10 Best Low-Calorie Liqueurs For Guilt-Free Sipping

The Hot Toddy is a strong opening option for you when it comes to low-calorie liqueur. This cocktail is usually crafted using either scotch or bourbon, then adding other ingredients such as honey, lemon, a small amount of cinnamon, and hot water. If you take some of the whiskey out of the Hot Toddy, then, of course, you will get fewer calories. However, even if you keep a standard amount in, the caloric count is not incredibly high. In total, it is estimated that a standard Hot Toddy is around 150 calories, possibly less depending on the amount of whiskey you utilize in creating the drink.  

A vodka soda can vary depending on how many ounces you get. The basic rule of thumb for this drink is that there are about 65 calories per ounce of vodka in the drink. On average, it seems like an 8-ounce vodka soda holds roughly 82 total calories, making it about 1.5 ounces of vodka in a standard drink. That being said, it is a drink that hits you with a crisp, refreshing taste without overloading you with alcohol. It has just a 10% ABV (which is a term used to represent the alcohol level in a drink) and gives you a hint of lemon or lime. When you’re hoping to get a taste of alcohol and not looking to have a ton of empty calories added on, then a vodka soda might be a perfect option. 

Also Read: 10 Healthy Sugar-Free Drink Alternatives For Summer

A Sea Breeze is a different type of drink that could help you sip guilt-free. Creating a Sea Breeze is rather simple, all you would need is some vodka then add in grapefruit and cranberry juice. Depending on the amount of each that you use in the creation of the drink, you could be looking at around 150-160 total calories. If you would prefer to cut the calorie count down even further, you could attempt low-calorie cranberry juice. The bottom line is that a Sea Breeze is quite easy to craft, and it winds up being a sound option for a drink when you aren’t looking to add on a few pounds. 

Also Read: 10 Best Detox Drinks to Help You Reset, Recharge, and Feel Your Best

Perhaps none of the other options have suited your tastes thus far. Maybe Lone River’s Ranch Water will do the trick. Ranch Water is a hard seltzer that is served in a 12-ounce can with very few calories attached. A standard 12-ounce can of Ranch Water is estimated to be 80 calories in total, with just a 4% alcohol level and zero grams of sugar. Do not worry about the flavor being bland either, as Lone River themselves had their drink reviewed by the New York Times, leading to a quote that read, “A drink that tastes impressively fresh and natural”. Don’t forget about Lone River Ranch Water when looking to cut down on calories while still sipping on liqueur. 

Mojito’s can oftentimes soar up to 170 calories in total, which isn’t much, but it could persuade you to avoid it entirely. Luckily, there is a way to craft a great mojito without the extra calories added on top. If you can make a mojito and simply leave out the syrup, you can save yourself anywhere between 40-70 calories in each cocktail you make. This could end up bringing the total calorie count per mojito to under 100. Instead of using syrup, all you would need is light rum, a teaspoon of sugar or potentially Stevia, soda water, lime juice, and mint leaves. It might not seem like a massive change on paper, but just leaving out the syrup can make the mojito a very nice low-calorie drink while staying true to itself.  

There is an Italian liqueur called Aperol that is sure to give you a nice experience without making you feel guilty that you’re enjoying it. There are a few ways to enjoy Aperol, the lowest calorie option is an Aperol spritz. It combines prosecco, a splash of club soda, and a little fresh orange juice. The spritz is a super low-calorie option and can come in at around 100 calories per glass.

Also Read: 10 of the Healthiest Energy Drinks in 2024

A Gin and slimline tonic is another wonderful liqueur option without needing to worry about weight gain from each sip. A traditional can of Gordon’s Gin and Slimline Tonic holds about 5% ABV and 75 calories in total. They make this drink with sweeteners rather than the usual sugars you might see in an alcoholic beverage with a high-calorie count. This is a drink that is made for a variety of different circumstances and scenarios, all while keeping you calm knowing that the weight isn’t going directly to your gut. 

You might not have thought to pair diet ginger ale with Vermouth, but now you will. Vermouth has a relatively low ABV that hovers between 16 and 18 percent. When you take that and throw in the wonderful 60-calorie count in every 1.5-ounce pour, it makes this a great tandem for something like diet ginger ale. The taste is solid, the calories don’t creep up on you, and it might be a combination that you have not thought to try, even though it might seem like everybody has tried it before. All in all, this combination makes for another great low-calorie option. 

A whiskey sour cocktail holds a slightly higher calorie count than some of the other options we’ve already mentioned here. However, that does not mean it is wildly unhealthy for you, nor does it mean that the caloric count is extremely high. A standard four-ounce whiskey sour serving holds around 180 total calories, with the approximation that it’s around 45-48 calories per ounce. Despite the bump in calories, it remains on the lower end, while also holding onto a refreshing yet tangy flavor with each sip that you take. 

Related: 11 of the Healthiest Alcoholic Drinks According to Nutritionists

The final drinking option for guilt-free sipping is a standard tequila with fresh lime or citrus juice. Tequila doesn’t have nearly as much added sugar, which other rival drinks certainly do. If you pour yourself about two ounces worth of tequila, you’ll get about 130 calories, and if you add in some citrus juice or lime, you spruce up the flavor a bit without overloading the calorie count. The tequila normally pushes the alcohol level a little higher than some of the previous options, though that all boils down to personal preference. At the end of the day, tequila with some lime or citrus juice sprinkled on top can offer an exquisite taste without the need to worry about how many calories are packed into it. 

Also Read: 11 of the Healthiest Alcoholic Drinks According to Nutritionists