/90s classic.

fruitysweetrefreshing
easy4 minvodka
A Negroni Sbagliato in a rocks glass, fizzing gently, with an orange slice

Negroni Sbagliato

Equal parts Campari, sweet vermouth and sparkling wine — the 'mistaken' Negroni with the gin swapped for bubbles.

bitterrefreshingsweet
easy3 minsparkling wine
A pale peach-pink Bellini in a champagne flutePhoto by Sabel Blanco on Pexels

Bellini

Prosecco and white peach purée, folded together in a flute — pale, fizzy and delicately fruity.

fruityrefreshingsweet
easy4 minsparkling wine
A Screwdriver in a highball glass with an orange slicePhoto by Shameel mukkath on Pexels

Screwdriver

Vodka and orange juice, built over ice — about as simple as a cocktail gets, and no less good for it.

fruityrefreshingsweet
easy3 minvodka

Cuba Libre

Rum, cola and a squeeze of lime, built over ice — simple, but the lime is what makes it work.

refreshingsweetsour
easy3 minrum
A Bahama Mama in a hurricane glass with an orange slice and cherry, showing a sunset gradient of colour

Bahama Mama

Two rums, coconut cream, pineapple, orange and grenadine, shaken into a bright layered sunset — a Caribbean resort staple.

tropicalsweetfruity
easy5 minrum
A Long Island Iced Tea in a tall highball glass, dark amber with a lemon wedgePhoto by Andrius on Pexels

Long Island Iced Tea

Five spirits, citrus and a splash of cola — deceptively smooth for how strong it actually is.

strongsoursweet
medium6 minvodka

Vermouth Spritz

Chilled vermouth lengthened with soda water and an orange twist — a genuinely low-alcohol aperitif built for long, easy sipping.

refreshingdryherbal
easy3 minliqueur led
An Amaretto Sour in a rocks glass with a frothy top and a cherry garnishPhoto by ROMAN ODINTSOV on Pexels

Amaretto Sour

Almond-sweet amaretto shaken with lemon and a whisper of egg white — nutty, tart and silky.

soursweetfruity
medium5 minliqueur led
A pitcher of Sangria with orange and lemon slices, alongside a filled wine glassPhoto by kan_chansathya on Pixabay

Sangria

Red wine macerated with brandy, orange liqueur and citrus — a fruity Spanish pitcher drink built for a table, not a single glass.

fruitysweetrefreshing
easy10 minliqueur led

Tom Collins

Gin, lemon and sugar, shaken and lengthened with soda — a tall, easy-drinking summer standby.

refreshingsoursweet
easy5 mingin

Moscow Mule

Vodka, lime and spicy ginger beer, served ice-cold in a frosted copper mug.

refreshingspicysour
easy3 minvodka
A Dark 'n' Stormy in a highball glass showing the dark rum floated over pale ginger beerPhoto by MC G'Zay on Pexels

Dark 'n' Stormy

Dark rum floated over ginger beer and lime — a Bermudian highball with real spice and weight.

spicystrongfruity
easy3 minrum
A Paloma in a highball glass with a grapefruit wedge and salted rimPhoto by ROMAN ODINTSOV on Pexels

Paloma

Tequila and grapefruit soda over ice with a squeeze of lime — Mexico's everyday tequila highball.

refreshingsourfruity
easy3 mintequila

Rum Punch

Rum, citrus and a hit of grenadine, built long over ice — a Caribbean beach-bar staple.

tropicalfruitysweet
easy5 minrum
A Hot Toddy in a glass mug with a clove-studded lemon wheel and steam risingPhoto by Oliver King on Pexels

Hot Toddy

Whisky, honey and lemon stirred into hot water — a warming, simple classic for cold nights.

strongsweetspicy
easy5 minwhisky

Gin Rickey

Gin, lime and soda water, built over ice — dry, sharp and deliberately unsweetened.

sourrefreshingdry
easy3 mingin

Salty Dog

Vodka and grapefruit juice over ice in a salt-rimmed glass — sharper and more savoury than its close cousin the Greyhound.

sourrefreshingbitter
easy4 minvodka
A Painkiller in a tiki mug over crushed ice, dusted generously with fresh grated nutmegPhoto by Denys Gromov on Pexels

Painkiller

Dark rum, pineapple, orange and cream of coconut, shaken over crushed ice with fresh nutmeg — tiki's other tropical classic.

tropicalsweetcreamy
easy5 minrum

Matador

Tequila blanco shaken with pineapple and lime — a tart, tropical tequila short drink.

fruityrefreshingsour
easy5 mintequila
A pale green, frothy Grasshopper in a coupe glass

Grasshopper

Crème de menthe, white crème de cacao and cream, shaken until frothy — a pastel-green dessert in a glass.

sweetcreamyherbal
easy4 minliqueur led

Hot Whiskey Cider

Irish whiskey warmed with spiced apple cider, cloves and a cinnamon stick — an autumn cousin of the classic hot toddy.

sweetspicystrong
easy5 minwhisky

Planters Punch

Dark rum, lime, orange and a dash of bitters, built by the pitcher — a Caribbean punch built on the old 'one of sour, two of sweet' rhyme.

fruitystrongsweet
easy8 minrum
A Vodka Soda in a highball glass with a lime wedgePhoto by JEFERSON GOMES on Pexels

Vodka Soda

Vodka and soda water over ice with a citrus wedge — the simplest highball in the book, and one of the hardest to make badly.

refreshingdrystrong
easy2 minvodka
A Gin and Tonic in a highball glass with a lime wedge and bubbles risingPhoto by Toni Cuenca on Pexels

Gin and Tonic

Gin and tonic water over ice with lime — a bittersweet, botanical two-ingredient classic.

bitterrefreshingherbal
easy2 mingin

Whisky Ginger

Whisky and ginger ale over ice — a warm, spicy two-ingredient highball that never goes out of style.

spicysweetstrong
easy2 minwhisky

Rum Swizzle

Two rums, falernum, lime and bitters, swizzled over crushed ice until frosted — Bermuda's national drink.

tropicalsourspicy
medium6 minrum

Amaro Sour

A bittersweet Italian amaro shaken with lemon and honey — a digestivo turned into a proper sour.

bittersoursweet
medium5 minliqueur led

Gin Fizz

Gin, lemon and sugar, shaken cold and topped with soda — light, fizzy and gone in a few sips.

sourrefreshingfruity
easy5 mingin
A Harvey Wallbanger in a highball glass with a golden Galliano float on topPhoto by Zhengdong Hu on Pexels

Harvey Wallbanger

A Screwdriver with a Galliano float — vodka and orange juice topped with a herbal, vanilla-edged liqueur.

fruitysweetherbal
easy4 minvodka

Rum Runner

Two rums, blackberry and banana liqueur, grenadine, lime and pineapple — a bright, fruit-stacked Florida Keys tiki punch.

tropicalsweetfruity
medium6 minrum

Vietnamese Coffee Cocktail

Dark rum stirred into strong iced coffee and sweetened condensed milk — a spirited take on Vietnamese cà phê sữa đá.

sweetcreamybitter
easy5 minrum
A Jungle Bird cocktail in a rocks glass over crushed ice with a pineapple leaf garnish

Jungle Bird

Dark rum and Campari with pineapple, lime and sugar — a bitter, tropical modern classic.

bittertropicalsour
easy5 minrum

Hurricane

Dark and gold rum with passion fruit and citrus — a sweet, punchy New Orleans classic.

tropicalfruitysweet
medium6 minrum

Blue Lagoon

Vodka, blue curaçao and lemon, topped with soda — a vividly blue, citrus-bright highball built as much for looks as for flavour.

sweetsourfruity
easy4 minvodka
A Hot Buttered Rum in a heatproof mug with a pat of melting butter on top and a cinnamon stick

Hot Buttered Rum

Dark rum, brown sugar and melted butter stirred into hot water — a rich, warming winter classic.

sweetstrongcreamy
medium5 minrum