Healthier Holiday Drinks

Fa la la, it’s eggnog season! And merlot at the office party season. And an Old Fashioned for Christmas Eve dinner season. There’s an awful lot of cocktail opportunities coming up in December, and while it’s fine to enjoy in moderation, many libations have a ton of sugar, carbs or artificial chemicals. For this week’s Healthy Habit, I went in search of options for raising a glass in a way that won’t trash a vibrant diet, and where possible, are nicer to the planet.

Holiday Spirits

Yes, it comes in a cool bottle that looks like a vintage glass fishing float, but Ocean Organic Vodka is more than a pretty face behind the bar. It’s made using organic sugar cane and deep ocean water, and the Maui-based company making it is devoted to sustainable production methods as well as to supporting ocean conservation.

San Diego-based Cutwater Spirits makes whiskey, vodka, gin, and rum, but its line of canned premixed cocktails are the standout. The company focuses on natural flavors, and the cans offer a smaller carbon footprint than heavier bottles as they are lighter and easier to ship.

Eco producer Batiste Rhum harvests cane in the French Caribbean and finishes its rums in California using a carbon-negative production process. The resulting gold and silver rums are free from agricultural and flavoring chemicals. Another option: Paraguay’s organic and fair trade Papagayo White Rum, which Wine Enthusiast approved of. It said, “What this rum lacks in heft and texture it more than makes up for in keen freshness, a light touch and juiciness. Bravo.”

Holiday Beer Cheer

Beer is the most popular drink in the U.S., and Corona Premier is a new version of the popular staple, with 2.6 grams of carbohydrates and 90 calories compared to 148 calories and 13 grams of carbs in a traditional 12 oz. serving of Corona. Yes, there’s already a Corona Light with 99 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrates, but this Premier is supposedly more sophisticated.

For Wine Lovers

For oenophiles who want to still be able to run a 10K the next morning, try something like FitVine. That company aims to produce wine with an average of less than 0.09 grams of sugar per glass, less calorie and carbs, and uses a process that pulls out more tannins. The wines are vegan friendly, filtered via micron pads, and low in sulfites. There’s a variety of wine varietals available; for the season, good choices might be the 2016 Lodi Holiday Blend or the Prosecco.

Happy holidays, and cheers!