Hard liquor, such as vodka, tequila, gin, whiskey, and rum, is naturally carb-free, so you can knock back shots or enjoy a plain drink any time you like. However, cocktails contain more ingredients than straight liquor, and most of those ingredients include plenty of sugar and carbs. Luckily, though, there are still a few low-carb and keto cocktails out there that you can enjoy without knocking yourself out of ketosis, and here are 20 of my favorites. *Note: If you’re trying to lose weight, you should still limit your drinking. Though those drinks are carb-free, they aren’t calorie-free.
1. Keto Margarita
If you haven’t heard of the keto margarita, also known as the “skinny marg,” you must’ve been living under a rock for the last few years because this drink is everywhere! It has all the flavor and slushiness of an ice-cold margarita, but it’s sugar-free. You can also make it with only five ingredients in 5 minutes. It may be just a bit tarter than you’re used to, though, so be aware of that ahead of time.
2. Keto Low-Carb Sugar-Free Lemon Drop Vodka Martini
It almost takes you longer to say the name of this drink out loud than it does to make it. All you’ll need is vodka, ice, sugar-free lemon syrup, lemon juice, and no-calorie sweetener for the rim. The drink is strong, lemony, and it goes right past tart into sour territory. Still, if you’re a fan of Lemon Drops or Lemon Heads, you’ll love every last sip of this sugar-free drink.
3. Keto Ginger Whiskey Soda
If you like your drinks strong with very little between you and the smoky whiskey flavor, keto ginger whiskey soda is the drink for you. It has nothing in it except whiskey and a couple of ounces of keto ginger ale, meaning you’ll get a whole lot of rich whiskey flavor along with some lovely bubbles and a hint of ginger.
4. Keto Vodka Lemonade
Believe it or not, you can even enjoy your favorite lemonade-based drinks on the keto diet, as long as you sweeten that lemonade with monk fruit or another carb-free sweetener. Keto vodka lemonade is especially good. It’s tart, lemon-flavored, and fresh, and there’s also a dash of salt that really rounds out the flavor.
5. Keto Rum Punch
You probably thought punch was out of the question, as well, but again, as long as you choose the right ingredients, you can make a 2-minute rum punch with only two net carbs! In this case, the “right” ingredients include Diet V-8 Splash Tropical Blend, tropical punch Kool-Aid powder, white rum, and ice. That’s all it takes to make this bright red, super fruity summer cocktail.
6. Keto Mojito
The great thing about mojitos is that they’re already relatively keto-friendly. The only thing you’ll have to adjust in this minty, refreshing recipe is your choice of sweetener. Everything else about it remains the same, right down to the lime wedge and mint leaves.
7. Keto Whiskey Sours
Here’s another excellent drink for those who prefer their alcoholic beverages to taste like alcoholic beverages. This one is basically just whiskey with a bit of lemon juice added for taste. You’ll add a sweetener, as well, but it doesn’t do much more than tone down the natural bite of the whiskey.
8. Low-Carb Vodka Chata
This thick, creamy drink takes only 3 minutes to make and has less than one net carb per serving. It’s also spicy, sweet, and unbelievably delicious. To me, it’s a lot like spiced eggnog, but its flavor is milkier. Whether you’re looking for a Christmas cocktail or just want something sweet and rich, this is a great option.
9. Rum and Coke
You’ve probably had a traditional rum and coke at some point in your life, and chances are, you either love it or hate it. Because of its strong rum flavor, most people fall into one extreme or the other. If you love it and are missing it now that you can’t have Coca-Cola, don’t worry! Substitute a Zevia Cola instead. Add a dash of lime juice and a lime garnish, and you’re all set!
10. Bourbon Old-Fashioned
The bourbon old-fashioned is another drink that needs no description. Most everyone is already familiar with it, even if they don’t drink it themselves. Like the mojito, its recipe doesn’t need much tweaking. Stick with the bourbon, orange bitters, water, and the orange peel garnish, but pick up a no-carb sweetener instead of simple syrup.
11. Keto Pina Colada
Summer just isn’t summer without a couple of pina coladas, whether you’ve made it to the beach or not. Unfortunately, I don’t have a recipe for a zero-carb pina colada. But I do have one for a pina colada with only 3.5 net carbs per serving! And you’ll still get to keep all the important stuff – coconut, pineapple, and rum.
12. Keto Paloma Cocktail
If you enjoy bittersweet drinks with a bit of a kick, you’ll go nuts for the keto Paloma. It combines sugar-free grapefruit-flavored soda, white tequila, and fresh lime juice for an unbelievable drink that’s tangy, bitter, zesty, and sweetly tart. You can also salt the rim for extra oomph using kosher salt, erythritol, and finely grated grapefruit zest. It’s a refreshing cocktail that’ll perk you right up.
13. Cosmopolitan
Since the cosmo is beloved by women (and men!) all over the world, you should’ve known there was going to be a keto-friendly version of it somewhere. This one calls for vodka, unsweetened cranberry juice, water, lime juice, orange extract, and two drops of EZ-Sweetz. It’s a smooth, dry, fruity drink with all the flavor of the original.
14. Keto White Russian
If you need a drink that’s really going to satisfy your sweet tooth, give this recipe for the keto White Russian a try. It’s pretty much the classic White Russian – coffee, vodka, water, and heavy cream – but you’ll use a different, non-granular sweetener to finish it. Trust me, though, between the coffee and the heavy cream, you won’t even miss your original sweetener.
15. Low-Carb Watermelon Cocktail
This pink, fizzy cocktail is refreshing, sweet, and incredibly smooth. You’ll use real watermelon, along with rum, lime juice, sweetener, club soda, and mint. It’s a gorgeous, thirst-quenching drink that’s perfect for summer, and you can easily leave out the rum for an equally stunning and tasty mocktail.
16. Keto Bloody Mary
The Bloody Mary is another drink that’s naturally low-carb if you keep your portions in check! That’s the important thing with this drink. You can add all the rich, flavorful umami ingredients – tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, lemon juice, etc. – as long as you stick to the specific measurements for each.
17. Keto Strawberry Lime Rum
This simple drink is sparkling, sophisticated, and full of tart strawberry scrumptiousness. The Bubly Lime Sparkly Water adds fizz and zest, and the lime and lime juice pile on even more zing. You’ll taste the strawberries, but the rum gets a bit lost under all the other potent ingredients. Even so, this isn’t your typical, sweet strawberry drink. It leans much more towards the sour side. It’s still yummy, though.
18. Low-Carb Raspberry Mimosa
Raspberry mimosas are show-stoppingly gorgeous – bright red and full of delicate bubbles and fresh raspberries. If you make them right, they’re also low-calorie (61) and low-carb (2 net). It takes 5 minutes to make two drinks, and all you’ll need are raspberries, dry champagne, raspberry tea, and sugar-free raspberry syrup. In case you were wondering, yes, there’s a strong raspberry flavor in this lovely cocktail.
19. Keto Moscow Mule
The Moscow Mule is another drink that takes minimal adjusting to become keto-friendly. You’ll still use most of the same ingredients – vodka, lime juice, ice, and lime wedges for a garnish. However, you’ll want to use sugar-free ginger beer instead of the original kind. You’ll notice a slight difference in the flavor; the ginger isn’t quite as strong, but overall, the drink is still spectacular. Plus, with less than one carb per serving, it’s tough to complain.
20. Low-Carb Red Sangria
You’d think sangria would be completely out of the question on the keto diet with all that fruit and wine! However, as with most things, you’ll just have to get the recipe right. For this one, you’ll use dry, red wine (preferably Spanish wine), brandy, club soda, zero-calorie sweetener, and zero-calorie berry liquid water enhancer. The water enhancer takes the place of the fruit, giving it that multi-fruit taste without adding all the carbs actual fruit would give you. You can, of course, still add your favorite fruits and berries, but be aware that doing so will elevate the drink’s carb count. Click on a star to rate it!
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