LOW CALORIE VODKA DRINKS FOR SUMMER

Perhaps it’s an oxymoron to label a cocktail as ‘healthy.’ But wouldn’t you like to save the empty calories for your favorite hearty meal, instead? Selecting from skinny, or low calorie vodka drinks for summer can help keep your waistline in check while leaving room for an extra serving on your cheat-meal day. Did someone say ‘another slice of pizza’? Count us in! So while these skinny vodka cocktails aren’t exactly on par with your two-hour morning yoga session, they are keeping things in balance. We’re aiming for the timeless sentiment of everything in moderation. 

If you’re with us, then let’s dive headfirst into some of our favorite low-calorie vodka drinks for summer. Keep in mind that you don’t have to sacrifice taste when choosing a low-calorie option like Switch Vodka. 

CALORIES AND LIQUOR: WHAT’S THE SCOOP?

All alcohol—whether beer, cider, spirits, or wine—is, unfortunately, calorie-dense. Liquor, in general, tends to be high on the calorie charts simply due to its fermentation process. Our favorite weekend drinks are mostly made from natural starches and sugar, which is why alcohol contains around seven calories per gram. To put that into perspective, a pint of 5% strength beer is equivalent to a standard Mars Bar. Insert sad face emoji here. A glass of champagne will set you back about 95 calories. Not exactly a fact we can toast. 

Fortunately, there are now low-calorie, low-carb vodka options, so you don’t have to sacrifice your waistline or your favorite mixed spirit. Go ahead. Have a healthy-esque low-calorie vodka cocktail guilt-free.  

Low Calorie Vodka Summer Cocktails

SWITCH’S LIGHT VODKA

Before we pour ourselves into this comprehensive list of the best light vodka drinks, let’s talk a little bit about the switch up. Switch’s Light Vodka contains fewer calories than the traditional spirit.

If you’re trying to watch your weight and maintain an active lifestyle, Switch Vodka Light is a great choice for the following reasons:

  • All-natural with no additives
  • Low in calories and carbohydrates
  • No sugar
  • Gluten-free

REFRESHING SUMMER VODKA LIGHT COCKTAILS

It’s summer, the perfect time for patio entertaining, BBQs, and suntans. Chill up your summer with these Instagram-worthy, guilt-free drinks. The most enticing summer cocktails make use of fresh fruit, lots of ice, good quality liquor, and an attractive presentation. Summer cocktails should be thirst-quenching, light, and just plain fun! 

Try these tantalizing, low calorie vodka drinks for summer, and let us know what you think!

PEACHY PALMER

Named in honor of the late golfer, Arnold Palmer, who coined the exquisite combo of iced tea and lemonade, this drink will give you something to toast on and off the golf course. 

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 ounce of Switch Peach Basil Vodka Light
  • 3 ounces of sweet tea
  • 3 ounces of lemonade

Combine the ingredients, shaking, or stirring. Serve over ice in a tall glass. Add a lemon wedge, a peach slice, and a sprig of basil or mint. Talk about a hole in one!

peach vodka

PEACH BASIL LEMONADE

It wouldn’t be a list of low-calorie vodka drinks for summer if we didn’t throw in a lemonade concoction. This cocktail is simple and straightforward but packs a peachy punch. 

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 ounce Switch Peach Basil Vodka Light
  • 3 ounces lemonade
  • Lemon wedge
  • A sprig of Mint and/or Basil
  • Fresh Peach Slice

Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour the ingredients in. Don’t forget the garnish! It adds that extra flavor that exudes those summer feels. 

THE WATERMELON CRUSH

The Watermelon Crush combines everything that reminds us of summer freshness. 

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 ounce Switch Vodka Light Pomegranate Lemongrass
  • 1 cup freshly pureed watermelon
  • Small watermelon slice
  • Lemon wedge

Combine ingredients in a blender. Pulse until smooth. Garnish with a watermelon slice and a lemon wedge.

For mood music, be sure to pair this one up with the timeless song  “Watermelon Crawl” by Tracy Byrd. 

Cocktail Hack: Try variations of this drink with other fruit in season and other Switch Vodka Light flavors. Can you taste a Palisade peach crush drink made with Peach Basil Switch Vodka?  How about some fresh strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries and your favorite Switch Vodka Light?

watermelon vodka
clementine pomtini

POMTINI

While you’ve got the Switch Vodka Light Pomegranate and Lemongrass container out of the freezer, let’s make a few Pomtinis. 

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 ounce Switch Vodka Light Pomegranate Lemongrass
  • Fresh squeezed Clementine juice
  • .5 ounce of simple syrup (recipe below)
  • Splash of water
  • Sprig of mint

Mix ingredients in a shaker with crushed ice. Shake well. Strain into a martini glass. Add a curl of rind or a sprig of mint.

Get creative with your Pomtinis using different juices. How about orange juice, grapefruit juice, peach nectar, pureed pear, pineapple juice, or apple cider? Feel free to prepare all kinds of low calorie fruity vodka drinks with the Switch Vodka Light flavor of your choice!

PICKLETINI

If you are a dirty martini drinker, be sure to try this variation. While simple by design, it offers the same excitement as eating a pickle during a summer baseball game.

Ingredients:

  • 3 ounces Switch Vodka Light Spirit Drink
  • 2 ounce of pickle juice

We use dill pickle juice but why not try others? Place the ingredients in a shaker. Add crushed ice. Give it a hearty shake. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a baby dill pickle or two on a skewer. Why not add a pearl onion or a black olive for a variety? A great option among a list of low calorie vodka drinks for summer. 

pickletini
quick dirty martini

QUICK & DIRTY SUMMER MARTINI

Dirty martinis are amazing at any time of year. This drink will forever be classic and sophisticated.  

Ingredients:

  • 3 ounces Switch Light Spirit Drink
  • 1.5 ounce of green olive juice

Shake vodka and olive well with crushed ice. Strain into a martini glass. Add olives. You can use traditional stuffed green olives or stuff your own!  Think of the variations! Cheese? Garlic butter?

SUN AND SAND COCKTAIL

Can’t you just hear the surf and feel the sand between your toes? Our Sun and Sand light summer cocktail is a great choice for kicking back or relaxing near some type of body of water, preferably the ocean. 

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 ounce Switch Vodka Light Spirit Drink
  • 3 ounce coconut water
  • Splash of pineapple juice
  • Splash of club soda

Assembly is easy. Stir all four ingredients together. Serve over ice in a tall glass. Garnish with pineapple wedges.

pineapple coconut cocktail
Salty Dog grapefruit cocktail

THE SALTY DOG

A final in our amazing list of low-calorie vodka drinks for summer is our amazing Salty Dog.

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 ounce Switch Vodka Light
  • 3 ounces grapefruit juice
  • 1 ounce of club soda

Combine ingredients in a tall glass filled with ice. Salt the rim to preference. Add mint leaves and a grapefruit peel curl.

COCONUT VODKA

Try out these refreshing summer vodka light cocktails! This drink with an intense Caribbean flavor will be great for those hot summer afternoons.

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 oz Switch Light Spirit Vodka
  • 1.5 oz coconut water
  • Club soda topper
  • Over ice

Fill a tall glass with as much ice as desired. Pour 1.5 oz (one-shot) of Switch Light Vodka over ice. Add 1.5 oz of your favorite coconut water. Top with a splash of club soda water and enjoy!

Switch_coconut-cocktail

Refreshing Low Calories Alcoholic Drinks

SUGAR-FREE SYRUP

Why not make your own sugar-free syrup? Use a sugar-free product like Splenda. Place 2 tablespoons of Splenda in a quarter cup of boiling water. Stir. Cool and use in your Switch Vodka Light summer cocktails. 

Agave syrup is another light, sugar-free, low-calorie alternative to sweeten up your summer.

VODKA ON THE CALORIE SPECTRUM

Vodka is one of the few spirits that are naturally low-calorie with no carbs, fat, or sugar.

It’s basically water then, right?

Not quite, but better than your average glass of wine. According to Healthline.com, drinks made with vodka are naturally lighter than cocktails made with other ingredients.

Vodka is definitely the better choice if you find yourself huddled up at a counter frantically waving down the bartender. 

Now there’s even better news! Over the last few years, strides have been made in developing a calorie-friendly alternative to traditional vodka. Vodka light, friends, is now a thing and we’re super excited to share this list of our favorite low calorie vodka drinks for summer.

What new and exciting low calorie vodka drinks for summer can you come up with?

Why You Should Make Your Light Summer Cocktails With Vodka?

SWITCH VODKA LIGHT PAIRS GREAT WITH SUMMER

Do you know what is the best alcohol to drink with the least amount of calories? That’s right, VODKA! 

We designed our vodka for people who care about what they put in their bodies. Our light vodka doesn’t have any artificial junk, nor an overly robust ABV that typically coincides with a horrible hangover.

Switch Vodka Light is the perfect drink for the summer, as it has qualities that make it unique:

  • Extremely low in Carbs and Calories
  • Crisp & easy to drink
  • Refreshing
  • No Artificial Flavors

Switch Vodka Light incorporates a modern approach to the distillation process which allows us to produce a very high-quality vodka with a near-perfect level of consistency.

WHY SHOULD YOU MAKE YOUR LIGHT SUMMER COCKTAILS WITH VODKA?

No liquor is more versatile than vodka when it comes to making refreshing low calories alcoholic drinks. Light, colorless and smooth-tasting, Switch Vodka Light is easy to mix with all types of beverages. Pretty much anything goes with vodka!

Crisp and refreshing, Switch Vodka Light is the perfect drink for the summer!

Lower Alcohol SpiritsDrinking While Camping