Healthy Drinking - Weight Loss

There is no doubt that drinking can add pounds to the mid section. Muffin tops and spare tires can be seen at your local bar from patrons who are “belly up to the bar” on any given night. The term (belly up to the bar) comes from a post-prohibition law that stated, “in order to drink in a restaurant that servers alcohol, patrons must be belly up at the bar in order to consume alcohol.” With obesity being a hot topic in America, some states (like Florida – check out www.healtystate.org) are taking a hard line in fighting calorie intake.

The number of calories in mixed drinks depends on several things: the amount and proof of the alcohol, the mixers, and the size of the drink. The mixers, syrups, and sodas really get people into calorie trouble. Most drinks start with 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits at around 96 calories for that serving. That can easily be turned into a drink with hundreds of calories by mixologists unless they are running a “Sinnky Drink” program such as several large restaurant chains are now doing. I do not like skinny drinks as they lack in taste such as cooking with light butter or milk.

Whether you are drinking a beer or a cosmo, the higher the alcohol content, the higher the calories. Let’s look at vodka for example:

80-proof vodka (40% alcohol; the most common type) has 64 calories per 1oz

86-proof vodka (43% alcohol) has 70 calories/1 oz

90-proof vodka (45% alcohol) has 73 calories/1 oz

100-proof vodka (50% alcohol) has 82 calories/1 oz

If alcohol is a culprit, we need to look at mixers too. Take a look below:

Coffee, tea: 0 calories

Sugar-free syrups: 0

Regular soda: 160 calories

Diet soda or diet tonic: 0 calories

Orange juice (6 oz): 84 calories

Light orange juice (8 oz): 50 calories

Cranberry juice cocktail (8 oz): 136 calories

Light cranberry juice (8 oz): 40 calories

Lemon or lime juice (1/2 oz): 10 calories

Light lemonade (8 oz): 5 calories

When it comes to portion size, the average serving size of wine and alcoholic beverages is probably smaller than you think.  Beer, on the other hand, is more standardized in bottles and beer glasses, except if you are at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.

Most glasses of wine contain 125-150 calories (4 oz), but that can double depending on the size of the glass size and how full it is.  Wine glasses are often refilled (seemingly bottomless) before empty, making it especially hard for dieters to track their alcohol and calorie consumption.

Beer can range from 64-198 calories per 12 ounces. Light beers are a better choice because they contain the same amount of alcohol as regular beers but fewer carbs.  

So just how many calories are in your favorite cocktail? These calorie counts for popular alcoholic drinks are approximate as it depends heavily on ingredients and portions.

Top – 5 Alcoholic beverages by calorie count (High)

Long Island iced tea (8 oz): 780 calories

Mud Slide (6 oz): 580 calories

Chocolate martini (6 oz):  438 calories

White Russian (6 oz): 425 calories

Pina Colada (6 oz): 378 calories

Top – 5 Alcoholic beverages by calorie count (Low)

Ultra-light beer (12 oz): 64-95

Mimosa (4 oz): 75

Rum and Diet Coke (8 oz): 100

Champagne (5oz): 106-120

Red & White wine (5 oz):120

Studies have shown that some alcoholic beverages can actually aid in health. Look at the best of the best:

Best alcoholic drinks for health:
Red Wine
Red wine is naturally filled with antioxidants, a natural cancer-fighting agent, and is said to aid with digestion. It can also help reduce cholesterol, aid in the formation of nerve cells, and has less sugar than most white wines. The recommended amount of red wine is one 4 ounce glass for women and one or two glasses for men.

Bloody Mary
A Bloody Mary is naturally packed with antioxidants regardless of how it's made. Ingredients such as Cayenne pepper, hot sauce, horse radish and others also carry certain health benefits, as do any vegetables that are in the recipe and/or garnish.

Screwdriver
Vitamin C from the orange juice and the added fiber of it are some of the extra health benefits here. Orange juice is also a source of vitamin B1, potassium, calcium, and more. Vodka's distilling process makes regular brands devoid of sugars and yeasts that can exaggerate hangovers.

Beer

Although calories are always an issue with beer, being a grain beverage that is fermented, the natural benefits of the grain are inevitably going to have some effect.

I hope this educational lesson helps you the next time you go out to drink and want to reduce calories. Remember that it is always good to get some form of exercise in between drinking sessions – and no, 12-ounce curls should not be considered part of your routine.

Spirits - Grand Marnier

By popular demand, Swig Knowledge has paid homage to one of the best spirits on earth. For those of you who know me, you know that Grand Marnier is one of my favorite “drinks.” I have had it in Champagne flutes in Paris, random bars in DC, and dusted off from the shelves of bars in the South. It is the drink of Washington, DC. It is a quintessential blend of orange zest and beautiful bouqeted cognacs from France. This wonderful nectar is truly a blend from the heavens. Whether you call it GM or Grand Ma, this blog is for you! Here’s the scoop:

Grand Marnier - Cordon Rouge (GM)
Originally created by Louis-Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle in 1880, Grand Marnier is a blend of fine cognacs (from Cognac, France), distilled with tropical orange essence, and slow aged in French oak casks giving it its color (gold and amber tints). The nose is complex with orange and toffee. On the tongue, GM has bitter orange flavors are enhanced by the cognac with a hint of orange marmalade and hazelnut. The long finish pairs well with desserts such as citrus fruit crème brulee, caramel pastries and cheeses such as bleu (Roquefort).

Cuvee du Centenaire (GM 100)
Most people think this GM 100 is 100-years-old, but it was created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the House of Grand Marnier in 1927. This rare medium amber, copper lined colored spirit is the perfect blend of essence of tropical oranges and rare French 25-year-old cognacs mainly from Petite and Grande Champagne (the two most prestigious production areas in the Cognac region). Its nose is full of candied orange scents with hints of spice and notes of dried fruit, gingerbread and nutmeg on the tongue. Macerated orange complete the long finish which pairs well with desserts such as moist chocolate cake, orange cake, or a plate of apricots and soft cheeses such as Camembert.

Cuvée du Cent Cinquantenaire (GM 150)
Again, most people think that GM 150 is 150-years-old, but it was launched by Jacques Marnier Lapostolle, the company's CEO, in 1977 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of this glorious beverage. This blend, presented in a hand painted decanter, was created for cognac enthusiasts being blended with 50-year-old Cognacs. It combines essence of orange with very old cognacs mainly from Grand Champagne, the most prestigious production area in the Cognac region. The color is reddish-gold with light amber on the rim. The nose has scents of aged cognac with background notes of cocoa, cinnamon and other spices and the flavor provides notes of coffee, honey, almonds and spices. GM 150 pairs well with hard cheeses such as aged Gouda and Parmigianino and rich desserts such as chocolate sponge cake and tiramisu.

The Flavors

When I was traveling through Europe (READ MY BOOK!), I came across several flavors of GM that were not available in the States at the time. They are very unique in style and taste.

Cordon Jaune (Cheap GM)
This bottle is very unique with its yellow ribbon. This spirit is only sold in some European countries and at some major international airports. Yellow Label Grand Marnier is generally regarded as being the lowest quality. It is made with neutral grain spirit rather than cognac. It is used for mixed drinks and cooking purposes, such as Crêpes Suzette.

Navan (Vanilla GM)
Navana, a small village on the north-eastern coast of Madagascar (one of the island's most renowned vanilla-producing regions), is the namesake for this spirit. Navan brings together natural vanilla from this region with fine French cognacs. I am not a fan, but one could try it straight up, on the rocks, or in delicious cocktails.

Cherry Marnier (Cherry GM)
Cherry Marnier, one of the first fruit liqueurs created at the family's original distillery near Versailles, is made exclusively from Morello cherries, a variety from Turkey known for its full flavor. The cherries are ground with their stones (seeds) to lend an aromatic richness and body before undergoing slow maceration and resting for one year in vats where the liqueur acquires its complexity and roundness. The color is deep red tinted with copper hues and a rich nose of cherry enhanced by notes of sweet almonds and spices. I tried this in the South of France (Monte Carlo), alongside the main marina at midnight as a night cap. It was definitely different.

When you have a chance, order a GM and think of me.

The Versus Series - Cava

Here at Swig Knowledge we like the idea of “The Versus Series” and setting two beverages similar in style, taste and form and see who wins in a head to head test once the dust settles and the room begins to spin. You may remember out first Versus Series (Porter vs. Stout) from a couple of weeks ago. The outcome was a good review for Swig Knowledge and we did it again.

When I was traveling through Spain a couple of years ago, my first stop was in Barcelona and my first stop for a night out on the town was to a wine bar for Cava. Spain is known for its Cava and it is shipped throughout the globe. Some may think Cava is Champagne. I can see why they would: both Champagne and Cava use the some of the same grapes that are grown in similar conditions and both utilize the same method of distillation (Méthode Champenoise – a method of storing wine in a bottle upside-down on racks in underground caves while they create carbon dioxide which creates the bubbles). The basic difference is that only wines from Champagne, France, can be called Champagne (similar to that wines from Porto, Portugal, can only be called ports).

Alright, let’s get started:

The Tail of the Tape:

Cordon Negro Brut by Freixenet
Blend: Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.5%
Method: Méthode Champenoise
Aging: 12 months in a cave
Price: $13.00 - $17.00 a bottle

Segura Viudas Brut by Aria
Blend: 60% Macabeo, 20% Parellada 20% Xarel-lo
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.5%
Method: Méthode Champenoise
Aging: Up to 3 years in a cave
Price: $7.00 - $10.00 a bottle

Ding, Ding...

Freixenet is the largest cava houses in Spain, similar to France's Moet & Chandon in quality, distribution and importance. The Freixenet cava business started in 1914 and launched the cava “Carta Nevada” (one of its leading products) in 1941 and cava “Cordon Negro” in 1974. Cordon Negro Brut is Freixenet’s most popular cava (the #1 imported sparkling wine in the world). It is a blend of three white, Spanish grape varieties – Macabeo (widely grown in the Cava producing, hot and dry areas south of Barcelona, the Rioja region of northeastern Spain, and the Languedoc region of France), Xarel-lo (found mainly in the cooler northeastern region of Spain in Catalonia and gives off hints of crisp apple) and Parellada (also found in Catalonia and gives off aromas of citrus and golden apples).

It is crisp, clean, well balanced and is very dry. The acidity is lower than champagnes for a softer, smoother flavor. It is medium-bodied with apple, pear and bright citrus flavors and a moderately long and crisp, clean finish.

Segura Viudas, located in Penedes, Spain, (located between Barcelona, Spain, and the border of France) began producing wines in 1950, but it was not until 1969 that it began to market its wines. Today the wine house has accumulated international recognition in a short amount of time. The Ferrer family of Barcelona (the largest producer of sparkling wine for over 100 years) purchased the Segura Viudas estate in the early 80’s and are responsible for Aria's introduction and success in the United States and around the globe. Like Freixenet, Aria is also a blend of Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel-lo grapes.

This Cava is a dry, lively wine, appropriate for any occasion. Its flavor is dominated by fresh pineapple, almonds, honey and straw, with hints of pears.

And the winner is…

Though I enjoyed both Cavas, the winner to me is the value driven Aria. Its flavors stood out more and were not as harsh as Freixenet. It is a great sipping Cava that is strong enough to be paired with seafood, cheese, and a good time. Hope you enjoyed the Versus Series. Look for another one soon. I will also take recommendations!

Wine - Apothic Red

During my time as a buyer for one of the busiest restaurants in the US, I had to recreate a wine list with over 150 wines due to the struggling economy. Because Americans started pinching pennies, we knew that the first thing guests would hold back on was buying wine with dinner. My job – find wines that were less expensive that were still great in quality.

I have never liked the term “cheap wine.” Instead, the term “value driven wines” was used during this phase. Taking off wines that ran as high as $80 - $100, we dropped our wine prices to the $25 - $45 range and began selling more wines in bulk to make up the difference in lost revenue. I remember buying wine in gas stations in Bordeaux, France for around 4 Euros ($6.00). The wines were perfectly blended, smooth and satisfying. Wine is wine to some and they may think it is all the same. I like to find different blends and varietals that make wine lists more interesting than those with the normal varietals.

Not too long ago, I tried a value driven wine which my sister recommended call Apothic Red (13% ABV, around $14 a bottle). This wine did not let me down with its aroma of dark chocolate, black pepper and salami. Being a blend three bold grapes (Syrah, Zinfandel, and cut with Merlot), this wine was right up my alley in terms of medium to full bodied reds which I love.

As for the taste, Apothic Red is a little sweeter (but definitely not overly sweet) with ripe rhubarb, plush black cherry and cola flavors with a long lasting vanilla finish. The wine is not your average "cheap wine". It’s different, intriguing, bold, and satisfying. It's a huge wine with a low price.

As for pairings, this wine would go perfectly with braised brisket, grilled or roasted pork and bold cheeses such as bleu or a mouth coating goat cheese. When in the store, don’t go for the most expensive bottle thinking it’s the best. In the end, it may be overrated, overpriced and simply not good.