Posted on Fri, May. 21, 2004

Cocktails without the carbs

Heroes Sports Bar offers low-carb dieters a way to party without cheating.

BY DENISE NEIL, The Wichita Eagle

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/en...ent/8716212.htm

Carb counters of Wichita, raise a glass to your newest hero. Darrin Hackney, the general manager of Heroes Sports Bar at 117 N. Mosley, has actually found some excess carbohydrates that no one had yet thought to eliminate.

They were floating around in mixed drinks and keeping low-carb dieters from enjoying the occasional cocktail.

Hackney, an Atkins-turned-South Beach dieter, didn't think that was right.

So he took it upon himself to develop a series of low-carb drink recipes that he's been introducing every Friday night at the bar. The series will continue throughout the summer.

"Everyone's either doing Atkins, South Beach or Sugar Busters," Hackney said. "And I noticed that these people couldn't just go out and enjoy themselves with their friends and have a cocktail."

Now, most can, Hackney said. Low-carb dieters in the early stages aren't permitted to have alcohol, but later-stage dieters should be able to sample Hackney's recipes in moderation and stay true to the program.

So far, Hackney has invented recipes for low-carb margaritas and Long Island iced teas. His goal is to create a tasty, low-carb pina colada before the summer's end.

He tries to keep the concoctions simple, and he cuts carbs in several different ways. He mixes with diet sodas, for example. And he haunts local health food stores looking for low-carb drink mixes.

The drinks have been a hit so far. Hackney introduces three new drinks and distributes their recipes at Heroes' after-work party every Friday night. He plans to create 39 recipes by summer's end.

He's just here to help, he said.

"I talk to a lot of people who are doing these diets and are struggling," Hackney said. "They say, 'I don't want another Michelob Ultra. I want a summertime drink.' "

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Denise Neil didn't even think about drinks having carbs before reporting this story. Thanks. Thanks a lot. Reach her at 268-6327 or at dneil~wichitaeagle.com.


HEROES' LOW-CARB DRINK RECIPES

Following are a few of the low-carb drinks Darrin Hackney has created. He posts three new recipes every Saturday at www.heroeswichita.com.

APPLE MARTINI

1 oz. Smirnoff Vodka
1 oz. Apple Pucker Schnapps
1 oz. apple juice

Shake with ice in a shaker and strain. [NOTE: This one is NOT low-carb - it is LOADED with sugar. - gotbeer]

MINDE'S MARGARITA

1 ¼ oz. Cuervo Gold tequila
4 oz. Diet Mountain Dew
1 oz. lime juice

Shake well to mix in a tall glass.
Serve with a squeeze of lime and salted rim.

LONG ISLAND TEA -- Texas style

½oz. vodka
½oz. rum
½oz. tequila
3 oz. Baja Bob's low-carb sweet and sour mix (found in health food stores)
Top with diet cola
Mix in a tall glass with a lemon-wedge garnish.