You’ve decided to take advantage of the gorgeous weather and throw a party out by the pool. Digging the casual vibe, light on commitment, a 2pm arrival seems right. You pat yourself on the back, you genius. Chill time with friends, with snacks and drinks your only concern… this will be a real low-maintenance gathering. Sunday’s the day. With the beginning of the work week looming, there shouldn’t be any hanger’s-on overstaying their welcome. A blast with friends. A good night’s sleep. You can’t beat it.

Unless, of course, your guests are sloshed beyond reason! We’ve all been there. Pizzas get ordered, music is blaring, and all the sudden an all-night dance party is in the making. Yes, those well laid plans, right out of the window.

Serving a low ABV beverage could be the answer, keeping things festive without getting out of control (ABV stands for alcohol by volume). These lightened up cocktails are perfect for summer hang outs, and don’t require hard liquor or fussing with blenders. In fact, you can turn to these recipes anytime you are looking for something a little less punchy, as they are easily scaled down to make one or two drinks.

Apricot Mimosa

Mimosa's are fun, festive and require minimal effort, making for excellent party cocktails. But why not deviate from the norm? Since any sort of juice will do, try a sweet apricot nectar. Ask your grocer if you have trouble finding apricot nectar with the other juices. Oftentimes the Hispanic sections of the store will have a larger variety of canned juice.

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Strawberry Spritz

Sweet vermouth, red or white, makes for a delicious and light aperitif. Here, white vermouth is infused with fresh strawberries for a few hours before being poured over ice and topped with sparkling water. It is a light and refreshing cocktail for a balmy evening.

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Pimm’s Cup Pitcher

A classic Pimm's Cup is always a good idea if you're looking for a tasty, low-alcohol cocktail. Mix up a pitcher for a party and serve right away. The ginger ale will loose its fizz the longer it sits. Pour into ice filled glasses, making sure to get some lemon and cucumber with each serving.

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Orange Pomegranate Sangria

This lightened up fruity sangria relies upon Creme de Cassis for it's sweetness, along with orange juice and pomegranate juice for flavor and acidity. It is simple to put together, and perfect for a summertime gathering. Any sort of fruit you have on hand will do, but during the summer I'm particularly fond of peaches and blackberries. Make a pitcher, chill it down and serve with lots of ice.

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Grapefruit Shandy

Shandies, also known as radlers or lager tops, are beer-based libations perfect for beating the heat. The traditional English shandy is composed of two ingredients, lager and lemon soda, in equal proportions. Here, my less sweet twist on this summertime standby uses freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.

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