If you are looking for guilt-free, no-cal drinks to sip this summer, look no further than Polar Seltzer! They have created zero-calorie drinks that are perfect alone or mixed with juice, tea, or even alcohol for skinny cocktails. The Summer Limited Edition Flavors include Mint Mojito, Orange Mango, Pineapple Passionfruit, Ginger Lemonade, and Pina Colada.
I tried the tropical flavored Pina Colada and the Ginger Lemonade. I love how they chose each flavor based on an actual location with a “stamped” reference to the destination on the bottle’s label. For instance, Pina Colada is marked with Puerto Rico, since that is where the drink stems from. The coconut taste really does remind you of the high calorie, creamy alcoholic drinks you get on the islands. But with 0 calories, it’s a no-brainer to have this with your favorite liquor instead of a real Pina Colada, which is around 650 calories!
The Ginger Lemonade is stamped by Jamaica since the country grows and uses it in food and drinks throughout the island. It reminded me of ginger ale but with hints of lemon soda, like Sprite, but again without all the calories and sugar. You can even smell the natural flavors it has in it before taking a refreshing, ice cold sip.
They use only natural flavors and carbonated water yet somehow create a very strong taste in the light drink. The line of seltzers also has no preservatives or colors. I definitely felt like if you add some liquor and create cocktails using them, it will transport you to vacation mode.
Speaking of mixing cocktails, they shared a few recipes below. Find out more information about Polar at their website. Also look out for the flavors now (for only $0.99) in select grocers and stores because the all-natural, zero calorie, zero sodium, zero sugar, summer flavored seltzers are only available within the next few weeks.
Recipes:
Red-White-Blue Ice Cream Float
Large dollop of strawberry jam (or muddled fresh strawberry sweetened with a tad of raw sugar)
2 Scoops of natural vanilla ice cream
Polar® Pineapple Passionfruit Seltzer
Blue straw
Add the jam to the bottom of a tall glass, then the ice cream. Top with seltzer, taking time to let the foam rise.
Lime Ricardo (a la Rickey)
2 parts Gin
1 part lime juice
Polar Mint Mojito Seltzer
Fill Collins glass with ice. Squeeze fresh lime over ice. Pour 2 parts gin, 1 part lime juice, top with Polar Mint Mojito seltzer. Garnish with lime wedge.
Sparkling Summer Punch
2 oz of grenadine
2 oz of Cointreau
2 oz of quality brandy
3 oz of lemonade (or even better with passionfruit juice if you can find it)
0.5–1 cup of frozen pineapple chunks
1 bottle of Polar® Pineapple Passionfruit Seltzer (about 4 cups)
Lots of good ice
Combine grenadine, Cointreau, brandy, lemonade and frozen with ice in larger pitcher. Stir vigorously. Add Polar Seltzer and stir gently and ladle into glasses.
Sparkling Citrus Julep
5 oz of quality citrus-infused vodka
1 oz sugar (or agave)
10-15 fresh mint leaves (no stems)
Polar® Mint Mojito Seltzer
Crushed ice
Muddle the sugar with the mint leaves. Add vodka and ice, and shake vigorously. Strain into glass, and top with Polar Seltzer.
The New Amsterdam
1 jigger of quality Bourbon
2 jiggers sweet vermouth
2 jigger Polar® Ginger Lemonade Seltzer
Dash of citrus bitters, such as Angostura orange
Garnish with blueberries
Pour the bourbon, vermouth and bitters over ice and stir vigorously (some say to never shake bourbon.) Finish with seltzer and drop in the blueberries.
