Keto Cocktail Recipes You Can Feel Good About Making and Drinking

By Isadora Baum

Updated on 6/8/2018 at 10:30 AM

Pexels | fotios
Pexels | fotios

Cocktails might taste great going down, but all that sugar, booze, and calories can add up. Luckily, there are a few ways to make more slimming cocktails, ones that use fine ingredients and limit the carbohydrates and sugars. It's a whole new way to incorporate trendy diets into the craft cocktail world. The keto diet is known for reducing intake of carbs and sugar, so it's the perfect way to create an enjoyable cocktail that won't hurt your waistline. Here are a few delicious keto-style cocktail recipes you can sip on for a healthier, lighter buzz.

Keto Margarita
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Keto Margarita

"Since ketogenic diets limit the intake of sugars and carbs, there are certain alcohols that should be avoided at all costs. The general rule is to stay away from anything that tastes sweet, including many wines, beers, mixers, and flavored alcohols," says Caleb Backe, health and wellness expert for Maple Holistics, to POPSUGAR. "Although drinking alcohol is considered to be ingesting empty calories, clear, hard liquor is considered to be keto-friendly," he explains.

Tequila is great for those keto-friendly margaritas since it's usually made without added sugars or carbs. "Just be sure to avoid the traditional Triple Sec and Cointreau orange liqueurs, which are usually high in sugar, carbs, and calories," he says.

Margarita Ingredients

  • 1.5 ounces tequila
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 teaspoon orange extract
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Ice
  • (Kosher salt optional)

Directions

  1. Shake together and serve with optional kosher salt on glass rim.
Moscow Mule
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Moscow Mule

"Whether you're full keto or just trying to tighten up for beach season, keeping your carb intake low during happy hour is a great way to ensure the progress you made during the week is maintained through the weekend festivities," says Evan Shy, founder of ShyTown Fitness, to POPSUGAR. "With a couple quick substitutions to a classic Moscow Mule, you can make sure you're sticking to the routine even when you're taking a break from the lifestyle," he says.

Fresh Ginger Moscow Mule Ingredients

  • 2 ounces Tito's vodka (gluten-free)
  • 3 teaspoons fresh ginger, peeled and grated
  • 2 teaspoons stevia
  • 3 leaves basil
  • 1/2 freshly squeezed lemon
  • 1 freshly squeezed lime
  • 1/2 cup soda water or seltzer
  • Lime wedges for garnish

Directions

  1. In a big cup, add stevia, ginger, and basil and gently muddle for a few seconds until ingredients become fragrant.
  2. Add vodka and stir well until stevia has completely dissolved.
  3. Add lemon juice, lime juice, a few ice cubes, and stir.
  4. Add soda water and stir.
  5. Serve in copper mug garnished with lime wedges.
Green Tox Cocktail
Pexels | Tony Cuenca

Green Tox Cocktail

Think of this as a fresh green juice with a splash or so of vodka. "Starting the day with a beverage that tastes great, lacks this sugar, and is enhanced with fueling nutrients is key to a fun weekend and/or productive workday," says mixologist Elizabeth Blau at Honey Salt, Las Vegas, to POPSUGAR.

Green Tox Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces Tito's vodka
  • 2 ounces Green Goodness juice (see ahead)
  • 3/4 ounce agave
  • Splash lemon

Green Goodness Juice Ingredients

  • 3-5 kale leaves and stalk
  • 1 whole lemon
  • 2 stalks celery
  • 1 inch ginger
  • 1 cucumber
  • 2 Granny Smith apples

Directions

  1. For Green Goodness juice, blend all ingredients together in blender or juicer.
  2. Mix juice with the rest of the Green Tox ingredients and serve immediately.
Ground Up
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Ground Up

"Rebar's Ground Up is a keto-friendly cocktail made with mezcal as the base spirit, which is naturally a low-carb spirit made from the agave plant," Rebar manager Blake Fehlhaber tells POPSUGAR. "A small amount of yellow chartreuse, a spirit made from herbs and flowers, fresh carrot juice, and lime juice make up the rest of the drink, keeping it a low-carb and low-sugar option without compromising taste," she says.

Ground Up Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces Banhez mezcal
  • 1/2 ounce Domaine De Canton (ginger liqueur)
  • 1/2 ounce Yellow Chartreuse
  • 1 1/4 ounces carrot juice
  • 1/2 ounce lime juice
  • 1/2 ounce simple syrup

Directions

  1. Put ingredients together, and shake in cocktail shaker.
Strawberry Cocktail
Pexels | Anastasia Zhenina

Strawberry Cocktail

As Spring and Summer are approaching, there's no better time to combine fresh fruits into a refreshing, but still low-sugar cocktail, explains mixologist Diesha Banner to POPSUGAR.

Strawberry Cocktail Ingredients

  • 1 ounce Smirnoff Strawberry vodka
  • 1 cup fresh strawberries
  • 1/2 cup of blueberries
  • 1 teaspoon stevia

Directions

  1. Blend together like you would a smoothie.
Superpower Sour
Courtesy of iPic Entertainment

Superpower Sour

Think of this as a keto-friendly gin and tonic. "Tonic water can be very high in sugar due to balancing the bitterness of the quinine," Adam Seger, chef bartender/corporate sommelier of iPic Theaters and TUCK Hospitality Group, tells POPSUGAR. Instead, put together a house-made tonic syrup with organic agave and stevia to add to sparkling water.

This "yields tonic water with about half the calories and carbs of most tonic waters," he says. "This makes a sophisticated ketogenic cocktail as the tonic syrup is lower in sugar than typical syrups. The gin is the same number of calories as vodka, the egg whites add texture and lean protein, and the lime is packed with vitamin C," he explains.

Superpower Sour Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces gin
  • 1/2 ounce homemade tonic syrup (sweetened with organic agave and stevia)
  • 1 egg white
  • Juice of 1 lime

Directions

  1. Shake vigorously and strain into a couple of martini glasses.
  2. Garnish with a lime wheel.