Head to head
Lemon, Lime and Bitters and Michelada side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.
The difference, by the numbers
Both have lime juice. Only the Lemon, Lime and Bitters has lemon-lime soda and alcohol-free aromatic bitters; only the Michelada has Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, beer and salt. In parts, a Lemon, Lime and Bitters is 1 lime and 10 lemon-lime soda; a Michelada is 1 lime and 6 beer. By volume, the Lemon, Lime and Bitters is 91% mixer and juice and 9% citrus; the Michelada is 86% mixer and juice and 14% citrus. That makes them close cousins on the ratio map.
The Michelada is the stronger drink in the glass (3.8% ABV against 0.0%) and holds more alcohol (0.99 standard drinks against 0.00). The Michelada has more calories (about 171 against 68), but the Lemon, Lime and Bitters has more sugar (16.5 g against 1.1 g). Both are built and served in a highball.
Zero Proof · Zero proof
The ratio · 1 : 10
Full Lemon, Lime and Bitters recipe →
Highlighted: not in the Michelada.
Highballs & Fizzes · Beer
The ratio · 1 : 6
Highlighted: not in the Lemon, Lime and Bitters.
Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.
Lemon, Lime and Bitters vs.
Michelada vs.