15 Lowest-Calorie Alcohols – Best Alcoholic Drinks For Weight Loss

Amy Gorin, RDN, is a nutritionist and the owner of Plant Based With Amy.

How many calories are in different types of alcohol?

In general, different types of alcohol have about the same number of calories, explains Amy Gorin, RDN, the owner of Plant Based With Amy. A 100-calorie drink on its own isn’t going to sabotage your goals, she adds. The truth is what makes a drink super filling isn’t the alcohol itself, but rather what that bartender is adding into your drink, like sugary mixes, simple syrups, etc.

For reference, here’s a breakdown of each type of alcohol’s calorie count:

• Vodka: One shot contains 97 calories (0 gram carbs, 0 gram sugar)
• Rum: One shot contains 97 calories (0 gram carbs, 0 gram sugar)
• Whiskey, bourbon, and scotch: One shot contains 105 calories (0.03 grams of carbs per ounce, 0.03 grams of sugar per ounce)
• Gin: One shot contains 110 calories (0 gram carbs, 0 gram sugar)
• Tequila: One shot contains 105 calories (0 gram carbs, 0 gram sugar)
• Champagne: One 4-ounce glass contains 90 calories (3 grams carbs, 1 gram sugar)
• Beer: One 12-ounce bottle contains 153 calories (13 grams carbs, 0 gram sugar)
• Wine: One 5-ounce glass of wine contains 123 calories (4 grams carbs, 1 gram sugar)
• Baileys: One shot contains 147 calories (11 grams carbs, 9 grams sugar)

How do you make a low-calorie alcoholic drink?

If you’re looking to make a fun alcoholic drink at home, here are some tips on how to keep it light and low-cal from Gomer.

• Add seltzer to any cocktail (think: wine spritzer). This provides some extra fizz and volume with 0 calories and 0 carbs.
• Load up on ice to stretch your drink and add volume without the extra calories.
• Drink a glass of water or seltzer before *and* after you drink. This will help mitigate the dehydrating effects of alcohol and slow down consumption.
• If you’re looking for a mixer, opt for a diet tonic, diet soda, or sugar-free mixer like Sparkling Ice, which packs only five calories per bottle and no sugar.
• Avoid adding sugary fruit juices, puree, or syrups to cut down calories and carbs.

The Best Low-Calorie Alcoholic Drinks For Weight Loss

Need a quick tip sheet for ordering a drink without maxing your weight-loss goals? Here are the *best* drink orders that include the most popular spirits, according to our pros.

1. Vodka Soda 2.0

A zero-calorie seltzer might be basic, but it can keep you on track since it has no carbs and vodka typically contains about 97 calories per 1.5-ounce shot, says Mezher. “For those losing weight and eating a higher carbohydrate plan, a squeeze or slice of fresh fruit is perfectly fine,” explains Gomer. But if you’re going low carb, a squeeze of lemon or lime is a better option, she adds. At home, you can also play around with different teas (hello, matcha!) and sparkling water to up the flavor profile but avoid added calories, adds Mezher. For example, try mixing matcha, lime seltzer, and vodka in your shaker and pouring over ice.

2. Rum And Diet Cola



Rather than your go-to rum and regular cola, make it a diet to easily reduce calories and sugar. “This is another good choice if you can limit the number of drinks,” says Gomer. Rum (1.5 fluid ounces) contains no carbs, no fat, and about 97 calories.

3. Rum And Unsweetened Black Tea



Here’s an alternative for people who don’t want to drink any kind of cola—make it a rum and unsweetened black tea, Gorin recommends. One cup of unsweetened black tea will only add about two calories to your bev which otherwise has about 97 calories per 1.5-ounce shot, says Mezher.

“This may be hard to get at a restaurant or bar, but it’s a good option to make at home,” says Gomer. “Just know that the black tea has caffeine, which adds to the dehydrating effect, so if drinking more than one, hydration is key.”

4. Manhattan



Don Draper was on to something. If you don’t want to drink your whiskey straight, order a classic Manhattan (whiskey, sweet vermouth, bitters), which keeps calories, carbs, and sugars low. The standard recipe includes two ounces of whiskey (about 105 calories) and one ounce of sweet vermouth (about 64 calories) for a total of around 169 calories. “A Manhattan is not too bad if you can keep it to ideally one or two drinks,” adds Gomer.

5. Gin Martini



Channeling your inner Bond may serve you well if you’re looking to lose weight, since a gin martini with two olives and brine contains about 200 calories with virtually no sugar or carbs, says Mezher.

If you’re craving a little more flavor, Mezher suggests experimenting with ingredients like chopped ginger or muddled mint or sage leaves, which are not only low in calories but also nutritious. Add them to a cocktail shaker with ice and gin, shake well, pour over ice, and top with a cucumber slice.

6. Paloma



The tangy pink drink, made with grapefruit and lime juice, is like a margarita without as many calories. However: “This drink has 158 calories and six grams of carbs, so it can add up fast if you have more than one,” notes Gomer. Also keep in mind that most palomas are typically made with grapefruit soda, so opt for a squeeze of fresh grapefruit or grapefruit seltzer if you can, to avoid additional calories and carbs, adds Mezher.

7. Champagne, Seltzer, And Fruit



A five-ounce glass of bubbly isn’t much—but you can fill up the rest of your flute with seltzer and fresh fruit or mint leaves for a drink that’s yummy and only 90 calories, says Mezher. Another pro tip? Mezher recommends muddling fruit and herbs which add true natural flavor without refined sugar.

8. Light Beer



Opt for a light beer instead of the regular thing since a 12-ounce pour only has about 90 to 100 calories, depending on the brand, says Mezher. It’s a good way to still enjoy beer without the same density as the usual bev, Gorin says.

Need a specific rec? The Budweiser Select 55 has the lowest calorie and carb count, according to Gomer. “It’s also a larger portion compared to other drinks, so nursing two all night is a great strategy,” she says.

9. Dry Red Wine



Red wine typically contains 120 to 130 calories per five-ounce pour, according to Mezher.

Opt for a dry pour over a sweeter option like moscato, sherry, riesling, or dessert wines whenever possible since they contain less sugar, says Mezher. “Try diluting [your wine] with seltzer or ice so you can drink less,” Gomer adds.

10. Baileys And Coffee



Add a 1.5-ounce shot of Baileys to a cup of Joe since coffee is both tasty and almost a no-cal bev, Gorin says. But keep it to one drink since each shot contains over 100 calories, per Mezher, along with the added dehydration of the caffeine from the coffee, says Gomer. (Although you could also opt for decaf coffee.) It’s best to nix added sweeteners or creamers to reduce the cals per drink, adds Mezher.

11. Tequila And Lime Splash



A 1.5-ounce shot of tequila with a splash of lime and soda provides a little bit of kick and juice taste with only about 100 calories. If you’re looking for a little sweetness, Mezher recommends experimenting with seasonal ingredients like muddled mint and basil, or freshly chopped berries, which score high in flavor and low in calories. Toss all your ingredients in an ice cold shaker, mix well, and serve in a chilled glass. For an extra tangy punch, rub a lime wedge around the rim of the glass.

12. Vodka And Mint, Cucumber, And A Lime Wedge



Mix muddled mint and cucumber with fresh lime juice and vodka for a refreshing order without the refined sugar, says Mezher. “This is a fantastic choice since it’s low in calories and carbs, and the extra mint, cucumber, and lime give it a bold taste,” says Gomer. The vodka has about 97 calories per shot, but the mint and cucumber are basically calorie-free, adds Mezher.

13. Margarita on the Rocks



“Take a pass on fancy frozen drinks like daiquiris and order your margarita on the rocks,” says Keri Gans, RD, the author of The Small Change Diet. Go one step further and order a reduced-sugar margarita by asking for no agave.

Just note that a margarita on the rocks packs about 200 calories per drink (mainly from the tequila and orange liqueur), per Mezher, and a good amount of carbs, so stick to one.

14. Seasonal Cocktail



A lot of bars and restaurants are getting creative with their curated cocktail menus, utilizing seasonal ingredients (think: sage spritzers or ginger margaritas), so look out for combinations of botanicals, teas, and herbs, says Mezher. (Before you order, ask what other ingredients are included so you can avoid added sugars.)

15. Liquor With A Wedge



“Take tequila, vodka, or gin with club soda or seltzer,” says Gans. The liquor has about 96 to 105 calories per shot, but Gomer suggests adding a single fruit wedge like grapefruit, lemon, or lime on the side, which makes it refreshing and delicious with only a negligible amount of additional calories or carbs. You can also muddle fruits and herbs to add natural flavors without the extra calories and carbs typically found in pre-made mixers, adds Mezher.

What is the best way to order an alcoholic drink if you’re trying to lose weight?

Now that you know the best alcoholic drinks for weight loss, it’s time for you to think about how you’re going to order your drink exactly. Here are a few tips for your next tab.

• Keep your drinks simple. “Once you start using more than one type of booze, your calories really start to get up there,” says Gans. For example, if you can take your gin neat with a squeeze of fresh lime, your weight-loss goals will be better off than if you went for the standard, sugar-loaded G&T.
• Meet your new BFF: whiskey. Your best bet for ordering the lowest-calorie alcohol is starting with whiskey or scotch and adding water to help open up the vivid flavors, or a no-calorie mixer like club soda, says Gorin.
• Make an ingredient switch. You can always make a few simple swaps to help lower the number of calories in your original drink of choice. For instance, “ask for a margarita with less agave, [or] a mojito with less sugar,” says Gorin. Or ask if the bar is serving 100 percent juice or a juice cocktail, the latter of which is a keyword for added sugar and calories. Easy.
• Add fruits for flavor. If you want to give your alcohol an oomph, try adding fruits to your bevs, says Meshulam. “Get flavor from muddled fruit and herbs instead of juices, soda, or sugar,” says Meshulam, noting that adding splashes of lemon, lime, and soda water can elevate your fruit-filled drink.