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One of the biggest questions about the keto diet is whether or not it’s OK to drink alcohol.
And the answer to that question is yes, you can!
Beer isn’t on the approved list for keto alcohol drinks and neither are sweet drink mixers. Stay away from sweet wines like Moscato or dessert wines.
Many red and white wines have between 3g and 5g of carbs per glass.
But your primary alcohols like vodka, gin, tequila, rum, and whiskey have zero carbs! You just have to be careful what you mix with them. Flavored vodka can be your friend and can be used in a lot of keto alcoholic drink recipes.
Watch out for pre-made mixers.
A typical margarita mix contains 28g of carbs! Per serving! A sweet and sour mix has around 20g of carbs. And while it may seem like fresh fruit is a good bet, the natural sugar in fruit like peaches and apples up the carb level too. One medium peach has 14g of carbs. That’s not to say fruit is totally out, berries are a good choice, just make sure you’re using it in moderation and you’re aware of the carb count.
There are plenty of ways to make a keto alcohol drink with low carb alcohol that allows you to stay in ketosis. And plenty of keto alcoholic drinks recipes to choose from!
If you were worried that your social life was going to come to a screeching halt because you were following the ketogenic diet, worry no more! Here are 8 of the best keto alcoholic drinks that will let you keep the par-tay going strong.
Keto Alcohol Drink Recipes
Sex on the Beach
One of the first alcoholic beverages I ever had was Sex on the Beach. Whenever I think of this drink, I’m instantly transported back to that smoky Bennigan’s where the bartender announced that “Sharon just experienced her first Sex on the Beach”. Ah, memories. Good times.
This version is low-carb but still reminds you of blue oceans and palm trees waving in the breeze. Club soda, flavored vodka and flavor enhancers combine to create a beach lovers dream. Sex is optional.
Net Carbs: 0
Check out the recipe here.
Low-Carb Raspberry and Blackberry Mojitos
I love me some mojitos! A good mojito can be so refreshing on a hot summer day. You could easily make up a pitcher of these and serve at brunch or just for evening cocktails on the patio. This one is high on my list of keto approved cocktails.
Berries are among the fruits with the lowest carb amounts. This low-carb version of mojito uses both raspberries and blackberries, along with rum, mint, fresh lemon and lime juice, and club soda. Get the sweetness you’re looking for in a mojito with a sugar-free sweetener like Swerve or erythritol.
Net Carbs: 4.7g
Check out the recipe here.
Lemon Drop
Here’s another of my favorite drinks – the Lemon Drop! Normally, a Lemon Drop would be a definite no-go because of the really high sugar content. This version uses lemon-flavored protein water, blood orange flavored vodka, lemon juice and a keto-friendly sweetener.
It’s like a kicked up version of lemonade that’s low-carb and a great keto alcohol drink choice!
Net Carbs: <0g
Check out the recipe here.
Keto Bloody Mary
A Sunday brunch almost isn’t complete with a Bloody Mary. I’ve enjoyed many Sunday mornings (late mornings, I’m not that crazy) with a Bloody Mary in hand. This one has a little bit higher carb count because of the tomato juice but it’s worth it! If you’re looking for a Keto Bloody Mary recipe, you need to check this one out.
What I love about Bloody Marys are the endless combinations of spices and additions. This low-carb version uses V-8 juice, along with horseradish (don’t knock it till you try it!), hot sauce, vodka, beef bouillon, black pepper and a sugar substitute of your choosing. With all that spicy goodness, it’ll also clear any congestion you might have so I’d call that a bonus! Play around with the ingredients and quantities a little. The fun is in the experimentation.
Net Carbs: 6g
Check out the recipe here.
And here’s another bonus to make it even more keto-rific. The only thing that could make this keto approved cocktial better is a salt-rimmed edge, right? How about a bacon salt-rimmed edge? Yep, you got that right.
Check out the recipe for bacon salt here.
Skinny Margarita
If you’re looking for a low-carb, sugar-free version of a margarita, say olé. This keto alcohol version of the popular drink can be prepared frozen or on the rocks. I’m an on the rocks kind of girl. Frozen tends to give me brain-freeze. Probably because I drink them so fast!
This version couldn’t be easier to make. It’s tequila, lime juice, orange extract, and liquid stevia. Put it in the blender for a frozen treat or pour over ice. Either way, garnish with a lime wedge and a salted rim. Yummy!
Net Carbs: 0.9g
Check out the recipe here.
Low-Carb Piña Colada
You would think that a sugar-laden piña colada would be completely off the table if you’re on the keto diet. Not so! This low-carb version of the tropical favorite uses fresh pineapple, unsweetened coconut milk, coconut water, rum, and liquid sweetener.
The fresh pineapple adds additional carbs to this drink. For an even lower carb content, substitute the pineapple with a flavored food extract.
Net Carbs: With pineapple – 7.6g, Without pineapple – 4.3g
Check out the recipe here.
Low-Carb Moscow Mule
Have you ever seen those cool little copper cups and wondered what the heck they’re for? I used to wonder too but I’ve discovered that’s how a Moscow Mule is served. And if you’re wondering what in the heck a Moscow Mule is, I did too. Then I discovered it’s a seriously tasty drink of ginger beer, vodka, and lime juice served over ice in a copper cup.
Ginger beer has a very high sugar content – even more than regular Coke. This low carb Moscow mule recipe calls for diet ginger beer, which has none. If you’ve never had ginger beer, it’s like ginger ale on steroids. Ginger ale is essentially carbonated water flavored with ginger. Ginger beer is fermented so the ginger flavor is much stronger.
It’s absolutely not necessary to serve a Moscow Mule in a copper cup. But it is fun. Grab your own set here.
Net Carbs: 1g
Check out the recipe here.
Low-Carb Strawberry Daiquiri
Here’s another oh-so-sweet drink that you might not have realized can be made “skinny” and keto-friendly. The main carb culprit in a traditional daiquiri is the Triple Sec, which is a super sweet orange liqueur. This low-carb version replaces the Triple Sec with orange extract which makes it a perfectly friendly keto alcohol recipe.
You could replace the strawberries with another lower carb berry like blackberries or raspberries. Speaking of which, I need to add blackberries to my grocery list….yum.
Net Carbs: 4g
Check out the recipe here.
Let’s Get This Party Started
If you are hesitant about trying the keto diet because you think you can’t enjoy the occasional cocktail, now you know you can! There are a lot of ways you can mix things up to make some tasty and low-carb keto alcohol recipes. If you stick to the guidelines and are mindful about which fruits and mixers you use, it’s very easy to create the perfect keto alcohol drink.
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