Low-Carb Alcohol – Visual Guide - Diet Doctor

If you drink hard liquor, the graphic above will tell you how many grams of carbs are in a typical drink.

Whiskey, vodka, brandy, gin, tequila and other pure alcohols have zero carbs and so are fine on a low carb diet. A standard 1.5 oz jigger of these spirits, without any mixer, contains on average about 100 calories.

Carbs list

See the complete carbs list for spirits Carb amounts per standard drink:

Whiskey: 0 grams of net carbs Brandy: 0 grams of net carbs Tequila: 0 grams of net carbs Dry martini: 0 grams of net carbs Vodka & soda water: 0 grams of net carbs Bloody Mary: 7 grams of net carbs Margarita: 8 grams of net carbs Cosmopolitan: 13 grams of net carbs White Russian: 14 grams of net carbs Gin & tonic: 14 grams of net carbs Vodka & orange juice: 18 grams of net carbs Rum & coke: 22 grams of net carbs

Don’t add juice, soft drinks, or other sweeteners like sweet cream. Adding tonic to zero-carb gin boosts its carbs to 16 grams and 190 calories per serving! Instead, have vodka, soda water, and lime for a no-carb, lower-calorie summer drink.

Alternatively, if you insist, use diet tonic (with artificial sweeteners) for a zero-carb gin & tonic, though we generally recommend to avoid sweeteners.11

Think vodka and orange juice (aka screwdriver) is a healthy choice? That gives you a whopping 28 grams of carbs and 175 calories – almost as bad as a rum & coke with 39 grams of carbs and 185 calories.

Coolers

The numbers are the amount of carbs (sugar) in a bottle.

Sometimes called alcopops, spirit coolers, wine coolers or hard lemonades, these pre-mixed, packaged drinks are loaded with sugar and carbs. Most are over 180 calories each. Do not drink if you want to stay low carb and low calorie — you are drinking sugar.

Carbs list

See the complete carbs list for Wine coolers/Alcopops Carb amounts per 20-ounce (590 ml) bottle: Smirnoff Ice: 26 grams of net carbs Bacardi Breezer: 30 grams of net carbs

Beware: Alcohol packs more punch on low carb

When on a strict low carb diet, many people require significantly less alcohol to become intoxicated.12 So be careful the first time you drink alcohol on low carb. You may need only half as many drinks as usual to enjoy yourself, saving you money and from a hangover.

Recognizing this issue of reduced tolerance is even more critical if you plan on driving. When eating low carb, you may have a higher blood alcohol level after fewer drinks, impairing your abilities to a much greater extent than usual.

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Top 5 low carb alcoholic drinks

If you’re still wondering how to include alcohol in your low carb diet, we’re going to wrap this up with our top 5 favorite low carb alcoholic drinks.

1. Champagne or sparkling wine (extra dry or brut) – one glass contains about 2 grams of net carbs and 95 calories.

Nothing says celebration like a glass of bubbly! Although Champagne can be very expensive other kinds of sparkling wines or Cava come in a variety of prices and can be enjoyed as an aperitif, with your food or as a stand-alone drink.

2. Dry wine – red or white – one glass contains about 2 grams of net carbs and 120 calories.

There must be a reason why humans have been drinking wine for thousands of years. One of them is probably that it tastes really good with food. Ben Franklin even called wine “constant proof that God loves us”. Fortunately, drinking an occasional glass of dry wine is fine on a low carb diet.

3. Vodka & Soda – one long drink contains 0 grams of carbs and 115 calories.

A vodka & soda or gin & soda is your drink if you want to skip sugar and artificial sweeteners. This sparkling drink with vodka, soda, lime and ice tastes way better than it might sound.

4. Whiskey – one drink contains 0 grams of carbs and 115 calories.

Even though whiskey is made from various forms of grains, it’s zero carb and gluten free. It comes in many different classes and types. Too much ice can kill the flavor but serving it with a little dash of water can actually enhance the flavor.

5. Dry Martini – one cocktail contains 0 grams of carbs and 115 calories.

The iconic James Bond cocktail is made with gin and vermouth, and garnished with an olive or a lemon twist. It’s still in the top of the most requested drinks. But if you want it like 007, make sure to order it shaken, not stirred.