Low ABV

What does ABV mean?

ABV is short for "alcohol by volume", in German the alcohol content by volume. It is exactly the number that appears on every bottle as "% vol": a gin at 40 % vol is therefore 40 percent alcohol. The same principle applies to cocktails, except that the alcohol content here is created in the finished drink, depending on the ingredients and the dilution.

What does "low ABV" mean?

A "low ABV" drink is a drink with a comparatively low alcohol content. There is no fixed, official threshold, but a comparison helps as orientation: classic cocktails like a martini or a Negroni often land at roughly 20 to 30 % vol in the finished drink. Low ABV drinks stay well below that, often around 10 % vol or less.

The trick is this: less alcohol does not mean less flavour. Many low ABV drinks work with aromatic ingredients like vermouth, sherry, bitter liqueurs or sparkling water, all of which bring plenty of complexity without weighing the drink down.

Why low ABV is so popular

• You can enjoy the evening for longer without losing your pace
• Several drinks in one evening stay more relaxed
• Aromas come across softer and more approachable
• It pairs perfectly with a multi-course dinner or a long conversation

In short: low ABV means stretching the evening instead of shortening it. Bartenders rightly call these "sessionable" drinks, the kind you can enjoy over a long session.

Typical representatives

• Spritz family: Aperol Spritz and its relatives, light, bitter and bubbly, the classic among low ABV drinks
• Americano: Campari, vermouth and soda, the big brother of the spritz idea
• Sherry drinks: the fortified wine from Spain brings nut, dried fruit and salty notes
• Vermouth drinks: vermouth on its own or as the main character, aromatic and only moderately strong

As you can see, the family is bigger than expected, and many of these drinks are true classics with a long history.

Important: low ABV is not alcohol-free

One thing we must not leave unsaid: even a low ABV drink contains alcohol, just less of it. If you are skipping alcohol entirely, our mocktails are the better choice, delivering full flavour at a true 0.0 %. And of course the same applies to light drinks: enjoy responsibly, especially when the evening grows long.

At our lounge

You like it lighter, but with ambition? Ask our team at the bar about our low ABV options. We will happily build you a drink that carries you through the whole evening, with everything in terms of flavour and without the percent taking over.