Lately, the healthy lifestyle trend has begun to penetrate the world of mixology. Many people now prefer to enjoy moments of consuming alcoholic beverages without having to feel dizzy the next day. Thus, the term mindful drinking has emerged, where alcoholic beverage enthusiasts prioritize taste, quality, and experience over just the effect of getting drunk.
For those of you who are carrying out early year resolutions such as Damp January, choosing drinks with low alcohol content is a smart step. However, low alcohol does not mean low flavor. In fact, with the right techniques, you can explore wider and more complex flavor dimensions.
This time, Balimoon has summarized 3 effective ways to enjoy alcoholic beverages with low content but still providing maximum satisfaction.
1. Use the Spritz Technique for Light Freshness
The Spritz technique is the most popular way in the world to transform concentrated alcoholic beverages into light, sparkling, and very refreshing servings. The main concept is strategic dilution without removing the original flavor character of the base ingredients.
Why Is the Spritz Technique So Effective?
In a glass of Spritz, the amount of alcohol used is usually only around 30ml to 45ml, which is then mixed with a larger volume of non-alcoholic liquid. This makes the alcohol content per milliliter in your glass drop drastically, so you can enjoy it over a longer period of time.
How to Mix It with Balimoon:
- Use Liqueur as a Base: Instead of using hard spirits like pure vodka as the sole base, use Orange Liqueur or Balimoon Pineapple Liqueur. Liqueurs naturally have a lower alcohol content than pure spirits.
- Combination of Soda and Sparkling Water: Mix one part of your chosen Balimoon Liqueur with two parts soda water or sparkling water. Carbonation will help lift the fruit aroma out of the glass, providing a “luxurious” sensation in every sip.
- Final Touch: Add a bit of crystal ice cubes and slices of fresh fruit. This technique is perfect for those who want to keep a beautiful glass in hand during a party, without having to worry about losing self-control.
2. Increase Fresh Ingredients in the Mix
The second way to continue enjoying alcoholic beverages in low doses is to shift the focus from the “strength” of the alcohol to the “richness” of the supporting ingredients. This is where your creativity as a mixologist is tested to create full-bodied flavors using natural ingredients.
Natural Infusions
Many people feel they need a lot of alcohol for a drink to feel “full.” In fact, strong flavors can be obtained from fresh fruits, spices, to concentrated herbal teas.
Tips for Maximizing Fresh Ingredients:
- Tea as a Mixer: Use brewed chrysanthemum tea or chilled green tea as a replacement for packaged juice. Tea provides a tannin texture similar to complex alcoholic beverages. Add only 15ml of Balimoon 9 Vodka to provide a slight “kick” of aroma without making the alcohol content spike.
- Muddling Fruit: Don’t just use syrup. Crush fresh fruit such as strawberries, Mandarin oranges, or mint leaves at the base of the glass. Natural fruit fiber and juice provide a much deeper flavor.
- Spices: Add cinnamon sticks or star anise into Whisky-based drinks. Strong spice aromas will trick your sense of smell so the drink feels “heavier” and satisfying, even though you are only using a little alcohol in it.
3. Pair with Heavy Meals
The way to enjoy alcoholic beverages with low alcohol content depends not only on what is in the glass, but also on what is on your plate. Enjoying drinks alongside heavy meals is the best strategy to keep the body’s metabolism stable.
Food as a “Balancer”
Alcohol, no matter how low the content, will be absorbed more slowly by the body if you drink it together with food containing protein and healthy fats. This is a smart way when you have to attend a large banquet.
The Perfect Match:
- Meat Menu and Whisky Highball: If the main menu is roasted pork or duck, prepare Omrach Whisky mixed with plenty of soda water (Highball). The alcohol content is low due to a lot of dilution, but the malty character of the whisky will help neutralize the fat in the food.
- Dessert and Liqueur: During the dessert session, serve Balimoon Butterscotch Liqueur mixed with soy milk or coffee. Enjoying a sweet drink along with sweet food will provide quick sensory satisfaction, so you tend to feel enough with just one small glass.
- Focus on Culinary: By pairing drinks and food, your focus will be divided. You will be busier appreciating the harmony of flavor between the cuisine and the drink, rather than just drinking alcohol for its effect.
Enjoying alcoholic beverages with low alcohol content is about a lifestyle choice that shows you are a smart enthusiast, who appreciates every drop of aroma and every nuance of flavor more than just chasing the effect of getting drunk.
Therefore, ensure you have quality base ingredients for maximum results which you can find in various variants of Liqueur, Vodka, and Whisky from Balimoon designed to meet the quality standards of alcoholic beverages.
Order your alcoholic beverage needs now via Balimoon WhatsApp at: +62 821-4510-9578.