Responsible Drinking & Wellness
Cocktail Calorie Guide
From spirit calorie counts to the hidden sugar in mixers, understand exactly what you are consuming and how to make lower-calorie cocktail choices.
Cocktail Calorie Guide
Cocktails can be nutritionally opaque. A drink that tastes light and refreshing may contain more calories than a slice of cake, while a seemingly indulgent spirit-forward serve can be surprisingly calorie-efficient. Understanding the numbers is the first step to making informed choices.
Where Calories in Alcohol Come From
Ethanol contains approximately 7 calories per gram — more than carbohydrates or protein (4 cal/g each), but less than fat (9 cal/g). This means the alcohol itself contributes significantly to a drink's calorie count, regardless of what you mix it with.
Pure spirit (40% ABV) contains approximately: - 25 ml measure: ~55–65 kcal - 50 ml measure: ~110–130 kcal
These numbers are remarkably consistent across vodka, gin, rum, tequila, and whisky at standard strengths — the spirit base itself is not where meaningful differences emerge.
The Mixer Trap
The real calorie variation comes from what you add:
| Mixer | Calories per 100 ml |
|---|---|
| Soda water | 0 |
| Tonic water (standard) | ~34 |
| Diet tonic / slimline | ~1 |
| Ginger beer (standard) | ~40–50 |
| Cranberry juice (sweetened) | ~50–60 |
| Orange juice | ~45 |
| Pineapple juice | ~50 |
| Coconut cream | ~200 |
| Simple syrup (2:1) | ~260 |
A Mojito made with 50 ml white rum, 15 ml sugar syrup, lime, and soda water comes to approximately 180–200 kcal. A Moscow Mule with ginger beer can reach 200–220 kcal. A creamy cocktail with coconut cream can easily exceed 400 kcal.
Calorie Counts for Popular Cocktails
| Cocktail | Approximate Calories |
|---|---|
| Gin Tonic (25ml gin, 200ml tonic) | ~140 |
| Vodka Tonic (slimline tonic) | ~75 |
| Daiquiri (classic, 50ml rum) | ~170 |
| Margarita (standard) | ~200–250 |
| Negroni (30/30/30ml) | ~190 |
| Old Fashioned (60ml bourbon) | ~165 |
| Whiskey Sour | ~180–210 |
| Espresso Martini | ~240–280 |
| Cosmopolitan | ~200–220 |
| Piña Colada | ~380–490 |
These are estimates and vary with pour sizes, sugar content, and brand.
Low-Calorie Swaps
See also Low-Calorie Cocktails for occasion-specific recommendations.
Swap Standard Tonic for Slimline
A Gin Tonic made with standard tonic (200 ml): ~140 kcal. With slimline tonic: ~75 kcal. Same drink, half the calories.
Use Fresh Citrus, Skip the Syrup
Many cocktails can be made drier by increasing citrus and reducing simple syrup. A drier Daiquiri with half the sugar is sharper and brighter — and saves 30–40 kcal per drink.
Choose Soda as a Lengthener
Replacing sugary mixers with soda water is the single most effective calorie-saving technique. Add a splash of fresh juice for flavour without the volume.
Spritzes Are Naturally Lower
The Spritz format — aperitif + sparkling wine + soda — dilutes both alcohol and sugar. A proper Aperol Spritz (90ml Aperol, 90ml Prosecco, 60ml soda) comes to approximately 150–170 kcal.
Cocktails Under 200 Calories
- Vodka Soda (50ml vodka + soda + lime): ~110 kcal
- Tom Collins (gin, lemon, sugar, soda — light on syrup): ~170 kcal. See Tom Collins.
- Classic Daiquiri (rum, lime, minimal sugar): ~170 kcal. See Daiquiri.
- Gimlet (gin, fresh lime, light syrup): ~160 kcal. See Gimlet.
- Paloma (tequila, grapefruit soda, lime): ~170 kcal. See Paloma.
Knowing the approximate calorie content of what you drink is not about restriction — it is about awareness. With that awareness, you can balance your choices across an evening and across a week.