Low-Carb Boozy Beverages That Actually Taste Delicious

If you’re fully immersed in a low-carb diet, the last thing you want to do is wreck your progress with a few lousy happy hour drink choices. Instead of skipping that drink altogether, though, these boozy beverages actually get the low-carb thumbs up.

Whether you’re on the keto diet or simply trying to cut down on the sweet stuff, there are lots of low-carb alcohol options out there, and these are some of our favorites.

Spirits with Zero Carbs

Anyone trying to cut down their carbohydrate intake is going to want low-carb beverages, too, and this includes liquor. Thanks to the ketogenic diet craze, low-carb, high-fat foods and beverages are trendier than ever.

One of the downsides to being on such a restrictive diet, though, is the careful planning it takes to keep your body in ketosis. For many, one of the most challenging things to give up is sugary beverages, like fancy iced lattes, soda, and of course, alcoholic mixed drinks.

Luckily, on their own, most spirits contain zero carbs. So, if you can handle shots or a sifter of the strong stuff, the following spirits are excellent keto-friendly options:

• Vodka
• Tequila
• Gin
• Scotch
• Whiskey
• Rum

Of course, not everyone enjoys sipping scotch or vodka straight-up. If this list does nothing for you, there are also plenty of sugar-free, low-carb mixers that’ll transform your spirit of choice into a delicious, guilt-free cocktail.

Low-Carb Mixers

Whether you’re mixing a cocktail at home or hanging with some friends at the corner bar, you’ll want to stick with mixers that have no (or low) sugar content, like the following:

In addition to these flavor-enhancing mixers, there are also some natural ways to add more flavor to your cocktails. Fresh herbs, like rosemary, basil, thyme, and mint leaf, can all provide some rich, earthy notes to your drink, while a spritz of fresh lime can deliver a refreshing pop.

Beers

Finding a quality beer that is also low-carb used to be a difficult task. However, thanks to the keto-craze, low-carb beers are becoming far more prevalent today. One way to find one you’ll most likely enjoy is by checking if your favorite brewery produces a low-carb option.

For example, if you’re an Allagash guy or gal, you’ll probably be surprised to learn that one, 12-ounce bottle contains a whopping 20 grams of carbs! However, the company’s low-carb Allagash Saison contains only five grams of carbs, making it a viable keto-friendly option.

After you’ve already been depriving yourself of delicious foods, like pasta and bread, enjoying an ice-cold, low-carb beer will be super satisfying. A good rule of thumb is to stick to beers with around seven grams of carbs or less, like these options:

• Budweiser Select 55: The caramel hints in this light lager offer a carb count of a measly 1.9 grams, and each bottle contains only 55 calories.
• Devils Backbone Brewing Co. Bright Tangerine: Coming in at 90 calories and only 2 grams of carbs per serving, this sparkling ale is one of the tastiest low-carb beers you can get. If you love citrus notes in your beer, you’ll love this craft brew.
• Corona Premier: You’ll love the light, crisp taste, as well as the carb count: 2.6 grams. It’s also only 90 calories. Don’t forget the lime.
• Lagunitas DayTime IPA: If you’re all about IPAs, this is your brewski. This session IPA is just under 100 calories and boasts a measly three grams of carbs.
• Slightly Mighty IPA: Another fabulous low-carb, keto-friendly IPA. It contains just 3.6 grams of carbs and 95 calories in each can. It’s also loaded with tropical flavors, like mango and coconut, and slightly sweetened with monk fruit.

Wines

Some wines are loaded with sugar and notably sweet, while others are dry. This generally makes it pretty easy to determine which types of vino you should avoid if you’re doing the low-carb thing.

For a quick reference, though, the following types of wine are usually lower in carbohydrates:

• Pinot (grigio and noir)
• Champagne
• Dry chardonnay
• Merlot
• Sauvignon blanc

On the other end of the spectrum, you’ll want to avoid the following wines due to their higher sugar (and carb) content:

• Moscato
• Zinfandels
• Ports
• Sherry
• Sweet rosés

Finding a low-carb wine you like can be the really tricky part, as some are known for being super sweet. However, you can find anything from dessert to dry low-carb wines, you just have to know where to look.

We recommend vino-lovers check out the following brands:

• Lifevine: You’ll find a lovely variety of pure, natural wines that contain zero sugar, which makes them very low carb. And the best part is cutting out the sugar doesn’t sacrifice any of the taste you get in each sip. Check out the nutrition facts on each wine to find its carb and calorie information.
• Secco Wine Club: Here, you’ll find several low-carb options, including brands like Palo61, which have their nutrition info right on the bottle. Or, you can give Terre Siciliane a try, which is super low in carbs per serving with no added sugar.
• Avaline: Free of any unnecessary extras and made with all-natural goodness, these wines are clean, delicious, and lower in carbs than most other brands. For example, the rosé contains only 2.6 carbs per glass, while the pinot noir has only 3.5.

Hard Seltzers

Hard seltzers have been having quite a moment recently. At least part of their appeal is that they’re simple, which is always popular with consumers. Who knew carbonated water, alcohol, and a subtle sweet fruit flavor would make such a splash? They’re a fantastic option for those who are trying to watch their carbs.

The following are the two top brands in the hard seltzer game:

• Truly: With refreshing flavors like wild berry, raspberry lime, and blueberry acai, this brand’s seltzers also boast only two grams of carbs per can.
• White Claw: This super-popular brand has flavors like mango, ruby grapefruit, and tangerine, also with only two grams of carbs per can.

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A low-carb lifestyle takes a lot of preparation and planning, even when it comes to adult beverages. Luckily, with these options, you won’t have to give up pasta, bread, and your favorite nightcap.