Baja Bob's: Our Favorite Low-Cal Mixer

I am not an alcohol aficionado by any means-- it's hard to get much experience when your tolerance is capped at four drinks, right? In some ways I'm grateful for my low tolerance, because it saves both money and calories. At the same time, even two or three mixed drinks over the course of a night can leave your wallet feeling $15 lighter. With the average mixed drink containing about 300 calories in 8 fl. oz, you might see the numbers on the scale going up as quickly as the numbers in your bank account are going down.

While there's no substitution for a night on the town, there's a way to satisfy your cravings for a good Whiskey Sour, Cranberry Cosmo, or Mai Tai that will save you the regrets of frequent barhopping. Baja Bob's Sugar Free Cocktail Mixes are not only cheap and super low-cal, they are absolutely delicious!

I first stumbled upon Baja Bob's after my boyfriend's mom introduced me to whiskey sours. My boyfriend and I went on a mad hunt for sweet and sour mix, only to find that it contained way more calories than we were comfortable with. Resigning myself to the fact that I'd never have a good whiskey sour without regret, I searched the internet for low-calorie mixed drinks. My search ultimately led me to Baja Bob's website, where I was shocked to find a zero calorie sweet and sour mix... alongside more zero calorie products to make drinks I've never even heard of.

The huge variety of zero- and low- calorie mixers at Baja Bob's is truly incredible. There are mixers for all of the classics: Margarita, Hurricane, Daiquiri, Mojito, Pina Colada, and Mai Tai, just to name a few. Baja Bob's doesn't limit itself to the familiar, however; margarita flavors include Original, Triple Citrus, Strawberry, and Mango. With sample packs and on-the-go packets available, the selection is so enormous that you're bound to find something you like.

While I haven't tried all of them, I have tried most (thank you, sample packs!). Besides their low-calorie status, the thing I like most about the mixes is their versatility. Nearly all of them taste delicious with a variety of alcohols; for example, the Sweet-n-Sour mix is as good with vodka as it is with whiskey, and my boyfriend swears the Original Margarita tastes great with gin, rum, or vodka. Bob's mixers are strong enough that, if you're pinching your pennies, you can enjoy a drink that's 1 part mix and 1 part alcohol and barely taste the latter. On the other hand, Bob's is tasty enough that you can drink it on the rocks to enjoy the virgin variety of your favorite drink.

The only issue you may find with Baja Bob's is that it's sweetened with Splenda, the sugar substitute that has fallen from favor as Stevia has risen. Bob's may not be all-natural, but at least it avoids such sweeteners as aspartame and erythritol. While this may be a breaking point for a few, Bob's is still one of the safer indulgences your body can couple with alcohol.

By the way, did I mention the best part about Baja Bob's? The price is just $5.99 for 32 fl. oz of mix! It's available online at http://www.bajabob.com/, but the more common varieties (Original Margarita, Strawberry Daiquiri, Sweet-n-Sour) can be found at your local Giant Eagle. I like buying online because shipping is free over $50; I end up with a box of mixers big enough to last almost a year between two people! They usually have other great promotional deals going on too; if you head over right now, you can get 10% off your order with the code DOTTI10.

If you're new to mixed drinks or want to experiment with a flavor you've never seen, Bob's site offers fun recipes that are reviewed (and sometimes submitted) by users. In addition, each bottle includes one or two great drink recipes on its label, which I have found to be spectacular.

Bottom line: Great price, great taste, huge variety, and zero sugar makes for low calorie mixed drinks that are WAY more exciting than your average Diet Coke and Captain. A MUST TRY.

Note: All opinions expressed above are entirely my own. Baja Bob's has not compensated me for this review in any way, nor did they contact me to request such a review. I just really love their product!