Booze without the carbs? We'll cheers to that.
Starting a low-carb (or keto) diet, whether for the long term or just to try something out for a couple weeks, can be tricky. And that's especially true when you're navigating social situations (like a happy hour) with all the co*cktails a-flowing. No need to sweat it, there's actually plenty of naturally low-carb co*cktail recipes out there. Plus, with just some easy tweaks in your back pocket, you can transform some of your more sugary faves into keto-friendly drinks so you can still cut loose at that party/wedding/when you just want to have a skinny margarita on Taco Tuesday. Cheers to that, right?
What Makes A co*cktail Low-Carb?
Good news: Most liquors—like rum, tequila, vodka, and whiskey and even some sparkling wines—have little-to-no carbs on their own. But when you start adding the juices, syrups, and mixers that make a co*cktail, the carbs start to creep up. Carbohydrates are made out of sugar, partially, so the more sugar you have in a co*cktail, the more carbs there will be. To keep that number down, use low-carb mixers like diet tonic, diet ginger beer, soda water, and sugar-free or unsweetened juice.
What co*cktails Are Low-Carb?
Ultra-dry, simple co*cktails have a better chance of being low-carb, such as a simple vodka-soda, gin rickeys, dry martini, and gin and tonic (with diet tonic, of course). A lot of classic co*cktails are packed with carbohydrates, but with a few simple substitutions you can easily make yourself a low-carb version (like subbing in your favorite low-carb simple syrup). As always, before committing to a diet consult a physician or dietician to make sure you're getting all your essential nutrients.
But now, it's time to get to the good part! Here are some great options for low-carb, keto-friendly co*cktails you can make at home to stay on track without missing out on that happy hour.
Gin Rickey
Crafted with ingredients you already have in your fridge, the gin rickey is as refreshing as it is simple to make and, not to mention, low-carb! So if you have limes, club soda, and gin, you’re well on your way.
Get the Gin Rickey recipe.
Manhattan
Okay, so a classic Manhattan is not low-carb because of one of its essential ingredients, sugary sweet vermouth. Here's how you can lower the carbs: Swap out the sweet for the dry vermouth and replace the maraschino cherry with an orange peel.
Get the Manhattan recipe.
Ranch Water
It’s no surprise that this refreshing co*cktail was born in often-sweltering Western Texas. A sort of effervescent, less-sweet version of a Margarita, only 3 ingredients are required for the naturally low-carb Ranch Water: tequila, lime juice, and seltzer. (Preferably Topo Chico; some claim it’s not a real Ranch Water without it!)
Get the Ranch Water recipe.
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Tomato Tini
Instead of olive brine, this martini gets its rich flavor and vibrant color from tomatoes. If you’re skeptical, hear us out: Think of this co*cktail as a cleaner, crisper version of a Bloody Mary. And the botanical flavors of gin pair surprisingly well with the tomato, and evokes flavors of both the fruit and the leaves of the plant (an aroma that has inspired many trendy candles, BTW).
Get the Tomato Tini recipe.
Skinny Margarita
Margaritas are pretty slimmed down (or “skinny”) already, ingredients-wise, so all we’re doing here is replacing the added sugars it with more natural ingredients like orange juice and agave (instead of Cointreau and Triple Sec). This means not only are these “skinny margs” lower in calories, they’ve also got slightly less alcohol (meaning you can enjoy more of them 😉). Win win!
Get the Skinny Margarita recipe.
Vodka Tonic
Similar vibe to the vodka soda, vodka tonic adds a bit of sweets and taste to the affair. Vodka and tonics take no bartender experience and are a breeze to make (just swap in your favorite diet tonic water to keep it low-carb). It's straight forward and simple and it's one of our favorite co*cktails for a reason.
Get the Vodka Tonic recipe.
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St. Germain Spritz
Dry sparkling wine—like prosecco or Champagne—is super low in carbs (about one gram per glass). St. Germain has no carbs, as well as the soda water, so in total, the classic St. Germain Spritz is a perfect low-carb co*cktail without any adjustments.
Get the St. Germain Spritz recipe.
Prosecco Mint Julep
This festive sparkling drink is perfect for a low-key Easter co*cktail hour. A sort of lightened-up mint julep, the addition of a dry sparkling wine provides a pleasant brightness and effervescence that plays well with the rich, caramelized tones of bourbon whiskey. Be sure to swap in your favorite low-sugar simply syrup, and you'll be off to the races!
Get the Prosecco Mint Julep recipe.
Spiked Sparkling Basil Lemonade
While our spiked sparkling basil lemonade uses regular lemonade, you can easily use a low-carb alternative. Make your own lemonade with a low-carb sweetener instead of sugar, or buy a lemonade mix that is low-carb, like this True Lemon one. This way, you'll be sipping on a perfect-for-summer quaff in no time. And just be sure to skip the sugar on the rim!
Get the Spiked Sparkling Basil Lemonade recipe.
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Moscow Mule
Homemade low-sugar ginger simple syrup, lime juice, mint leaves, diet ginger ale, and vodka make a supreme low-carb alternative for this classic co*cktail.
Get the Moscow Mule recipe.
Gimlet
This co*cktail couldn't be simpler with only 3 ingredients (just swap in your favorite low-carb sweetener when you make the simple syrup), shaken and served. We love garnishing with a lime wheel and a bit of lime zest. It adds a flavorful intensity that comes from the oils that are released when a lime is zested and complements the herbaciousness of the gin.
Get the Gimlet recipe.
Dark 'N' Stormy
Making a low-carb version of the classic Dark 'N' Stormy is super easy. You keep it classic with dark rum and lime, swapping in sugar-free ginger beer to make it taste just as good as the original.
Get the Dark 'N' Stormy recipe.
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French 75
The French 75 is among the fanciest of co*cktails. Sure, there’s the tried-and-true martini and the timeless Old Fashioned, but the French 75 has got what those two don’t – naturally pretty low-carb Champagne! Only requiring four ingredients (just swap in your favorite keto simple syrup), this is the simple, classic co*cktail to prepare when you need to add the fancy factor to any occasion.
Get the French 75 recipe.
Bloody Mary
Everybody likes their Bloody Mary a different way. Some like it spicy or sweet, others prefer it overflowing with garnish or with a simple celery stalk. However you drink it, you can easily make it low-carb with unsweetened tomato juice.
Get the Bloody Mary recipe.
Classic Mojito
When we think of staple summer co*cktails, the mojito is at the front of mind. Wonderfully simple to create, you only need 5 ingredients to make this refreshing, classic co*cktail, making it perfect to whip up when you need to bring the beach vibes to a too-hot summer day. Just substitute your favorite low-carb simple syrup, and you can make this easy co*cktail instantly keto-friendly.
Get the Classic Mojito recipe.
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Paloma
A paloma is a super refreshing summer co*cktail that can easily be made low-carb. For a less sweet version, just leave out the agave syrup and swap out the grapefruit juice for a low-sugar alternative like a sugar-free grapefruit soda.
Get the Paloma recipe.
Tom Collins
What’s not to love about a simple, classic co*cktail like the Tom Collins? It’s basically a spiked and sparkling lemonade, served in a Collins glass, obviously, which immediately inducts it into the summer co*cktail hall of fame (especially lightened up with a bit of low-sugar simple syrup for the keto crowd). Having made its first appearance in print in 1876, it hasn’t changed much since its inception, meaning that it's probably perfect the way it is.
Get the Tom Collins recipe.
Gin Fizz
A classic gin fizz is super simple—gin, lemon juice, egg whites, seltzer, and simple syrup. So, it is inherently low-ish in carbs. Make the swap for low-carb sweetener instead of traditional simple syrup, and get the carb count even lower.
Get the Gin Fizz recipe.
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Cosmopolitan
Your classic Cosmopolitan has vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and lime. Swap out the Cointreau for orange extract and use sugar-free cranberry juice along with your favorite sweetener to get the carbs down.
Get the Cosmopolitan recipe.
Vodka Martini
All hail the vodka (or gin!) martini! Martinis don’t contain sweet ingredients like juices, syrup and sugar like other co*cktails do, so a single martini is less than 1g of net carbs. Huzzah!
Get the Vodka Martini recipe.
