Is it still January? Barely, but yes. Is it still dry? Well, that all depends on how you look at it. Maybe youre interested in incorporating a teensy bit of alcohol back into your life, or maybe youve never enjoyed an overly potent drink regardless of the month. I think the answer in both of these scenarios is the same: Switch to low ABV (alcohol by volume) cocktails. Theyre light, easy-going, and there is a wide world of options to suit your preference. I've got three recommendations to get you started.What is a low ABV cocktail?First of all, lets get our terminology straight. Again, ABV stands for alcohol by volume. This is usually understood as what percent of a drink is alcohol. Straight vodka can be 30% or 40% alcohol. So a vodka martini, after being stirred with ice and some added vermouth, might be 25%-35% alcohol. That is decidedly not low ABV.Wines can vary greatly but typically theyre around 13% to 18% ABV, and beers can range from 4% to 12%. While there is no precise ABV that defines a low ABV cocktail, I usually prefer them around 5% and below. Its nothing that will make me feel wobbly, but enough to add a touch of spice to the occasion. If youre at a bar or restaurant, they might have a different opinion of what fits into low ABV territory, so be sure to ask (or check the menu for the ABV) if youre wondering.How to make a low ABV cocktail at homeAside from buying a mocktail cookbook and adding a splash of gin to any of those concoctions (which you can totally dotry The Mocktail Club, an excellent recipe book that I recently reviewed) you can pore over your home bar and do some light experimentation. Personally, I like to think of low ABV drinks as giving the supporting characters a bit of shine. Its a chance to highlight aperitifs, vermouths, bitters, juices, shrubs, syrups, tonics, and sodas. Thats where many of the biggest, boldest flavors are anyway.If youre starting from scratch, start simple and try some juicy spritzes. A loose ratio could be 1:3:3: one part "supporting character" alcohol, three parts juice, and three parts bubbly, non-alcoholic liquid. Choose an aperitif, liqueur, or cordial that you like, and add equal parts of a complementary juice and soda water. Serve in a glass with plenty of ice.If youre starting from a classic cocktail recipe, try replacing the high-proof alcohol with a heavy pour of seltzer, or even a sparkling wine. The ABV for the latter would be higher than with using seltzer of course, but sometimes you just want to take it down a few notches. For example, proseccos 12% is much lower in alcohol content than gins 40%. In fact, thats what the negroni sbagliato doesswaps the gin for prosecco. Both are delicious cocktails, but the classic negroni is about twice as alcoholic.Three of my go-to low ABV cocktailsIve always enjoyed the activity of sipping socially, but not the inevitable headache of stiff drinks. Here are three I lean on when Im in the mood to take it easy. Dont try to reinvent the wheel here, folks: Simple is often best.Low ABV bellinisBellinis are light, flirty sparkling cocktails that are classically made by mixing a bit of white peach pure with a lot of prosecco. To bring down the ABV, cut the prosecco in half and replace it with a bit of seltzer water. Alternatively, you can use fruit juice instead of seltzer for a bigger dose of fruit flavor. (By the way, you can use any fruit pure you like; it doesnt have to be peach.)Negroni Sbagliato or AmericanoAs I noted above, the Sbagliato is a lower ABV version of the classic Negroni, and the Americano is the next step down. To make a Sbagliato, mix equal parts Campari, sweet vermouth, and prosecco (pour this last as a topper). Serve in a glass with plenty of ice. For an Americano, simply replace the prosecco with plenty of soda water. If I'm making it at home, I'll add a splash of simple syrup. Juicy Aperol SpritzThe classic Aperol Spritz uses three parts prosecco, two parts Aperol, and one part soda water. To make it less alcoholic, I knock out the prosecco and opt for a splash of juice. To make a Juicy Aperol Spritz, mix two parts Aperol, and one part orange juice in a glass half-filled with ice. Top it with three parts soda water.