This essential guide to drinking on alcohol on keto goes beyond keto cocktails and covers all of the bases. From the best low carb liquors, beer, and wine to keto-approved sugar-free mixers and cocktails to make at home (and order at a bar), this low carb alcohol guide covers all of your questions about what you can and cannot drink on the ketogenic diet.
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Does alcohol & the keto diet mix? Yes, you can drink on a low carb diet as long as you follow the simple guidelines outlined below.
What Is The Best Alcohol On Keto?
Drinking on a low carb diet won’t throw you out of ketosis as long as you follow a few guidelines, and stick to best keto cocktail recipes, low carb mixers, wine, and yes-even beer.
Most alcohol contains 0 carbs:
Vodka
Tequila
Bourbon
Rum
Whiskey
Gin
Scotch
Brandy
What you choose to mix with these spirits is where the low carb dilemma plays in.
Mixers & Chasers To Avoid
Simple Syrup – 1 oz = 50 Calories, 14 Carbs
Cranberry Juice – 1 oz = 17 Calories, 4.27 Carbs
Margarita Mix – 4 oz = 110 Calories, 27 Carbs
Daiquiri Mix – 4 oz = 190 Calories, 46 Carbs
Pina Colada Mix – 4 oz = 180 Calories, 43 Carbs
Whiskey Sour Mix – 4 oz = 260 Calories, 40 Carbs
Sweet & Sour – 4 oz = 90 Calories, 23 Carbs
Amaretto – 1 oz = 110 Calories, 17 Carbs
Grand Marnier – 1 oz = 76 Calories, 6.5 Carbs
Triple Sec – 1 oz = 103 Calories, 11 Carbs
Peach Schnapps – 1 oz = 72 Calories, 6.6 Carbs
Kahlua – 1 oz = 91 Calories, 14.7 Carbs
Creme de Menthe – 1.5 oz = 187 Calories, 21 Carbs
Low Carb Keto-Friendly Mixers & Chasers
Sparkling Water – LaCroix, Bubly
Diet Soda – Sprite Zero, Zevia, Diet Coke
Water Enhancers: Mio, Stur, Crystal Light
Sugar Free Energy Drinks Red Bull, Monster
Sugar Free Cranberry Juice
Extracts
DaVinci + Torani Sugar-Free Syrup
Citrus Fruits
Berries
Best Low Carb Alcoholic Drinks To Order
Dirty Martini – 0 Carbs
Vodka & Soda Water – 0 Carbs
Gin & Soda Water – < 1 Carb
Tequila Shot – 0 Carbs
Whiskey – 0 Carbs
Diet Jack & Coke – 0 Carbs
Alcohol on Keto Drinks To Avoid
Gin & Tonic – 16 Carbs
White Russian – 17 Carbs
Mimosa Sherbert – 27 Carbs
Vodka & Orange Juice – 28 Carbs
Rum & Coke – 39 Carbs
Pina Colada – 61 Carbs
Keto-Friendly Wine
White Wine – 5 ounce serving
Chardonnay – 123 Cal, 3.1 Carbs
Pinot Grigio – 122 Cal, 3.2 Carbs
Sauvignon Blanc – 2.7 Carbs
Sparkling White – 96 Cal, 1.5 Carbs
Brut Champagne -147 Cal, 2.8 Carbs
Red Wine – 5 Ounce serving
Pinot Noir – 121 Calories, 3.4 Carbs
Merlot – 122 Calories, 3.7 Carbs
Cabernet Sauvignon – 122 Calories, 3.8 Carbs
Syrah – 122 Calories, 3.8 Carbs
Zinfandel – 130 Calories, 4 Carbs
Wines To Avoid
Dessert Wines -165 Calories, 14 Carbs
Sangria – 89 Calories, 10 Carbs
Moscato – 127 Calories, 11 Carbs
Ports – 79 Calories, 6 Carbs
Sherry – 165 Calories, 14 Carbs
Beer
Most beer contains around 7 carbs per 12 ounce serving. If beer is your thing, check out some of the low carb options available.
Greens Trailblazer – 119 Calories, 0.5 Carbs
Bud Select 55 – 55 Calories, 1.9 Carbs
Rolling Rock – 92 Calories, 2.4 Carbs
Michelob Ultra – 95 Calories, 2.6 Carbs
Miller Lite – 96 Calories, 3.2 Carbs
Low Carb Diet & Lower Alcohol Tolerance
Spoiler Alert: You can’t drink like you used to! The Keto Diet lowers tolerance levels for alcohol!
Back in the day, when you ate carbs on the regular, you had plenty of glycogen stored up – which acted as a buffer of sorts when you took part in Happy Hour. Now, not so much.
See, when your body is in ketosis (the metabolic state of burning fat for fuel) you have significantly less glycogen – which results in your new status as a cheap drunk.
On the bright side-you’ll save money on Happy Hour.
You may also make a complete fool out of yourself & suffer a wicked hangover. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent both!
How To Avoid A Hangover
Don’t drink on an empty stomach.
Eat while you drink: Fat, protein & fiber slow alcohol absorption
Make sure you have low carb snacks on hand – the munchies are real
Stay hydrated. Shoot for one glass of H20 for every cocktail better yet, Two
Limit your consumption to one drink per hour
Clear Liquors like Gin & Vodka cause fewer hangovers – Darker spirits like wine, whiskey, & tequila cause more (Darker alcohol contains more chemicals called congeners which worsen hangovers.)
Drink two glasses of water before bed with a dash of sea salt for electrolytes or bone broth
Pickle Juice – Drink a shot or two of pickle juice to help replenish electrolytes before you go to sleep & the morning after.
Ask a friend to take your phone away if you are prone to drunk dialing ex-boyfriends, ex-husbands:)
If you’re practicing your mixology skills at home, I’ve collected 34 keto-friendly cocktail recipes -organized by spirit- to get you started.
Best Alcohol on Keto Drinks with Vodka
Sex On The Beach
Vodka + Cranberry Vodka + Peach Vodka + Mio Energy Tropical Fusion Water Enhancer + Club Soda + Lime Garnish = 0 Net Carbs – 98 Calories via Lowcarb-ology
Black Beauty
Vodka + Blackberries + Lemon Juice + Erythritol + Pepper + Mint Leaves = 2 Net Carbs – 180 Calories via Peace, Love And Low Carb
Sparkling White Sangria
Vodka + Bourbon + Sugar Free Mango Flavored Syrup + Mandarin Flavored Seltzer Water + Swerve + Peaches + Lime Juice = 1 Net Carb – 50 Calories via I Breathe I’m Hungry
Cosmopolitan
Vodka + Sugar-Free Cranberry Juice + Lime + Orange Extract + Stevia= 1 Net Carb – 103 Calories via Verywell Fit
Fizzy Lemon
2 Ounces Vodka + 3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice + 8 Ounces Club Soda + 6 Mint Leaves + 1 Cup Ice + Rosemary Sprig (Optional) + Lemon Garnish (Optional) = 0 Net Carbs, 131 Calories
Muddle mint & lemon. Then mix ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake it like a polaroid picture for 30 seconds. Serve in a lowball over ice. Garnish with rosemary &/or a slice of lemon. Bottoms up!
Moscow Mule
Vodka + Ginger + Swerve + Lime + Ginger Ale = 1.5 Net Carbs – 134 Calories via I Breathe I’m Hungry
Lemon Drop
Vodka + Lemon Protein Water + Lemon Juice + Truvia = 0 Carbs – 130 Calories via Fitviews
White Russian
1.5 Ounces Vodka + 2 Tablespoons Strong Coffee (Cooled) + 1/4 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract + 2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder + 3 Ounces Heavy Cream + 1.5 Tablespoons Stevia or Swerve + 2 Tablespoons Warm Water = 5 Net Carbs
Mix Cocoa Powder, Stevia, & Warm Water. Give it time to cool. Then combine it with heavy cream, vodka, coffee, & vanilla in a cocktail shaker. Shake well & pour into an ice filled lowball glass.
Skinny Sangria
Vodka + Red Wine + Strawberries + Sprite Zero = 4 Net Carbs – 70 Calories via Living Locurto
Kamikaze
Vodka + Lime Juice + Stevia = 2 Net Carbs – 109 Calories via Ketogasm
Bloody Mary
Vodka + Unsweetened V8 + Bone Broth + Worcestershire Sauce + Horseradish + Tabasco + + Pepper + Lemon Juice = 6.1 Net Carbs – 165 Calories via Word To Your Mother Blog
Vanilla Latte Martini
Vanilla Vodka + Coffee Liqueur + Cream = 3.6 Net Carbs via All Day I Dream About Food
Grapefruit Ginger Fizz
Vodka + Grapefruit Juice + Swerve + Ginger Ale = 2 Net Carbs – 80 Calories via My Life Cookbook
Keto Cocktails – Tequila
Skinny Margarita
Tequila + Lime + Orange Extract + Stevia + Sea Salt = 0.9 Net Carbs – 106 Calories via Wholesome Yum
Strawberry Margarita
Tequila + Lime Juice + Strawberries + Xylitol + Mineral Water + Lime Wedge = 1 Net Carb – 120 Calories via Bulletproof Blog
Spicy Margarita
Tequila + Jalapeno Slices + Lime Juice + Liquid Stevia + Chili Powder + Sweet Paprika + Cilantro = 2 Net Carbs – 74 Calories via Appetite For Energy
Keto Cocktails – Bourbon
Old Fashioned
Bourbon + 2 Dashes Angostura Aromatic Bitters + 1 Dash Angostura Orange Bitter + 1 Teaspoon Sugar Free Torani Syrup + Splash Water + Ice = 0 Net Carbs – 140 Calories
Strawberry Basil Bourbon Smash
Bourbon + Powdered Erythritol + Lemon Juice + Basil Leaves + Strawberries + Pepper = 6 Net Carbs via Peace, Love And Low Carb
Mint Julep
Bourbon + Fresh Mint + Swerve + Crushed Ice = 1 Net Carb – 177 Calories via Word To Your Mother Blog
Whiskey Sour
2 Ounces (4 TBSP) Bourbon + 1 Ounce (2 TBSP) Lemon Juice + 1 Ounce (2 TBSP) Water + 3 Drops Liquid Stevia + Ice = 4 Carbs – 108 Calories
Mix in a cocktail shaker filled with ice & shake it like your life depends on it for 30 seconds. Strain & pour into a chilled ice filled lowball. Garnish with lemon, mint &/or cherry.
Three Wise Men Whiskey Cocktail
Bourbon + Scotch + Whiskey = 0 Carbs – 100 Calories via Word To Your Mother Blog
Keto Cocktails – Gin
Gin Fizz
Gin + Lime Juice + Sparkling Water + Cucumber Slices = 3.2 Net Carbs – 139 Calories via Keto Diet App
Raspberry Lime Rickey
Gin + Club Soda + Sugar-Free Raspberry Syrup + Limes + Mint = 4 Net Carbs – 16 Calories via Tastaholics
Keto Cocktails – Rum
Strawberry Lemonade Mojitos
Rum + Sugar Free Strawberry Lemonade + Mint = 0 Carbs – 108 Calories via I Breathe I’m Hungry
Pina Colada
Light Rum + Dark Rum + Heavy Cream + Pineapple Coconut Water Enhancer = 0.8 Carbs – 294 Calories via Tasty Low Carb
Mai Tai
Spiced Rum + White Rum + Club Soda + Sugar Free Pineapple Syrup + Sugar Free Almond Syrup + Sugar Free Orange Syrup + Sugar Free Cherry Syrup + Lime Juice = 0 Net Carbs – 197 Calories via Lowcarb-ology
Spendito
Rum + Soda Water + Mint + Lime + Stevia via Always Order Dessert
Raspberry & Blackberry Mojitos
Rum + Liquid Stevia + Club Soda + Fresh Lime Juice + Mint + Raspberries or Blackberries = 4.7 Net Carbs – 159 Calories via Keto Diet App
Peach Long Island Iced Tea
Bourbon + Vodka + Peach Schnapps + Mio Peach Water Enhancer + Club Soda = 3 Net Carbs – 167 Calories via Lowcarb-ology
Blueberry Mojitos
Rum + Lime Juice + Club Soda + Powdered Swerve + Blueberries + Mint = 6.75 Net Carbs – 172 Calories via All Day I Dream About Food
Skinny Strawberry Mojito
Light Rum + Club Soda + Mint Leaves + Stevia + Sliced Strawberries + Lime via Parenting Chaos
Daiquiri
Rum + Liquid Stevia + Lime Juice = 3.6 Net Carbs – 108 Calories via Keto Diet App
Strawberry Daiquiri
Rum + Strawberries + Lime Juice + Orange Extract + Liquid Stevia = 4 Net Carbs – 87 Calories via Step Away From The Carbs
Hurricane
White Rum + Dark Rum + Lime Juice + Fruit Punch Water Enhancer + Mango Passionfruit Water Enhancer = 2.4 Net Carbs – 279 Calories via Lowcarb-ology
Looking For Ways To Make Sticking To Keto Easier?
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