Diabetic/Sugar Free Cocktails??

[aryqalyn]

We're going to the beach this weekend and plan to spend most of the time sipping cocktails. I am not able to have much sugar, even natural sugar from fruit juices bothers me if I have more than a little. Any suggestions? Rum and diet soda is my standby, as is beer, but neither really set the "beach vacation" mood.

[aryqalyn]

Mojitos was a great idea. I have made these before at home and I love them. Don't know how they slipped my mind! I decided to go with something a little lower maintenence though and mixed crystal light lemonade with some raspberry vodka. It was perfect. The liquor store were we stopped for supplies had sample size bottles of a watermelon flavor and that combined with the lemonade was super summery. I think I see some experimentation in my future.
I am excited to try the fresca/bay leaf combo - I can sit here and imagine the flavor of each individually, but I can't imagine what they will be like together.

Thanks for everyone's help!

[arfur]

Hi arygalyn, i am a bartender so you can trust me :-) use a low GI sweetner for your mojitos; the agave syrup which is used to make tequila and comes from the same plant is sweet but has a very low GI and is perfect for diabetics. Ernst hemingway was a diabetic; look up the pappa dobble or hemingway daiquiri; be warned you only need 1-2 of these, grapefruit is low in sugar and it uses marashino liquere for sweetner, some recipes use sugar syrup; if you have to sweeten things again use the agave; available at all health stores and these days main stores. enjoy.

[arfur]

ofcourse i'm not a doctor also; so go easy on the agave and check with a doctor.

[Tweet]

I am a dietitian working with diabetics, and there are a few flags in this post.Grapefruit juice (as with any juice) can spike blood sugars (and alcohol lower them). We always encourage diabetics eat if they are using alcohol. Maraschino liqueur has 73 calories in a mere 1 ounce (with 9 grams of carb). And as for agave syrup, the American Diabetes Association says it best: "Agave nectar comes from the agave plant and is becoming a popular alternative sweetener to sugar, honey, fructose, etc. Agave nectar raises blood glucose a little more slowly (it has a lower glycemic index) than sugar and other sweeteners that provide calories. It is okay for people with diabetes to use agave nectar as a sweetener, but they should not treat it any differently than regular sugar or corn syrup. It provides just as many calories and carbohydrates as regular sugar, honey, etc. You should still account for agave nectar when planning meals (1 teaspoon has about 15 calories and 4 grams of carbohydrate, though it can vary between brands). "

[pinehurst]

Tweet, sorry, if you're still around, without usurping OP, why does alcohol lower blood sugar? Thank you!

[Monch]

Dark and Stormy - With diet ginger beer - Both Gosling's and Bundaburg offer diet iterations.

One of my wife's absolute faves!

[lynnlato]

I've been wanting diet ginger beer. I have never find diet ginger beer. I did just find diet Blenheim's ginger ale, but alas, no beer. I'll check their websites and see if they have a store locator. Thanks!

[stellamystar]

If you're making your own - get some crystal lite lemonade and vodka...a bit more summary. Or, go for a tonic or diet soda water and a flavored vodka (lemon or stoli o)

[invinotheresverde]

Tonic has as many calories as regular soda, unless you buy diet.

[lynnlato]

"Tonic has as many calories as regular soda"

True, club soda is carb-free though.

[invinotheresverde]

Yup.

[masha]

Diet tonic is readily available.

[invinotheresverde]

I know. That's why I mentioned "diet tonic" in my post.

[MsAlyp]

Hello,
I was making this last summer and it is delicious. You just have to eyeball the amounts to your taste.
-Diet Fresca (grapefruit soda with 0 sugar)
-Vodka (or rum can work just as well)
-Fresh bay leaves

All I did was muddle the bay leaves (about 2 per drink) then adjust the vodka and soda accordingly. Something about the bay leaves and Fresca work really nicely. (I stole this recipe from a local restaurant).

[lynnlato]

Okay, yum, this sounds sooo good. I will be trying it this weekend. I wonder if St. Germain would work in here too. Hmm....

[WyCo]

Mojitos with Splenda are really pretty good. And with the mint leaves in them, they have that "beach" look.

[amethiste]

I make my mojitos thusly:

First muddle mint sprigs with 1/2 a lime that has been cut up. Add 1 jigger of rum, fill glass with ice and top off with diet lemon-lime soda. Very easy with that vacation feel.

[vickib]

Tropicana makes a diet lemonade that is mighty tasty by itself, and might be good with rum. What about a mojito made with stevia or another artificial sweetener?

[tmcghee]

Rather than rum, try adding gin to the lemonade. Gin and lemonade mixes really well - as does gin with gingerale and (obviously) gin & tonic.