Skinny
Sipping
The low-down on low-cal cocktails
By Kelly A. Magyarics
uests with an eye on their health (and their reflections in
the mirror) are demanding low-calorie liquid options at
restaurants and bars. So-called "skinny cocktails" strive
to give patrons the flavor and experience of conventional
libations, with a fraction of the calories and sugar. While
you can't really consider them health drinks, these sips are
less guilty alternatives to help cocktail-loving customers stay
on track with their fitness and weight goals.
"We have seen a huge demand for skinny cocktails, which
have increased our specialty cocktail sales by 15%," says Henry
Michaud, vice president of food and beverage for Columbia
Sussex. The private hotel company, based in Crestview Hills,
KY, owns and operates 42 full-service hotels and resorts under
eight brands, including Marriott, Westin and Doubletree.
Skinny libations account for 35% of frozen drinks sold
poolside; within a recent six-week promotion, Columbia Sussex
sold more than 3,000. The company currently features 10 lowercalorie signature cocktails, such as the Pomegranate Mojito (126
calories), which mixes Cruzan light rum and Hiram Walker
pomegranate liqueur with muddled fresh mint and lime.
The skinny drinks, which are priced from $8 to $10, range
from 95 to 183 calories. Columbia Sussex promotes them
through menu inserts listing ingredients and caloric content,
Michaud notes. Sweet and sour, Margarita and simple syrup-based
cocktails often lend themselves to low-calorie versions, since lowercalorie sweeteners can be substituted, he adds.
The Antioxidant Martini, a popular skinny
cocktail at Z'Tejas Southwestern Grill.
46
| MARCH 2013
LESS WAIST, MORE TASTE
Ken Lennox, director of quality beverage for the 750 locations
of Maryville, TN-based Ruby Tuesday, shares the casual chain's
process for creating its lower-calorie libations. "The first step
was coming up with great tasting drinks," he says. "After that
we reduced calories, and decided we needed 150 calories to offer
well-balanced and flavorful cocktails."
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