If you perused our aisles today, you would see one word that repeats again and again: Skinny. We’ve got Skinny Pop Popcorn, Skinny Cow ice cream, Firefly Skinny Sweet Tea Vodka, and even Skinny Water!

Skinny is the new buzzword, and no one knows it better than Real Housewife Bethenny Frankel. She has built an empire on the word, and it’s still growing! Just this past week she brought in White Peach Margarita and Skinny Mini Margarita 4 packs*.

So who exactly is Bethenny, and why should we care about her Skinny products? Bethenny Frankel started her reality TV career as the runner up on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart. The producers liked her so much they slotted her as a cast member on the hit reality TV series The Real Housewives of New York. On the show, she was able to show off her culinary skills as a natural foods caterer. She got her credentials from the Natural Gourmet Culinary Institute, and as the show progressed, she and her eating habits became wildly popular.

In episodes, Bethenny was shown ordering what she called a “Skinny Girl Margarita.” This low-cal cocktail was a stripped-down version of a classic margarita, without all the sugar. The drink caught on, and a woman who was slated for 15 minutes of TV fame turned her favorite libation into the seedling for an entire line of Skinnygirl products.

Daily, I get asked how they taste, and last night I sat down and tried all of the Skinnygirl Cocktails*. Here are my findings:

Skinnygirl Cocktails Review

? Skinnygirl Margarita $13.95 – Tart and tangy the way a margarita should be, but if you are used to Jose Cuervo, you may be in for a bit of a shock. You have to keep in mind that this drink is only 37 calories for 1.5 oz, so the sweetness is cut way back. It takes a little getting used to, but it’s definitely a great alternative to the blood-sugar-spiking, bright-green, premade jug margarita.

Skinnygirl White Cranberry Cosmo $14.99 – By far the favorite of our group, the White Cranberry Cosmo is light and refreshing–perfect for a hot day by the pool.  The white cranberry flavor is elegant and not as heavy as your standard cranberry Cosmo. There’s also the bonus that it’s clear, so you don’t have to worry about stains.

Skinnygirl Pina Colada $14.99 – “A guilt-free vacation with every sip,” Bethenny says. Sure, it tastes like a vacation; you know the part when you get Hawaiian Tropic suntan lotion in your mouth? I’m not saying it’s bad. However, it does have an intense coconut flavor that doesn’t make up for the creamy smoothness of the real thing. If you are in a pinch and watching calories, it will do.

Skinnygirl White Peach Margarita $13.95 – The newest “girl” was my favorite of the night. Very fragrant, sweet and a little tart, just like a ripe peach. A little hint of lime counterbalances the sweetness of the peach just right.

All of the cocktails average about 35 calories per 1.5 fluid oz, and except for the margarita, all are clear in color. I can see why these have become some of my bestselling liquor items! All of the ingredients to make your own skinny margarita can be found in our stores, from the fresh limes and blue agave silver tequila to the calorie-reducing agave syrup. The Skinnygirl Cocktails are as simple as the bottles say–just open and serve, but I do recommend lots of crushed ice.

Have you tried any of the Skinnygirl cocktails?  What do you think?

*Sorry, Skinnygirl Cocktails are only available at our Troy & Clinton Township locations.