These top healthy low calorie alcoholic drinks deliver on flavor! You don't have to give anything up with these tasty cocktails.

Low calorie alcoholic drinks

Looking to lighten up your drinks? Alcoholic drinks can average 250 calories per cocktail (or more!). One way to reduce calories when it comes to cocktails: drink in moderation. Drink one cocktail per sitting, and you don't have to worry about calories!

The other rule with cocktails: liquor contributes the most calories. Use less alcohol, and you'll have less calories! To see how fast calories can add up, here's a list of calories in alcohol:

  • Calories in Prosecco: 19 per ounce, 57 per 3-ounce drink
  • Calories in wine: 23 per ounce, 69 per 3-ounce drink
  • Calories in vodka: 64 per ounce, 192 per 3-ounce drink
  • Calories in rum: 65 per ounce, 195 per 3-ounce drink
  • Calories in tequila: 69 per ounce, 207 per 3-ounce drink
  • Calories in whiskey: 71 per ounce, 213 per 3-ounce drink
  • Calories in gin: 74 per ounce, 222 per 3-ounce drink

Which are the best healthy cocktails to choose? Here's our list of top low calorie alcoholic drinks with less than 150 calories! These drinks have no flavor trade-offs, but use 0 calorie mixers or clever tricks to deliver massive results. Ready to get started?

And now…healthy low calorie alcoholic drinks to try!

Want a low calorie alcohol drink that's barely got any calories at all? Enter: Bitters and Soda! Weighing in at only 6 calories per drink, it's pretty darn low cal! You end up with a drink that tastes like a cocktail with only trace amounts of booze. The flavor is so delicious: nuanced, herbal and bitter.

Calories: 6 calories

Weighing in as the lowest calorie alcoholic drink: the White Wine Spritzer! There's nothing easier or more delightful than a bubbly version of your favorite crisp white wine. Mixing wine and sparkling water makes one of the most refreshing alcoholic drinks on the planet.

Calories: 69 calories

Don't have time to make sangria? Make a red wine spritzer! This low calorie alcoholic drink takes 1 minute to make, and it has the vibe of sangria without the prep time. It's bold and full bodied, yet at the same time refreshing and bubbly.

Calories: 96 calories

Want a healthier margarita? There's a solution for that: the Skinny Margarita! This lighter spin on the classic uses lots of lime, orange juice, and a little less tequila. This low calorie alcoholic drink proves a healthy margarita can taste as good as the real thing.

Calories: 100 calories

Prosecco is one of the lowest calorie alcohols, weighing in at 19 calories per ounce. So it's great for making low calorie alcoholic drinks like the Mimosa! Add orange juice and you're at only 102 calories. Another option? Try this Non Alcoholic Mimosa.

Calories: 102 calories

Want a low calorie alcoholic drink that's laid-back, tart and refreshing? Look no further than the Sea Breeze! This combination of vodka, grapefruit juice and cranberry juice tastes just like its name: light, breezy, and all about no-frills vibes. Also try the Bay Breeze with pineapple juice (120 calories).

Calories: 115 calories

Our favorite way to make Campari into a low calorie alcoholic drink? Plain and simple: add bubbles! Campari and Soda is one of the easiest ways to make a Campari cocktail: and it's one of the more delicious, in our opinion. The bubbles mellow the bitterness of this liqueur, smoothing it so you can appreciate the herbal and sweet notes.

Calories: 120 calories

One of the most famous low calorie alcoholic drinks? The Vodka Soda! Cousin to the Vodka Tonic (also low calorie), the vodka soda is even more tart and refreshing. Just lime, vodka and soda water make the best hydrating combination!

Calories: 135 calories

Here's a unique low calorie alcoholic drink: the Americano! This classic cocktail features Campari, vermouth, and soda water, and dates back to the 1860's. With just 85 calories from the Campari and 47 from the vermouth, this is a delightfully healthy alcoholic drink with sophisticated flavor.

Calories: 132 calories

Ranch water is a Texas-style tequila highball drink made with lime, tequila and Topo Chico! This bubbly cocktail is all about cooling off on hot days. To make it a low calorie alcoholic drink, just opt for 2 ounces of tequila instead of 3. You won't even notice the difference!

Calories: 138 (with 2 ounces tequila)

Here's a refreshing way to drink your favorite whiskey: the classic Whiskey Highball! This two-ingredient cocktail originated in the early 1900's and it's still popular to this day. How to make this healthy alcoholic drink? Mix 2 ounces whiskey with 4 ounces sparkling water!

Calories: 143 calories

Last up in our low calorie alcoholic drinks: the Moscow Mule! This classic cocktail features a refreshing combination of vodka, lime and ginger beer, all served in an ice cold copper mug. How to make it healthy? Trade 2 ounces of vodka for 1 1/2. You will barely notice the difference, and it weighs in under 150 calories.

Calories: 136 calories

More low calorie drinks: mocktails!

The alcohol is by far the top contributor to calories in cocktails. So for healthy alcoholic drinks, why not consider dropping the alcohol altogether? These delicious mocktails are just as delicious as their liquor-based counterparts:

  • Try a Margarita Mocktail, with a surprising flavor secret
  • Opt for deliciously low calorie Virgin Mojito Mocktail
  • Get out the blender for a frozen Piña Colada Mocktail or Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri
  • Try tall and bubbly Lime Rickey
  • Start the day with a Bloody Mary Mocktail (Virgin Mary)

Print

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Description

The skinny margarita is a tasty low calorie alcoholic drink! All you need is 4 ingredients and 5 minutes for this 100 calorie cocktail.

  • 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) tequila blanco or reposado*
  • 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) fresh lime juice
  • 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) fresh squeezed orange juice
  • ½ teaspoon maple syrup
  • Kosher salt or flaky sea salt, for the rim
  • For the garnish: Lime wedge
  1. Cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run the lime around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of flaky sea salt (or for a festive look, use our Margarita Salt).
  2. Place the tequila, lime juice, orange juice, and maple syrup in a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir until cold.
  3. Strain the margarita into the glass with the salted rim. Serve immediately.
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Shaken
  • Cuisine: Cocktails

Keywords: Low calorie alcoholic drinks, Healthy alcoholic drinks

About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Expert home cooks. Authors of recipes you'll want to make again and again.