What are the lowest calorie alcohol drinks?

We give you the low-down on the lowest calorie alcohol you can enjoy without the hefty calories.

Women drinking wine together

by Emily Gilbert |
Updated on

Low calorie alcohol drinks can help you make smart and achievable swaps towards consuming less calories. We all enjoy a good alcoholic beverage at times but the amount of calories in those glasses can soon rack up, especially if you’re celebrating a special occasion. You might be surprised to learn that even those drinks you consider to be a lighter choice can be packed with added sugar.

Best low calorie alcohol at a glance

Best low calorie sparkling white wine: Slim Zero Sugar Sparkling White Wine – View on Winebuyers
Best low calorie gin alternative: CleanCo Clean Gin – View on Waitrose
Best low calorie liqueur: Baileys Deliciously Light – View on Sainsburys

The good news is that whether you prefer a glass of white wine or a gin and tonic, there are plenty of low-calorie options for you to choose from. From low calorie beer and vegan alcohol drinks choice from an ever-growing range of low sugar and zero alcohol options (great if you want to reap the benefits of dry January). If you're managing diabetes or a coeliac that's looking for gluten-free options, the great news is that there's everything from the best craft beer to supermarket wines available.

Check out the lowest calorie alcohol drink options you can buy online and make mocktails to your heart's content.

Best low calorie alcohol drinks

Best low calorie sparkling white wine

This Italian Slim Zero Sugar Sparkling White Wine combines a pure blend of single vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot. Enjoy a light crisp flavour with a delicate and elegant nose. Buy 12 bottles for just £9.99 per bottle.

Customer review: "Zero carbs and a lovely crisp fresh dry taste. 11% abv. What's not to like? My new guilt-free favourite."

Pros

  • Tastes like a dry Champagne
  • Zero sugar
  • Zero carbs
  • Vegan

Cons

  • Not widely available
Calories60 calories per 100ml
Alcohol11%

Best low calorie gin alternative

Tested

clean co gin
Price: £12 (was £16)

www.waitrose.com

CleanCo Clean G has the classic flavour of a smooth London Dry Gin. It's tangy, with a spicy citrus and herbal flavour profile. In addition to being just 12 calories per serving, it's a non-alcoholic, yet has all the taste of botanicals and juniper that you'd expect from a premium gin.

Our review: "I was recommended CleanCo non-alcoholic gin by a friend who'd seen it mentioned in a newspaper article. I'm a big gin fan and love trying lots of different makes, I even collect the bottles I can safely say I had no idea this was low calorie, it tasted just as good to me as the full calorie gins and it's also low alcohol, but you still get all the flavour, unlike other low alcohol gins I've tried which just taste herby rather than like actual gin. Plus it's a big bonus that it won't effect my waistline as much!"

Pros

  • Award winning
  • Sugar free
  • Low calorie

Cons

  • Some customers thought it lacked flavour
Calories12 calories per 25ml
Alcohol0%

Best low calorie liqueur

Indulge yourself with the rich, caramel and vanilla taste of Baileys with 40 per cent fewer calories than Baileys Original Irish Cream. Made with real cream from Ireland, cocoa and Irish whiskey this lighter liqueur can be enjoyed in cocktails, hot drinks or poured over ice on its own.

Customer review: "I really liked it. I thought it was still creamy and to me, tasted nearly exactly the same as normal baileys. Very good for a reduced calorie drink. Definitely buying another bottle."

Pros

  • 40% fewer calories than Baileys Original Irish Cream
  • Treat without the guilt

Cons

  • Not as creamy
Calories139 per serving
Alcohol16.1%

Best low calorie lager

With 35% fewer calories than other premium lagers and 72% fewer carbs SkinnyBrands Premium Lager is a great option for weight watchers. In addition, it's also suitable for keto, gluten-free and vegan diets. Serve chilled, and enjoy the full flavour of hops, malt and refreshing tang of premium lager.

Customer review: "Having read all the good reviews, I was still sceptical about how good it would actually be, so was pleased to discover that this Skinny Lager actually tastes pretty good. I've finally found a beer that I can enjoy, without consuming so many calories (and it's vegan and gluten free)."

Pros

  • Skinny Lager is Coeliac Society Certified Gluten-Free
  • Just 89 calories per bottle
  • Suitable for a range of special dietary requirements

Cons

  • Not widely available
Calories89 kcal per bottle
Alcohol4%

Best low calorie craft beer

Gen!us IPA Low Calorie Beer
Price: £23.99

Expect the bitter taste that comes with a higher hop content found in Indian Pale Ales. Gen!us IPA Low Calorie Beer is a must the health conscious who still want to enjoy drinking interesting IPAs. Kick back after a day's work with a chilled can that is low calorie and low alcohol, yet has all the taste of a premium IPA. This session beer is simply made with barley, hops, yeast and water. Available in a pack of 12 or 24.

Customer review: "I really liked the Genius lager… but I LOVE their IPA. Perfect session beer… what you lose on the alcohol and calorie count you definitely do not sacrifice on the flavour. Highly recommended."

Pros

  • Majority of customers praise the taste
  • Low calorie IPA
  • Vegan
  • Appeared on Dragon's Den

Cons

  • Small can
Calories79 kcal per can
Alcohol3%

Best low calorie red wine

Running Duck is a dry red wine from South Africa with spicy and rich fruity flavour notes. This ethical wine by Stellar is inspired by the Indian Runner ducks that patrol the vineyard as natural pest removers. If you're looking for an organic and sustainable red wine, that's good for you and the people who produce it – this is a top-notch red.

Also purchase as part of a low calorie mixed red wine case, along with other high quality, yet low sugar red wines.

Customer review: "The best tasting wine you can get with low calorie count. Still the same ABV, taste etc yet many less calories."

Pros

  • 0g sugars
  • 100 per cent Fairtrade, organic and gluten-free
  • No added sulphur
  • Vegan-friendly

Cons

  • For red wine connoisseurs rather than casual drinkers
Calories90 per 125ml
Alcohol13%

Best low calorie rum alternative

Captain Morgan Spiced Gold
Price: £10 (was £12)

Sip and savour the irresistible caramel, vanilla and warm brown spice flavour of Captain Morgan rum. Serve with ice and lime and mix with cola for a luscious and refreshing long drink.

Customer review: "I am doing dry January but have missed the odd tipple. I used to drink rum and Coke years ago so thought I’d give it a try. I can’t believe it’s alcohol free. It smells and tastes like alcoholic rum. Highly recommended if you want the taste without the side effects or hangovers. I never thought I’d ever buy alcohol free drinks but this has changed my mind."

Pros

  • Convincing aroma and flavour
  • Low calorie
  • Alcohol-free

Cons

  • Some reviews comment that its served best with cola rather than neat
Calories2kcal per 100ml
Alcohol0.0%

Best low calorie tequila

Avion Silver Tequila
Price: £47.99+

A Mexican blanco tequila with savoury agave as the star flavour, plus sweet notes of pineapple and vanilla. This superbly crafted Avion Silver Tequila is traditionally made in Los Altos, where volcanic soil brings a unique mineral complexity to this award-winning drink.

Customer review: "Only got this after being a fan of Entourage, lovely flavour and smooth after taste unlike normal cheaper products."

Pros

  • Premium quality
  • Unique flavour
  • Small batch

Cons

  • Be aware this is a strong alcohol
Calories100 per 44ml serving
Alcohol40%

Best low calorie vodka

Ketel One Botanicals Grapefruit & Rose is an award-winning low calorie vodka drink. The packaging alone says elegance, and with just 73 calories per serving, you can savour the zesty and multi-layered notes of citrus, rose and herbal essences. Enjoy a spirit drink that's slightly has a slightly lower alcohol content than traditional vodkas.

Pros

  • Award-winning
  • Low carbs and low sugar
  • Vegan
  • Elegant bottle

Cons

  • No reviews
Calories73 calories per serving
Alcohol30%

Best low calorie whisky

Raise a glass to Crown Royal Canadian Whisky, created to celebrate a visit from Queen Elizabeth and King George VI in 1939. Traditionally made, this is a full-bodied, smooth whisky with notes of oak and vanilla. The Crown Royal Distilling Company produce this unique whisky, best served on the rocks.

Customer review: "First time trying this whisky I've always stuck to Irish whiskey but this will be a staple in my collection from now on."

Pros

  • Unique
  • Premium
  • Gift for a whisky lover

Cons

  • Be aware this is has a high alcohol content
Calories96 kcal per serving
Alcohol40%

Best low calorie liqueur for cocktails

A great alternative to Malibu, this Trulo Coconut Rum Liqueur has tropical vibes and just 34 calories per serving. Additionally, this delightful summery drink is vegan-friendly, gluten-free and organic.

Customer review: "Love this product."

Pros

  • Low calorie alternative to Malibu
  • Great for cocktails
  • Elegant packaging
  • Subscribe and save

Cons

  • Not many reviews
Calories34 per 25ml
Alcohol14.9%

Best low calorie rosé

Enjoy guilt-free fine wine. Traces Rosé is a dry rosé wine from Cotes de Thongue from the Languedoc-Roussillon region in Southern France. This delicious wine is full of berry fruit notes, expertly balanced with herbaceous flavours. The wine producer is Traces, who have pushed the boundaries of wine-making by harvesting their grapes in the morning to reduce the sugar content and remove all residual sugar content through fermentation.

Also available as part of the Lowest Calorie Case of wines from Drinkwell.

Customer review: "This is an extremely light wine, so ideal for days when you want something refreshing and only a little alcoholic. You can tell this is a low sugar wine, but it’s still a nice glass on a sunny day."

Pros

  • Expertly produced
  • Vegan-friendly
  • 0g sugars

Cons

  • Needs chilling before serving
Calories78 kcal per 125ml serving
Alcohol11%

FAQs: Low calorie alcohol

Make some swaps

Simply by making some smart swaps to low or no-calorie sweeteners in your alcoholic drinks or by opting for sugar-free mixers like diet coke or lemonade can help you save on calories and cut down on sugar at the same time.

Take a look at the rough calories for some of the lowest calorie alcohol options according to drinkaware.co.uk:

Glass of prosecco – 86 calories

A standard glass of red or white wine – 158 calories

Vodka and soda water – 60 calories

Single gin and slimline tonic – 64 calories

Half a pint of larger – 91 calories

Single 25ml serving of brandy – 55 calories

Single 25ml serving of whisky – 55 calories

A 75ml glass of port/sherry – 116 calories

Alcopops – although these are varied, they are often around 170 calories

Which drinks should I avoid?

We recommend being wary when ordering your drink from a tap in a pub as beer and larger are full of calories.

You should also bear in mind that when it comes to wines, sweeter options are usually much higher in calories so opt for drier wines.

Keep an eye on those double and triple measures too when it comes to spirits as this is an easy way for sugar content and calories to mount up. Cocktails too are loaded with sugar thanks to the mixers, fruit juices and syrups that make them.

How much should I be drinking?

NHS guidance states that “men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis” and that these units should be spread out over three or more days. As an example, as small 125ml glass of red/white/rosé wine works out as 1.5 units while a large (35ml) single measures of spirit such as gin or vodka is 1.4 units.

A Digital Writer for Yours, Emily Gilbert has been a journalist since 2015 and has worked across a variety of specialist and lifestyle brands both in print and online. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases, her favourite being foody gadgets.

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