Low-Calorie Cocktails: 5 Skinny Drinks Under 175 Calories

A margarita can run close to 700 calories. Now you know, courtesy of the number-crunchers at Eventa (thanks for ruining summer, folks). A lot of our hot-weather favorites are quietly loaded with sugar and syrup. We’re not telling you to give up the occasional Piña Colada, but if you’d rather eat your calories than drink them, start with the five below.

5 low-calorie cocktails under 175 calories

Cuba Libre (86 calories)

Rum, lime, and Diet Coke. Smooth, simple, sweet, and the lightest pour on the list. See recipe

Gin and Tonic (112 calories)

You want that bitter tonic bite without the sugar? Reach for a diet tonic or top with club soda. See recipe

Bloody Mary (123 calories)

It usually rides along with a heavy brunch, but the drink itself is pretty virtuous, especially made with low-sodium tomato juice. See recipe

Old Fashioned (155 calories)

No mixers, no syrups, no fruit juice by the gallon. Just let the whiskey do the talking. See recipe

Sangria (173 calories)

Red wine brings the antioxidants, the splash of brandy brings the kick. A reasonable way to get your red-wine fix. See recipe

Frequently asked questions

What is the lowest-calorie cocktail?

A spirit with a zero-calorie mixer is your best bet. A rum and Diet Coke (Cuba Libre) lands around 86 calories, and a vodka soda is similarly light.

What’s the best alcohol for staying low-calorie?

Straight spirits like vodka, gin, whiskey, and tequila all run roughly 95 to 100 calories per 1.5 oz. The calories pile up in the mixers, so skip the juice, syrup, and regular soda.

How many calories are in a margarita?

A full-size margarita with sweet-and-sour mix can hit close to 700 calories. Made with fresh lime and a light hand on the sweetener, it drops well below that.

How do you make any cocktail lower-calorie?

Swap regular soda for diet or club soda, use fresh citrus instead of sweet-and-sour mix, cut or skip the simple syrup, and keep it to a single pour of spirit.

The Old Fashioned has kept drinkers happy for over a century at 155 calories. A Piña Colada runs 500-plus. Choose accordingly, and find plenty more lighter options at Cocktail Builder.

Photo credit: Infographic courtesy of Eventa.co.uk.

Last modified on August 30, 2026