Are you looking for some zero carb cocktails? Here's everything that you need to know - plus a full Moscow Mule recipe!
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Although you shouldn't go mad on alcohol when following a low carb diet, there are occasions when you might like to celebrate with a cocktail.
There are usually two or three main components to every cocktail:
- Alcohol
- Mixer
- Sweetener
Now there are many exceptions to this rule, but looking at these three components really helps identify how we can make zero carb cocktails. Let's look at the alcohol first. In my post "Can You Drink Alcohol On A Low Carb Diet?" I discuss the pros and cons of alcohol, and look at the carb count for different types. 
Zero Carb Alcohol
The alcohol options are the "clean spirits" as follows:
- Gin - here are all my Low Carb Gin Drinks
- Rum - check out my collection of Low Carb Rum Drinks!
- Tequila - check out my collection of Low Carb Tequila Drinks!
- Vodka - check out my collection of Low Carb Vodka Drinks!
- Brandy
- Whiskey*
*Whiskey is technically 0.3g net carbs for 1 fl oz - so unless you're a zero carb purist you'll say that this doesn't count. 🙂
Zero Carb Mixers
Next, let's look at mixers. What you include on this list will probably depend on whether you drink diet soda, but even if you don't there are many options. They key is to avoid anything with sugar, and that includes fruit juice.
- Club soda
- Seltzer water / sparkling water
- Diet tonic water
- Diet soda (eg diet Coke, diet Sprite, diet ginger ale)
- Zero carb flavored water (eg Crystal Light, Sparkling ICE, La Croix)
- Heavy cream
Zero Carb Sweeteners
And finally to sweeteners. Always a controversial subject with low-carbers! But the key here is to look for liquid options.
- Homemade simple syrup - obviously my top choice! And it's zero carb!
- Sugar free syrup: I like the Da Vinci brand and usually always have at least the flavor-free, vanilla, and chocolate versions in stock. Walden Farms also makes zero carb syrups which are a little thicker than Da Vinci - I particularly like the strawberry flavor!
- Liquid Stevia
- Or how about making your own liqueur? My homemade blackberry liqueur sweetens and adds flavors and is only 0.3g net carbs per two tablespoons!
So there are the main three components. There are, of course, some basic cocktails that just use the first two ingredients: gin and diet tonic, rum and diet coke, whiskey and soda, and so on. It's important not to forget about these popular combinations!
Note: Don't be fooled into thinking that alcohol-only cocktails like martinis are zero carb - Vermouth contains 3.5g net carbs per ounce. It's not a lot, but it isn't ZERO.
For more complicated cocktails, let's look at some ideas for LOW carb cocktails:
- Low Carb Margarita (0.4g net carbs per drink)
- Keto Mai Tai (0.7g net carbs per drink)
- Low Carb Mojito (1.8g net carbs per drink)
- Low Carb Caipirinha (1.2g net carbs per serving)
- Low Carb Strawberry Daiquiri (4g net carbs per serving)
Zero Carb Cocktail Recipes
That margarita sounds good, right? The ingredients are lime, salt, tequila, low carb simple syrup, and orange extract. Easy!
If you're a gin fan, try this Low Carb Singapore Sling - it's 0.3g net carbs per drink - plus I've suggested an option to make it truly low carb!
And how about a Moscow Mule: traditionally it contains vodka, ginger beer and lime, but switch out the ginger beer for diet ginger ale, and you have yourself a zero carb Moscow mule! Well, the lime contains a TEENY amount of carbs (it's 0.4g net carbs per teaspoon) - but hardly worth counting! And don't forget to get a traditional copper mug for serving! Scroll down for a printable recipe card for this wonderful cocktail!
Note: You could also try the ginger beer flavor of Zevia instead of the ginger ale - available at Amazon!
Remember that Walden Farms strawberry syrup I mentioned? Here's a quick and easy cocktail for you: equal parts syrup and vodka (about 2 tbs each per drink), shake together with ice, pour into a glass, then top up with seltzer water. I'm going to call it zero carb strawberry cooler. The syrup is available in different flavors, too, so you could get very creative with your cocktails!
And finally, how about a chocolate creamy cocktail? In my recipe for Low Carb Chocolate Peppermint Cocktail, the carb count is 5.4g net. But when I looked again, the carbs were due to a fancy decorated rim that I had added. With that removed (although it DOES look good!), the carb count is just 0.4g net. So here's my new revised version of a Zero Carb Chocolate Cream Cocktail: 2 tbs rum (or vodka, if you prefer), 1 tbs heavy cream, 2 tbs Da Vinci sugar free chocolate syrup. Shake them in a cocktail shaker and serve over ice.
You can find all my low carb cocktail recipes HERE - or check out how to host a low carb cocktail party!
And as promised, here's that recipe card for the Zero Carb Moscow Mule!
📖 Recipe
Zero Carb Moscow Mule
Ingredients
Equipment
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Combine the vodka, lime and ginger ale together in a copper mug.
- Top up with ice, and decorate with lime and mint.
Nutrition
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is my best approximation. Net carbs are calculated as the total grams carbs minus the total grams of fiber.
Do you have any zero carb cocktails that you want to share? Leave a comment below!
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Maya says
Vodka is also zero carbs
Loretta Burrola says
Low-carb white Russian
1 cup strong coffee (chilled)
1 shot of tequila
Sweetener of your choice
2 Tbsp heavy cream
Mix together and pour over ice.
Jade says
Ciroc vodka is made from grapes, not potatoes so it does not digest as a carb 🙂
e says
Hi! No type of vodka is digested as a car no matter what its made from. It is an alcohol molecule, not a carbohydrate.
Sally says
Thank you for the recipe, but a white or black Russian is made with vodka. The tequila might be interesting, though.