Cocktails in a row 4 glasses

Which are the Lowest Calorie Cocktails?

From the high to the low - here's the calories in the top 20 cocktails, with recipes.

  1. Bloody Mary
  2. Screwdriver
  3. Cuba Libre
  4. Martini
  5. Margarita
  6. Daiquiri
  7. Tequila Sunrise
  8. Cosmopolitan
  9. Pina Colada
  10. Mojito
  11. Sea Breeze
  12. Sex on the Beach
  13. Pimm's No.1 & Lemonade
  14. Mai Tai
  15. White Russian
  16. Caipirinha
  17. Whiskey Sour
  18. Manhattan
  19. Mint Julep
  20. Tom Collins

Bloody Mary, the Most Popular Cocktail Recipe

The Bloody Mary is, rather oddly to our eyes, the world’s most popular cocktail. It’s also one of the most fiercely debated, with a range of different ingredients, recipes and styles. It’s also one that takes a lot of practice to get the ingredients just right, but it’s a great drink to make. The base is vodka and tomato juice, but it’s all the different sauces and flavourings that make it special.

Calories per serving of Bloody Mary: 150

Ingredients

2 Pubs Shot/50ml Vodka
1 Lemon, juiced
1 Tsp Worcestershire Sauce
½ Tsp Tabasco Sauce
¼ Tsp Pinch of Salt
¼ Tsp Pinch of Black Pepper
150ml Tomato Juice

How to Make a Bloody Mary

  • Place a couple ice cubes into a tumbler and add the vodka. 
  • Squeeze the juice from the lemon, half (throw the lemon away, it is not included in the drink) add to the glass . 
  • Now add the Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce and tomato juice. 
  • Add a pinch of salt and a pinch of pepper. 
  • Serve and enjoy
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 150
Sugars (g) 6.2
Saturates (g) 0.0
Fibre (g) 0.8
Fruit & Veg 1.0
Protein (g) 1.3
Carbohydrate (g) 7.7

Back to Top

The Perfect Screwdriver Cocktail Recipe

A screwdriver is orange juice and vodka, but mixed well it becomes a refreshing (if basic) cocktail.

The key to making good Screwdriver is to buy high-quality ingredients. If you use a premium brand of vodka and pure orange juice, it makes a real difference to the drink. The Screwdriver is incredibly popular, but we think it’s best to have as a backup in case people don’t want your other cocktails, because it’s so simple it feels more like a mixer than a cocktail.

Calories per serving of Screwdriver: 122

Ingredients

1 Pub Shot/35ml Vodka
150ml Orange Juice, Freshly Squeezed

How to Make a Screwdriver (vodka and orange)

  • Take a glass and add ice cubes
  • Add the measure of vodka
  • Top up with the orange juice 
  • Mix and enjoy
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 122
Sugars (g) 12.2
Saturates (g) 0.0
Fibre (g) 1.5
Fruit & Veg 0.8
Protein (g) 0.9
Carbohydrate (g) 12.2

Back to Top

Cuba Libre, the Easiest Cocktail Recipe

You know what happens when you add a wedge of lime to a rum and coke? It becomes a Cuba Libre: probably the easiest cocktail to learn to make. Here are the ingredients:

Calories per serving of Cuba Libre: 160

Ingredients

2 Shots/50ml Bacardi
125ml Cola
1 Lime, juiced
1 Slice Lime

How to Make Cuba Libre

  • Slice the lime in half and squeeze the juice into the glass. 
  • Now add some ice cubes, the rum and top up with cola. 
  • Stir the drink with a spoon and add a wedge of lime to the glass as garnish
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 160
Sugars (g) 14.2
Saturates (g) 0.0
Fibre (g) 0.3
Fruit & Veg 0.5
Protein (g) 0.2
Carbohydrate (g) 15.2

Back to Top

Easy Gin Martini Cocktail: shaken (or stirred)

It’s a classic drink. Martini is based around a drink called Vermouth (a fortified white wine.)

Calories per serving of Martini: 204

Ingredients

2 Pubs Shot/70ml Vodka
1 Shot/50ml Vermouth, Dry
1 Green Olive
1 Slice Lemon

How to Make a Martini

  • Put the vodka, vermouth and ice into a shaker; shake it for 15-30 seconds and strain the drink into a cocktail glass (leaving the ice behind). 
  • Now drop an olive in the bottom and a slice of lemon on the side. 
  • That's how easy it is. Experiment for different flavours.
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 204
Sugars (g) 1.6
Saturates (g) 0.1
Fibre (g) 0.2
Fruit & Veg 0.1
Protein (g) 0.1
Carbohydrate (g) 1.7

Back to Top

An Easy Margarita Cocktail Recipe

The Margarita is another classic cocktail that is easy to put together. Margaritas are made in a variety of different ways, but most recipes contain tequila, triple sec, lime juice and salt or sugar around the rim of the glass. The easy way is to balance all three ingredients shots, but most professional recipes use slightly less Triple Sec (around a third of a shot).

Calories per serving of Margarita Cocktail: 214

Ingredients

1 Pub Shot/35ml Tequila
1 Pub Shot/35ml Triple Sec Liqueur
½ Lime, juiced
½ Tsp Caster Sugar
1 Slice Lime

How to Make a Margarita

  • Take a Martini glass, now damp the rim with water and dip the glass in salt (or sugar) to coat the rim of the glass. 
  • Now pour the Tequila, Triple Sec and lime juice into a cocktail shaker. Add a handful of ice cubes and shake it up. 
  • Strain the cocktail into the glass.
  • Enjoy
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 214
Sugars (g) 13.3
Saturates (g) 0.0
Fibre (g) 0.3
Fruit & Veg 0.5
Protein (g) 0.2
Carbohydrate (g) 16.9

Back to Top

Classic Daiquiri

The Daiquiri has evolved into a whole range of drinks, such as Frozen Daiquiri, Strawberry Daiquiri and Banana Daiquiri.

But the classic is just rum, lime juice and simple syrup.

Calories per serving of Daiquiri Cocktail: 203

Ingredients

3 Shots/75ml Bacardi
50ml Juice of 1 Lime
12.5g Syrup
1 Slice Fresh Lime

This recipe here makes two cocktails (but you can halve the ingredients to make a single cocktail.

How to Make a Classic Daiquiri

  • Mix the white rum, lime juice and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker and fill with ice cubes. 
  • Shake for 15-30 seconds and strain into a cocktail glass. 
  • Add a Slice of lime as a garnish.
  • Enjoy
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 203
Sugars (g) 7.9
Saturates (g) 0.0
Fibre (g) 0.4
Fruit & Veg 0.8
Protein (g) 0.3
Carbohydrate (g) 12.1

Back to Top

Tequila Sunrise

The Tequila Sunrise is a good party classic that is especially easy to make. It’s just tequila and orange juice with grenadine (this is a red syrup made from pomegranates that you can pick up from most supermarkets). The blended colour comes from adding the grenadine slowly so it sinks to the bottom.

Calories per serving of Tequila Sunrise Cocktail: 246

Ingredients

2 Shots/50ml Tequila
240ml Fresh Orange Juice
15ml Grenadine Syrup
1 Cherry

How to Make a Tequila Sunrise

  • To make a tequila sunrise you need to mix the two drinks carefully, so they blend (forming the sunrise effect.) 
  • Pour the tequila into a Highball (tall) glass and fill it with ice. 
  • Now top it up (not to the top) with orange juice.
  • Now pour the grenadine slowly down the side of the glass so it sinks to the bottom, where it will create the two-tone effect. 
  • Garnish with a sliced of orange and cherry.
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 246
Sugars (g) 33.1
Saturates (g) 0.0
Fibre (g) 2.4
Fruit & Veg 1.3
Protein (g) 1.5
Carbohydrate (g) 33.2

Back to Top

Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe

The Cosmopolitan is a classy number.

Calories per serving of Cosmopolitan Cocktail: 116

Ingredients

1 Shot/25ml Vodka, 37.5% Volume
18.5ml Cointreau Liqueur
1 Lime, juiced
25ml Cranberry Juice
1 Tbsp Orange Peel

How to Make a Cosmopolitan

  • Place the vodka, orange liqueur and cranberry juice into a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice. 
  • Shake it hard to mix the ingredients then strain into Martini glass. 
  • A bonus ingredient (that makes this cocktail extra classy) is to use a potato peeler to peel an orange. 
  • Now twist the orange peel over the edge of the glass.
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 116
Sugars (g) 4.2
Saturates (g) 0.0
Fibre (g) 0.8
Fruit & Veg 0.9
Protein (g) 0.3
Carbohydrate (g) 5.7

Back to Top

Pina Colada Cocktail Recipe

Pina colada is a mixture of rum, cream of coconut and pineapple juice. It’s a Spanish classic .

Calories per serving of Pina Colada Cocktail: 245

Ingredients

2 Shots/50ml Bacardi*, 37.5% Volume
30ml Coconut Cream
90ml Pineapple Juice
1 Slice Pineapple

How to Make a Pina Colada

This Pina Colada recipe is super-easy.

  • Place the crushed ice into a blender and whizz it for 15 seconds. 
  • Now add a shot of coconut cream, two shots of rum and the pineapple juice. Blend it on medium until you get a smooth, creamy mixture. 
  • Pour it into a tall wine glass and garnish the side of the glass with a slice of pineapple.
  • Enjoy
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 245
Sugars (g) 18.6
Saturates (g) 5.1
Fibre (g) 0.6
Fruit & Veg 1.3
Protein (g) 1.2
Carbohydrate (g) 19.7

Back to Top

Mojito Cocktail Recipe

Mojito is a great cocktail to start with because it's easy to mix, but has some exotic ingredients (like mint leaves) that make it seem cleverer than it is. It's also popular here in the UK. The skill is in mixing the ingredients together, but the Mojito is an easy cocktail to get started with.

Calories per serving of Mojito Cocktail: 155

Ingredients

Mint Leaves
2 Slices Lime
1 Tsp Caster Sugar
1 Pub Shot/35ml Bacardi, 37.5% Volume
130ml Sprite

How to Make a Mojito

  • Place the mint leaves, lime slice and sugar in the bottom of a glass and crush with a muddler. 
  • Fill a lowball glass tumbler with ice cubes and put a shot in the glass. Now fill the glass with Sprite or diet lemonade (or lime juice and soda) and stir.
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 55
Sugars (g) 0.4
Saturates (g) 0.0
Fibre (g) 0.6
Fruit & Veg 0.3
Protein (g) 0.2
Carbohydrate (g) 21.0

Back to Top

Sea Breeze Cocktail Recipe

A crisp, refreshing blend of vodka, cranberry and grapefruit, served long over plenty of ice, the Sea Breeze is a simple, timeless cocktail 

Calories per serving of Sea Breeze Cocktail: 154

Ingredients

2 Shots/50ml Vodka, 37.5% Volume
50ml Cranberry Juice
50ml Grapefruit Juice
1 Slice Lime

How to Make a Sea Breeze

  • Fill a tall glass with ice cubes.
  • Add the Vodka, cranberry juice and grapefruit juice into the glass.
  • Garnish with a slice of lime.
  • Stir & Enjoy
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 154
Carbohydrate (g) 12.1
Sugars (g) 11.1
Saturates (g) 0.0
Fruit & Veg 0.7
Protein (g) 0.4
Fat (g) 0.1

Back to Top

Sex on the Beach Recipe

A modern classic, Sex on the Beach has a name you won’t forget,

Calories per serving of Sex on the Beach Cocktail: 130

Ingredients

9ml Archers, Peach Schnapps
1 Pub Shot/35ml Vodka, 37.5% Volume
35ml Orange Juice, Freshly Squeezed
35ml Cranberry Juice
1 Slice Lime

How to Make Sex on the Beach

  • Fill a tall glass with ice cubes.
  • Pour Archers Peach Schnapps, Vodka, cranberry juice and orange juice into the glass.
  • Garnish with a slice of lime

     

Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 130
Carbohydrate (g) 8.7
Sugars (g) 7.7
Saturates (g) 0.0
Fruit & Veg 0.5
Protein (g) 0.3
Fat (g) 0.0

Back to Top

Pimm's No.1 & Lemonade Cocktail Recipe

You can do plenty with Pimm's – a garnish here, lots more strawberries and cucumber there – but sometimes just a pour of lemonade makes for a great-tasting drink

Calories per serving of Pimm's Cocktail: 113

Ingredients

1 Serving/50ml Pimms, 25% Volume
30g Oranges
100ml Lemonade
1 Slice Cucumber
1 Strawberry
2 Mint Leaves

How to Make Pimm's

  • Fill a tall glass with ice cubes.
  • Pour Pimm's No.1 and lemonade into the glass.
  • Garnish with orange, cucumber, strawberry and mint.
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 113
Carbohydrate (g) 10.2
Sugars (g) 2.6
Saturates (g) 0.0
Fruit & Veg 0.6
Protein (g) 0.5
Fat (g) 0.1

Back to Top

Mai Tai Cocktail Recipe

A tangy, refreshing blend of dark rum and tropical fruit, the Mai Tai is Hawaii in a glass.

Calories per serving of Mai Tai Cocktail: 164

Ingredients

1 Pub Shot/35ml Rum, 37.5% Volume
10ml Grand Marnier Liqueur
2 Tsps Lime Juice
10ml Almond Syrup
50ml Pineapple Juice
1 Slice Orange

How to Make Mai Tai

  • Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
  • Pour Captain Morgan Original Rum, Grand Marnier, lime juice, orgeat and pineapple juice into the shaker.
  • Shake the mixture vigorously until the surface of the cocktail shaker feels chilled.
  • Strain the contents into a tall glass over ice.
  • Garnish with an orange slice
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 164
Carbohydrate (g) 17.8
Sugars (g) 15.4
Saturates (g) 0.0
Fruit & Veg 0.6
Protein (g) 0.4
Fat (g) 0.1

Back to Top

White Russian Cocktail Recipe

As other classics, why mess with it. It’ll always be a classic. Because some things simply just work.

Calories per serving of White Russian Cocktail: 152

Ingredients

1 Pub Shot/35ml Vodka, 37.5% Volume
20ml Kahlua Liqueur
20ml Single Cream
1 Cocktail Cherry

How to Make a White Russian

  • Fill a glass with ice cubes 
  • Add the Kahlua and Vodka
  • Finish up with a cream layer
  • Top with a cherry
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 152
Carbohydrate (g) 10.1
Sugars (g) 9.9
Saturates (g) 2.3
Fruit & Veg 0.1
Protein (g) 0.5
Fat (g) 3.6

Want a less calorific version? Try it out with milk, skim milk or soymilk!

Back to Top

Caipirinha Cocktail Recipe

Calories per serving of Caipirinha Cocktail: 141

Ingredients

2 Servings/50ml Morgans Spiced Rum
1 Tsp Caster Sugar
Lime

How to Make a Caipirinha

  • Cut lime wedges.
  • Add the lime wedges and sugar to a glass.
  • Press down on the lime wedges and sugar in a highball glass using a muddler to extract juices and flavour.
  • Fill the glass with ice.
  • Pour the rum into the glass.
  • Stir thoroughly.
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 141
Carbohydrate (g) 12.6
Sugars (g) 1.1
Saturates (g) 0.0
Fruit & Veg 0.9
Protein (g) 0.5
Fat (g) 0.1

Back to Top

Whiskey Sour Cocktail Recipe

The Whiskey Sour is one classic cocktail that won’t make you sour.

Calories per serving of Whiskey Sour Cocktail: 162

Ingredients

2 Shots/50ml Whisky, 37.5% Volume
1 Lemon, juiced
15g Sugar Syrup
1 Cocktail Cherry
1 Slice Lemon

Method

  • Add all the ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice.
  • Shake, and strain into a glass filled with fresh ice.
  • Garnish with a cherry and/or lemon wedge if desired.
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 162
Carbohydrate (g) 15.1
Sugars (g) 2.4
Saturates (g) 0.0
Fruit & Veg 0.6
Protein (g) 0.2
Fat (g) 0.0

Back to Top

Manhattan Cocktail Recipe

The Manhattan is one of the all-time great classic cocktails, a rich, sweet blend of whisky, vermouth and bitters that’s generally stirred into perfection. 

Calories per serving of Manhattan Cocktail: 151

Ingredients

2 Shots/50ml Whisky, 37.5% Volume
25ml Sweet Vermouth
1ml Angostura Bitters Herbal Liqueur
Maraschino Cherry
1 Slice Orange

How to Make a Manhattan

  • Place the Whisky, sweet vermouth and angostura bitters into a mixing glass.
  • Fill the glass with ice, stir the mixture until well combined and strain into a Martini glass.
  • Garnish with an orange twist and maraschino cherry.
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 151
Carbohydrate (g) 6.2
Sugars (g) 6.2
Saturates (g) 0.0
Fruit & Veg 0.1
Protein (g) 0.1
Fat (g) 0.0

Back to Top

Mint Julep

Aromatic, fresh mint plus the subtle spice, toffee and oak notes of quality bourbon: the Mint Julep cocktail is one of the great flavour matches.

Calories per serving of Mint Julep Cocktail: 172

Ingredients

2 Shots/50ml Whiskey, Bourbon, Kentucky, Jim Beam
10g Sugar Syrup
8 Mint Leaves
2 Sprigs of Mint

How to Make a Mint Julep

  • Place the mint and simple syrup or sugar into a glass.
  • Muddle well to dissolve the sugar and to release the oil and aroma of the mint.
  • Add the bourbon /whiskey.
  • Fill with crushed ice and stir well until the glass becomes frosty.
  • Garnish with the mint sprig.
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories (kcal) 172
Carbohydrate (g) 8.4
Sugars (g) 0.0
Saturates (g) 0.0
Fruit & Veg 0.0
Protein (g) 0.0
Fat (g) 0.0

Back to Top

Tom Collins Cocktail Recipe

The Tom Collins is a refreshing gin sour that is an excellent sipper for any time of day, day of the year, and occasion. It is one of the best everyday cocktails.

Calories per serving of Tom Collins Cocktail: 138

Ingredients

2 Shots/50ml Gin, 37.5% Volume
½ Lemon, juice
10g Sugar Syrup
1 Slice Lemon
30ml Soda Water

How to Make a Tom Collins

  • Fill a tall glass with ice cubes.
  • Pour Gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup into the glass.
  • Stir until well combined.
  • Top up with soda water.
  • Garnish with a wedge of lemon
Nutrition Information per Serving
Nutrition Data Per Serving
Calories (kcal) 138
Carbohydrate (g) 8.9
Sugars (g) 0.5
Saturates (g) 0.0
Fruit & Veg 0.4
Protein (g) 0.1
Fat (g) 0.0

Start a Free Trial Today

You can find out the calorie content and full nutritional information for 50,000 foods using the Weight Loss Resources food database. Try it Free for 24 Hours

Take our FREE trial »

Back to top | WEIGHT LOSS | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Lose a Stone for Christmas Challenge

If you enjoyed this article, try our newsletter. It's free.

Receive the latest on what works for weight loss straight to your inbox. We won't share your email address. Privacy policy

Sponsored