Dry January? Try these dry alternatives...
Laura on 6 Jan 2015
Calories are on everybody’s mind at the moment, if not their hips. If you think your iron will might crumble this January, give in to some drinks which are not as calorific as you might think.
It is accepted wisdom that the drier the alcoholic drink, the lower the calories. As the sugar has mostly turned into alcohol, it can be a good choice for those looking to watch their weight after the excesses of the festive season. Watching the calories will also have you watching the alcohol units, so it is a win-win for those wanting a more gradual detox.
Here are five ‘dry drinks’ to see you through the cold, post-Christmas hangover that is January.
Bit of a no brainer, this, and zero effort all round – your fave Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadet or Chablis is not out-of-bounds. A 125ml glass of dry white clocks in at around 85 to 95 calories, so a glass or two is not going to put your diet in jeopardy – just don’t go as crazy as you did at the Christmas party, ok?
‘Dry red’ never sounds as appealing as a ‘dry white’ – but this category covers virtually all red wines. Describing them as smooth, mouth-filling, silky, rich etc is not only more accurate, it makes you want to pour a glass right away. The calories are similar to a glass of white, with the added bonus that some varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir have increased levels of health-promoting antioxidants. Red is no longer something to dread in January.
‘Dosage’ is wine-speak for the mix of wine and sugar syrup added to Champagne to balance out the inherent acidity of the grapes. If you’re a Champagne fan who wants to carry on the party, look out for wines with a low dosage added to the final blend. Jacquart Extra Brut or Laurent Perrier Ultra Brut have around 65 calories per 125ml glass - a calorie-counters dream.
Dry Gin anyone? Forget the gym, how about a gin? A single measure of gin is just 56 calories, so is perfect for a cheeky pick me up when ‘being good’ gets a little same-same mid-month. Watch the tonic, of course – a good quality low-cal tonic like Fever Tree will make it far more fun that the flat bulk brand left over from Christmas.
So sweet wines are verboten, then? Well, no: ironically, the sweetest of wines, like Port, are sipped and served in small measures, so they may not be as bad as you imagine. A 50ml glass of a sweet fortified wine is just 70 to 80 calories, so you don’t have to give up the sweet things in life.
Remember, the key is moderation, so you can say ‘cheers’ to a dry-ish January!