. . . the problem is, I’m allergic to alcohol. Anything more than one smallish glass of 12% alcohol, and I get a splitting headache and nausea. So, hard liquors are out. And I hate the taste of most wines and champagnes (I find them bitter or vinegary—much like myself, actually).
Any suggestions? What kind of drinks have no more than 12% alcohol and taste good? And please don’t say “beer.” Even the smell makes me ill.
—Scarlett “Neely” O’Hara
There are sweet wines, but you’ll often be pushing the 12% alcohol boundary. Wine coolers are another option.
What kind of beers have you been exposed to? There’s a world of difference between Bud Light and, say, Dogfish Head Raison d’Etre.
Bailey’s? I’ll put a shot in my coffee sometimes or you could make a White Russian. Not positive about the alcohol content but it’s pretty easy on your mouth buds.
Maybe you shouldn’t take up drinking after all.
Anyway, there’s always those “malt beverage” drinks like Mike’s Hard Lemonade and whatnot. Of course, it’s impossible to look classy while drinking those.
Your best bet will be mixed drinks. Try a rum and coke, depending on where you go, it may very well have less than 12% alcohol. 
I can only picture you with a small glass of sherry in your hand. And three bottles hidden in the hall secretary.
Why in the world are you thinking of taking up drinking when you’re allergic to alcohol? Do you like the sensation of mild intoxication or something? Ain’t bein’ judgmental here, as I’m a beer drinker myself, but I’m all confused here.
Let’s see.
No liquor.
No wine.
No beer.
Looks like you’re left with Bartles & Jaymes or fortified wines like Sherry or Port.
Somehow, the notion of Eve and Mad Dog 20/20 makes my happy scrappy head asplode.
Oddly enough, my doctor recommended it. He said a small amount of alcohol is actually good for you—one small glass a day. I also do want to relax and unwind after my increasingly horrific days, and do not want to get into antidepressants or pot or that sort of stuff. So, I would like to be able to have one small glass of something to drink with dinner, but am limited to 12% or less alcohol.
No worry about my becoming an acoholic, I’d throw up after two drinks!
Just checked… Bailey’s is 17% or 34 proof. In a WR you can either substitute it for Kahlua or use half of each. The vodka is, well… higher, but the cream can dilute the alcohol percentage to a level you find acceptable.
They’re good but I quit 'em because too many will make your belt tight.
Ohhh, sherry, that sounds nice and Victorian ladylike!
“I like my women the way I like my coffee: cold and bitter.”
Mixed drinks/cocktails with more mixer than booze.
Baileys or Kahlua with milk.
Southern Comfort with lemonade and a lemon twist.
Mimosa - champagne and orange juice.
Bacardi Limon and cranberry juice.
What non alcoholic drinks do you like?
I would think that many of the flavored liqueurs, cordials or schnapps in a mixed drink would be more the right speed. Plus all the suggestive names! Fuzzy Navel (OJ & peach schanpps) Toasted Almond (Milk & Amaretto), Buttery Nipple (Milk & Butterscotch schnapps).
I would recommend Webtender.com to get an idea of the thousands of different drinks that can be made. Cheers!
That’s funny, cause I like them like my coffee too, only for me it’s hot and Irish! 
I forgot about this trick. My first wife who hardly ever drank used to love a bowl of ice-cream (plain vanilla) with her liqueur of choice poured over it and mixed through. We kept lots of different flavoured liqueurs around. It was actually pretty damn good.
I would agree. Take your favorite mixed drink (or what looks like might be your favorite) and dilute it to a level your body can tolerate. You can make something like a sloe gin fizz (which I’ve never had, but seems palatable enough) with is relatively low in alcohol.
Chambord (raspberry flavored liqueur) is light on alcohol and wonderful with orange juice. Any liqueur, really, is the same - just need to mix it right. No blueberry schnapps with lemonade, for example.
I’m not sure there’s a reason you couldn’t do straight-up vodka, though. One shot (a couple of tablespoons) in a 12- or 16-ounce glass of anything sweet or fruity probably wouldn’t be noticeable to even the least heavy lightweight.
I like drinksmixer.com to find recipes. They list the percentage of alcohol. The original colins only had on ounce of spirit for a tall drink. I second the liqueurs over ice cream, or even shaved ice.
Ice cream? I’m trying to keep my girlish figure!
All this mixing and blending . . . I’m not Texas bloody Guinan!
What about this “sherry” stuff? What’s it taste like?