If you're searching for low sugar mixed drinks, you're probably growing tired of the high sugar content found in most modern cocktail recipes. Well, you have come to the right place!
This comprehensive guide will provide everything you need to sip comfortably, knowing you've mixed a drink with low sugar.
Think again if you're concerned that you have to skip out on the imbibing while out on the town! There are options for you. Let's take a closer look.
What Are The Best Low Sugar Mixed Drinks?
Like rum, vodka, tequila, and gin, most spirits don't contain added sugar. The mixers like juice, soda, and simple syrup will get you!
If you're looking for a low-sugar alcoholic drink, choose any beverage add-on that doesn't have additional sugary ingredients; this can be a seltzer, a light juice, or a diet soda.
Alcohol still has calories and carbohydrates, but that's unavoidable if you're enjoying a cocktail.
What Are The Healthiest Mixers For Drinks?
When thinking about the healthiest drink mixers, it depends on how you define "healthy." You can be concerned with the amount of sugar you are intaking, the amount of alcohol in a drink, or the other ingredients in a cocktail.
And, of course, there are also the overall effects of alcohol consumption that are too complex to make blanket statements about what's healthy or unhealthy. The Harvard School of Public Health experts can back us up on this.
But we're here to discuss low sugar mixed drink options, so let's explore a few ideas, shall we?
The Skinny on Low-Calorie Mixers
The best low sugar mixers for drinks are sugar-free mixers like club soda or diet sodas. Drinking these low sugar options eliminates some of the higher sweetness levels found in regular soda or juice mixers.
Additionally, tonic water contains some sugar but isn't as bad as traditional, syrupy drinks like ginger ale or cola.
The Best Low Sugar Mixers for Drinks
Thankfully, there is no shortage of low-sugar mixers for your drinks. Manufacturers have made these mixers in many different sizes and flavors. And depending on what you are mixing them into, there is an option for every drink.
Here are some recommended mixers you can use when making your next low-sugar mixed drink:
- Sparkling water—flavored or unflavored
- Q Light Tonic Water
- Diet sodas
- Bloody Mary mix
- Tomato juice
- Fresh grapefruit juice
- Reed's Light 55 Calorie Ginger Beer
- Coconut water
- Sugar-free cranberry juice
Lastly, if you need a dose of sweetener in whatever libation you're crafting, adding agave may be a healthier alternative to standard simple syrups commonly found in cocktails.
As you can see from the list above, there is no shortage of low-sugar mixers for your drinks. You are bound to find something that satisfies your tastebuds!
Sugar & Calorie Content in Spirits, Wine, and Beer
Most options tend to contain calories when it comes to alcohol, which most drinkers do not realize. Spirits tend to be on the lower end of sugar content, while beer and wine have more, resulting from the production process.
Let's check out some of the most popular alcoholic beverages and their nutritional values:
- Vodka: 0 grams of sugar & 100 calories per 50 ml
- Gin: 0 grams of sugar & 97 calories per 50 ml
- Tequila: 0 grams of sugar & 97 calories per 50 ml
- Whiskey: 0.03 grams of sugar & 105 calories per 50 ml
- Rum: 0 grams of sugar & 97 calories per 50 ml
- Cognac: 0 grams of sugar & 75 calories per 50 ml
- Wine: 1-4 grams of sugar & 120 calories per 5 oz
- Guinness: 1 gram of sugar & 177 calories (per pint!)
- Hennessy: 0 grams of sugar & 104 calories per 50 ml
Two Ingredient Low Sugar Mixed Drinks
Everyone knows that the best kind of mixed drink at home only has two ingredients. Why? They are simple to make, and you know exactly what is in them.
Here are some of the few low-sugar mixed drink combinations we often turn to:
- Paloma: Grapefruit soda + tequila
- Screwdriver: Orange juice + vodka
- Gin & Ginger: Ginger beer + gin
- Gimlet: Lime juice + gin (some people sub in vodka)
- Vodka Tonic: Tonic water + vodka (or any other preferred spirit)
- Garibaldi: Orange juice + Campari
If you need a low-sugar mixed drink to order when you are out with a friend, consider picking one of these!
The best part? You can make any of these two-ingredient drinks at home in seconds. It doesn't get much faster than that!
Low Sugar Mixed Cocktails
Sometimes, we crave a mixed drink that involves more than two simple ingredients. When we're longing for an alcoholic beverage that's a bit more complex, turn to some of the low sugar drinks listed below.
Negroni
This classic cocktail contains one part gin, one part sweet vermouth (which is low in calories and sugar), and one part Campari stirred together. For someone looking for a sweet beverage without all the calories, the Negroni turns out to be a good, low-sugar drink option. It's typically served on the rocks but can also be sipped up and comes with an orange twist garnish.
Bloody Mary
A Bloody Mary is not for the faint of heart as it combines the tastes of vodka, tomato juice, and other seasonings to create this concoction that so many turn to for the early morning hair of the dog. This vegetal beverage doesn't have any added syrups, so it is an excellent low-sugar mixed drink for those needing to cut back.
Dry Martini
The dry martini is a cocktail made with gin and vermouth. A tried-and-true classic, it will not disappoint. It is often topped with an olive but is also tasty with a twist of lemon. The drink is spirit-forward, meaning there are no added sugars when mixing drinks.
Dirty Martini
A bit different than that of its counterpart is a dirty martini. Combined with gin (or vodka), vermouth, and olive brine. It makes for a wildly popular and slightly different beverage. While this mixed drink cocktail contains a higher salt level, it does not contain any added sugars.
Manhattan
The Manhattan is another classic low sugar drink mixed with whiskey, vermouth, and bitters. It can be served with any whiskey, but many experts prefer rye. It's typically served up with a cherry garnish.
Boulevardier
The Boulevardier is a cocktail made containing whiskey, vermouth, and Campari. Many people consider this drink to be a bourbon Negroni. It is often topped with an orange peel to brighten the rest of the flavoring and is typically served on the rocks. Like all the other mixed drinks on this list, a Boulevardier does not have any added sugar making it an excellent option when searching for low sugar mixed drinks.
White Wine Spritzer
A white wine spritzer is the perfect summer drink as it has you walking away refreshed and renewed. The only two things you need are a bottle of white wine and some sparkling water of your choice. Can it get much easier than that?
Skinny Margarita
Margaritas tend to be high in calories, especially when using premade margarita mixes. Luckily, there is an alternative with skinny margaritas. This skinnier variation combines one and a half ounces of tequila and two ounces of lime juice with a splash of agave to drastically minimize the drink's sugar content. The skinny margarita is a great low-sugar drink to mix up when you long for America's favorite cocktail (aka the margarita).
The Skinny on Low Sugar Mixed Drinks
As you can see, there is no restriction on going sugar-free or low sugar on your next night on the town. Your mixed drinks don't have to be chock-full of sugar.
Even if you are enjoying a night at home with some friends, make sure that you pick some low sugar options so that everyone is comfortable. No matter what you are looking for, you will find something you enjoy. We promise!
Don't let your low sugar drinking goals put a damper on a fun night. Go out and enjoy yourself!
Making a low sugar drink using Mixly
Luckily, we created Mixly so you can mix it up in whatever way you want! Whether you prefer a sweet drink or would rather just a dash of Mixly for a little extra flavor - we don't judge... you do you. To make Mixly into a low sugar, low calorie drink, just add a splash of Mixly to your vodka soda or gin and tonic.
Cucumber Mint Lime Gin and Tonic
4oz Diet Tonic Water
2 oz Gin
Instructions: Pour all ingredients in a glass over ice, stir and enjoy!
Pear Honey Vodka Soda
1oz Mixly Pear Honey Vanilla Lime
4oz Soda Water
2 oz Gin
Instructions: Pour all ingredients in a glass over ice, stir and enjoy!
