By Kara Franker

Well-being and sustainability are key ingredients of food and beverage experiences at certain luxury hotels, especially JW Marriott.

Now, Marriott has launched a "Cocktails with Purpose" program along with celebrity nutritionist and dietitian Keri Glassman.

The program features seasonal low-calorie drinks designed to meet guests' need for healthier and lower calorie cocktails. Ingredients include fresh juices over mixes, raw honey replacing refined sugars and garnishes plucked from the hotel herb garden.

"Part of a nutritious life means enjoying yourself," says Glassman. "But remember, moderation is key."

JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes is home to the on-site Primo Garden from which mixologists can pick fresh herbs such as rosemary. There's also a 7,000-square-foot fruit and vegetable garden called Whisper Creek Farm, featuring 18 seven-foot citrus trees, including tangerine, kaffir lime, kumquat and pineapple. Talk about fresh.

At JW Marriott Miami, a selection of healthy beverages from the Cocktails with Purpose menu are available at Drake's Bar for under $10. Glassman recommends taking the time to enjoy your cocktail by sipping slowly and drinking water in between.

Here are seven low calorie cocktail recipes from Glassman's Cocktails with Purpose menu. Each JW Marriott property features a different selection of seasonal cocktails, so ask your mixologist to whip one of these up for you or try making them at home.

1. Rejuvenation Cup

Well-being factors: red grape juice, lemon juice, ginger, cucumber, mint.

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz Bols Genever
  • .5 oz Pimm's No. 1
  • .5 oz lemon juice
  • .5 oz spicy ginger beer
  • Garnish: shaved cucumber slice and pineapple mint sprig

Directions: Combine all ingredients (except ginger beer) in a mixing glass. Add ice and shake. Strain over fresh ice in a highball glass. Fill with ginger beer and garnish with a shaved cucumber slice and pineapple mint sprig.

Rejuvenation Cup Low Calorie Cocktail

 

2. Green Orchard Highball

Well-being factors: apple, lemon, raw honey, ginger, tarragon.

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 oz Laird's Applejack Brandy
  • 1 oz unfiltered apple juice
  • .5 oz lemon juice
  • .5 oz raw honey syrup
  • 1 sprig fresh tarragon, plus 1 for garnish
  • 2 oz ginger beer
  • Garnish: dried apple chip, fresh tarragon sprig

Directions: Combine all ingredients (except ginger beer) in a mixing glass. Add ice and shake. Double-strain over fresh ice in a highball glass. Fill with ginger beer and stir. Garnish with a dried apple chip and fresh tarragon sprig.

Low Calorie Cocktail - Green Orchad Highball

 

3. Spice Market Old-Fashioned

Well-being factors: maple syrup, Indian spices, bitters.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Knob Creek Kentucky Bourbon
  • .5 oz Garam Masala Spiced Maple Syrup
  • 2 dashes Bitter End Moroccan Bitters
  • Garnish: orange twist

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice and stir thoroughly. Strain over fresh ice into a double old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a tailored geometric orange twist.

Low Calorie Drinks - Spice Market Old-fashioned

 

4. Bluegrass Smash

Well-being factors: lemon, orange, raw honey, rosemary.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Maker's Mark Kentucky Bourbon
  • .75 oz raw honey syrup
  • 2 quarters fresh lemon
  • 2 quarters fresh orange
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary
  • Garnish: dried lemon wheel, rosemary sprig, rosemary water spray

Directions: Muddle orange, lemon and rosemary in a mixing glass and then add remaining ingredients. Add ice and shake. Double-strain over pebble ice in a double old-fashioned glass. Garnish with dried lemon wheel and rosemary sprig. Finish with rosemary water spray.

Bluegrass Smash Low Calorie Cocktail

 

5. Barrel Spice

Well-being factors: root, blackcurrant, chile, chocolate.

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 oz Patrón Reposado Tequila
  • .5 oz Amontillado Sherry
  • .25 oz Art in the Age Root Liqueur
  • 1 Chile de Arbol
  • 2 dashes Bitter End Mexican Mole Bitters
  • Garnish: orange twist

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice and stir thoroughly. Strain over a large clear chunk of ice in a double old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a tailored geometric orange twist.

Barrel Spice Low Calorie Cocktail

 

6. Spritz Americain 

Well-being factors: lemon, grapes, maple.

Ingredients:

  • 3 oz Imbue American Vermouth
  • 1 oz lemon juice
  • .25 oz maple syrup
  • 5 green seedless grapes
  • 2 oz soda
  • Garnish: dried lemon wheel, green grape slices

Directions: Muddle grapes in the bottom of a tall highball glass. Add remaining ingredients (except soda). Strain over fresh ice in a wine glass. Top with soda and stir. Garnish with a dried lemon wheel and green grape slices.

Spritz American Low Calorie Cocktail

 

7. The Bros. Elixir

Well-being factors: apple, mint, quinine, rosemary.

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz Plymouth Gin
  • 1 oz Averna Amaro
  • .5 oz unfiltered apple juice
  • 4 mint leaves
  • Splash of Fever Tree Tonic Water
  • Garnish: chopped green apple, rosemary water spray

Directions: Lightly press the mint in the bottom of a tall highball glass and then add ice. Add the remaining ingredients and stir briskly, leaving mint at the bottom of the glass. Garnish with chopped green apple. Finish with rosemary water spray.

The Bros. Elixir Low Calorie Cocktail

 

Directions to JW Marriott Hotels in Florida

  • JW Marriott Marquis Miami: 255 Biscayne Boulevard Way Miami, FL 33131
  • Hotel Beaux Arts Miami: located inside the JW Marriott Marquis Miami
  • JW Marriott Miami: 1109 Brickell Avenue Miami, FL 33131
  • JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes: 4040 Central Florida Parkway Orlando, FL 32837

For this and other tips on best places to eat and drink in Florida, go to VISIT FLORIDA's official restaurants and bars guide.

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