Lowest-Calorie Alcohol—Plus Tips for Keeping Calories Even Lower (2024)

Some of the lowest-calorie alcohol includes gin, wine, and vodka, all of which have about less than 100 calories. A calorie is a unit of energy that comes from food and drinks. You may know the calories in alcohol can add up quickly if you are keeping track of the calories in your diet. You may even wonder what types of alcoholic drinks are lowest in calories.

The alcohol in beverages does not offer nutrients. Here's a list of 12 low-calorie alcoholic drink options, including easy tweaks to some popular favorites and more.

Four ounces of champagne has 85 calories and an alcohol by volume (ABV) of about 10%. Keep in mind that calorie content can change among different options and sparkling wines. Go for the "dry" varieties if you're looking for less sugar. You can also look for "brut" on the label, which is French for unsweetened or dry.

2. Gin and Tonic

A gin and tonic is a classic combination. Tonic water is generally made with high-fructose corn syrup, the same sweetener in cola and other soft drinks.

Substitute tonic water for a calorie-free mixer like club soda or seltzer. You'll get that same bubbly feel and gin taste without the added calories. For extra flavor, add a splash of lime or lemon.

A 1.5-ounce serving of gin and club soda or seltzer has 97 calories and 40% ABV. As with other distilled alcohol, the number of calories in gin varies depending on the alcohol content. The higher the proof, which is equal to two times the ABV, the higher the calories. Stick with low-proof gin for fewer calories.

Many brews are high in calories, but not all beer deserves this reputation. Several low-calorie light beers exst.

A 12-ounce serving has about 105 calories and 4.2% ABV. Many beers don't list calories on their labels. Craft beers may contain more calories than commercial beers, and the ingredients can vary. With more flavor comes more calories. The higher the ABV, the more calories in the beer.

4. Martini

The two ingredients in martinis can determine how many calories are in your beverage. Opt for a low-proof gin and dry vermouth, which has fewer calories than sweet vermouth. You can also mix in a little flavor. Add a twist of lemon to infuse a citrusy taste, or make your drink dirty with a splash of olive juice.

A 2.25-ounce serving of a traditional martini has 125 calories, while an extra dry martini has 140 calories. Gin has a 40% ABV, and vermouth has a 15% to 21% ABV.

Mimosas typically come with two ingredients: orange juice and sparkling wine or champagne. Some orange juices can contain added sugar, so look for ones that are 100% juice. Consider wine and champagne options that are less sweet, like dry or brut bubbly. A four-ounce serving is about 75 calories.

6. Mojito

Mojitos have a certain appeal with their minty-fresh sweetness. A six-ounce mojito, including muddled mint leaves, rum (40% ABV), soda water, and sugar, has about 143 calories. You can tweak the recipe to lower the calories.

Avoid premade mixers. More often than not, those ingredients pack high amounts of added sugar. You'll also want to cut back on the sugar you use or opt for a different sweetener. Instead, ask for less sugar or more ice if you order your mojito at a restaurant or bar.

Think of a Paloma as the grapefruit lover's alternative to a margarita. This alcoholic drink features tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and soda water for a margarita-style taste. A six-ounce Paloma has around 130 calories.

Use fresh grapefruit juice instead of bottled to reduce calories. Check the label to make sure there are no added sugars if you use bottled grapefruit juice. Skip grapefruit sodas and Paloma mixes, which are usually high in sugar. Go with low-proof tequila. With a 40% ABV, tequila has less than 100 calories.

8. Pared-Down Margarita

Margaritas can be high in calories, thanks to lots of sugar and triple sec. Premade mixers can also pack a lot of sugar. One four-ounce margarita, including agave syrup, lime juice, and tequila, has about 168 calories.

A workaround exists. Use fresh lime juice, tequila, and a dash of agave syrup on the rocks. Want to add some nutrients to the mix? Try using avocado, mango, and orange juice for a hefty dose of essential vitamins and minerals, Cynthia Sass, RDN, Health's contributing nutrition editor, told Health.

Small amounts of alcohol, including red wine, can be a part of a low-calorie lifestyle. Stick with a serving size of five ounces, which is about 125 calories and about 12% ABV.

Limit yourself to one glass of wine in one sitting to keep calories down. Go for varietals like cabernet sauvignon, merlot, Syrah, and pinot noir, which tend to be low in calories.

10. Rum and Diet co*ke

Is rum and co*ke your go-to drink? You can cut out 85 calories in a drink by mixing in Diet co*ke instead of regular. An eight-ounce serving of this alternative has about 100 calories. Add a squeeze of fresh lime juice to your glass if you want to amp up the taste.

A vodka soda may be one of your lowest-calorie choices if you are in the mood for hard alcohol. Try a shot of vodka (40% ABV) with seltzer or club soda and a splash of lemon or lime for 97 calories in eight ounces. Both mixers have zero calories.

12. White Wine

Dry white wines, such as sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio, tend to have lower sugar content, which translates to fewer calories, than sweeter varieties like Riesling. You want to strive for a five-ounce glass for about 120 calories. There are about five glasses per bottle.

You can still enjoy your favorite alcoholic drink without adding too many calories to your daily intake. Here are ways to lower the calorie content of your happy hour beverage of choice:

• Avoid powdered mixes: These tend to have a lot of sugar, which adds calories.
• Choose diet soft drinks: These have no calories compared to their counterparts. You may still want to limit your intake of diet soft drinks in general. Experts have linked artificial sweeteners like aspartame to some health concerns.
• Limit your alcohol: Women should drink no more than one drink per day, and men should drink no more than two drinks per day.
• Pace yourself: Drink a glass of water between alcoholic beverages.
• Substitute soft drinks and tonic water: Instead, opt for a no-calorie club soda or seltzer water.
• Use small glasses: You can make half drinks or mini drinks to cut calories.

A Quick Review

Alcoholic drinks have no to very little nutritional value, depending on their ingredients. Drinking beverages high in sugar and alcohol content can quickly add a lot of calories to your daily intake.

You can reduce the calories in your alcoholic drinks with a few simple tweaks. Cut out as much sugar as possible and use natural sources of sugar in mixed drinks. Use calorie-free mixers for the same fizzy sensation without all the sugar of tonic water and soft drinks.