Fix Me a Drink logo

Low-ABV cocktail

Style

A low-ABV cocktail is a mixed drink built on vermouth, sherry or a bitter aperitivo, so it has less alcohol than a spirit drink.

Also called: low-alcohol cocktail · low-proof cocktail

Legal definition
None
Common working range
About 10% to 15% ABV in the glass
Strict cutoff some bars use
10% ABV or less
Formula
1 oz (30 ml) bitter aperitivo or vermouth, 1 oz (30 ml) fortified wine or second modifier, topped with 2 to 3 oz (60 to 90 ml) soda or sparkling wine

What low-ABV cocktail means

A low-ABV cocktail swaps the full-strength spirit for something lighter. Vermouth, sherry, a bitter aperitivo or port takes the base, and soda water or sparkling wine lengthens it. You keep the feel of a cocktail, with much less spirit in the glass.

No law defines the term, so no drink is officially the lowest in alcohol. Some bars use a strict cutoff of 10% ABV or less, while the common working range is about 10% to 15% ABV in the glass. For an easy start, try an Americano, an Aperol Spritz or a vermouth and tonic.

You may have heard that any drink built on vermouth or sherry is low-ABV. That is not always true. What counts is the alcohol in the finished drink, and a vermouth-heavy Reverse Manhattan can still be stronger than a glass of wine. If you want no alcohol at all, a mocktail is the better fit.

How to make a low-ABV cocktail

Build the drink on a bitter aperitivo or vermouth, then lengthen it with soda, tonic or sparkling wine.

  1. 1.Swap the full-strength spirit for vermouth, sherry, a bitter aperitivo or port.
  2. 2.Measure 1 oz (30 ml) bitter aperitivo or vermouth, and 1 oz (30 ml) fortified wine or a second modifier.
  3. 3.Combine the two in a glass with ice.
  4. 4.Top with 2 to 3 oz (60 to 90 ml) soda water or sparkling wine, or tonic if you prefer.
  5. 5.Check the finished strength, since the target is about 10% to 15% ABV, and add more soda to bring it down.

Low-ABV cocktail compared

  • MocktailA mocktail has no alcohol at all. A low-ABV cocktail still has some, usually from wine-based bottles rather than full-strength spirits.
  • Fortified wineFortified wines such as vermouth and sherry are the usual base here, at roughly 15% to 20% ABV in the bottle.

Examples

Related terms

Ingredients

Put it to use in your next drink

Garçon explains every step as you make the drink.

Download on the App Store