Low-Carb Alcohol: The Top 10 Drinks

Overview

Being on a diet doesn’t mean you must forgo all fun! Whether you prefer a glass of wine at dinner or a cocktail with friends, watching carbs doesn’t automatically require you to stop indulging.

There are plenty of low-carb drink choices available for people who enjoy alcohol. As with most things, moderation matters. Excessive drinking is harmful, but enjoying an occasional carb-conscious cocktail won’t derail your plan. In fact, several drinks on our top 10 are completely carb-free!

Why so much liquor?

For low-carb drinking, distilled spirits are usually the safest choice. They’re nearly all carbohydrate-free, so the main concern is what mixers you pair them with. Since not everyone prefers hard liquor, we also included some beers and wines that are more diet-friendly.

Diet Jack and Coke

Obviously, regular cola would ruin your daily carb allowance. However, diet sodas work well in many carb-free cocktails. This take on the classic Jack and Coke simply swaps in Diet Coke.

Make! Combine one jigger (1.5 ounces) of whiskey with Diet Coke and serve over ice.

• estimated calories (per serving): 100
• estimated carbohydrates (per serving): 0 grams

Cuba Libre

When you use diet cola, many simple favorites become low-carb. Despite its sweetness, rum also contains no carbs.

Make! Mix your preferred unflavored rum with diet cola, pour over ice, and for a twist add a wedge of lime.

• estimated calories: 100
• estimated carbohydrates (with a twist of lime): <1 gram

Carb-free gin and tonic

Gin and tonics are refreshing summer choices, but tonic water is surprisingly high in carbs — about 32 grams per 12-ounce can. Replace tonic with soda water to keep the taste without the carb hit.

Make! Stir one jigger of gin with soda water, add a squeeze of lemon or lime, and serve over ice.

• estimated calories: 150
• estimated carbohydrates: <1 gram

Low-carb mojito

The classic mojito relies on syrup for sweetness, but using a diet lemon-lime soda such as Diet Sierra Mist or Diet Sprite gives you sweetness without the carbs.

Make! Combine one jigger of rum with fresh lime juice and diet lemon-lime soda, pour over muddled mint leaves, and serve over ice.

• estimated calories: 110
• estimated carbohydrates: 1.5 grams

Michelob ULTRA

Most beers are loaded with carbs, so they don’t usually appear on low-carb lists. Some light beers, though, are reasonable choices — Michelob ULTRA is one of them.

• estimated calories: 95
• estimated carbohydrates: 2.6 grams

Wine

Keep in mind a standard pour of wine is around 5 ounces.

Pinot grigio

If you enjoy a crisp, chilled wine, pinot grigio is a suitable choice with relatively few carbs.

• estimated calories: 123
• estimated carbohydrates: 3 grams

Sauvignon blanc

Sauvignon blanc is another white wine that fits nicely into a low-carb approach.

• estimated calories: 120
• estimated carbohydrates: 3 grams

Red wine

If you prefer reds, pinot noir is a great lower-carb red wine option.

• estimated calories: 122
• estimated carbohydrates: 3.4 grams

Beck’s Premier Light

If you want a bit more flavor in your lager, Beck’s Premier Light is another low-carb beer option worth considering.

• estimated calories: 63
• estimated carbohydrates: 3.8 grams

Low-carb sea breeze

A sea breeze is a fruity, summery cocktail but it doesn’t have to be sugary. Traditionally made with grapefruit juice, you can cut out the extra carbs by using Diet Squirt instead.

Make! Mix 1 jigger of vodka with 2 ounces of unsweetened cranberry juice and 4 ounces of Diet Squirt, then pour over ice.

• estimated calories: 110
• estimated carbohydrates: 6 grams

Enjoy!

Artificial sweeteners can affect gut bacteria and may indirectly influence blood sugar, so they’re not a perfect solution. Moderation remains important. Being aware of what’s in your drinks lets you make deliberate choices and helps you stay aligned with your health objectives.