Rocco Smith
A keto diet is one of the most popular types of diet nowadays for losing weight. This high fat, low-carb diet has proven results, and this is why so many people turn to it when they want to change their bodies and lifestyles. But, it isn’t always the easiest diet to follow.
With a keto diet, you can only eat and drink things that contain minimal carbohydrates and lots of fat. This means going without some of the best foods that exist (think fries, mashed potato, and lots more). Finding low-carb, high-fat foods isn’t too difficult. But when it comes to drinks, this is a little more difficult.
The majority of cocktails are a no-go for those following a keto diet because they are packed with artificial and natural sweeteners in the juices used, and the alcoholic beverages added to it. But cocktails that are made with distilled spirits, dry red wines, and sugar-free sodas are generally okay to drink. In this guide, we’ll be taking a look at 10 of the best keto cocktails. So to find out more, keep on reading.
What Makes a Cocktail Keto-Friendly?
Well, the criteria for a drink to be considered keto-friendly is the same as the criteria for food. It must be high in fat and low in carbohydrates. When it comes to drinks, the high-fat criteria will become less important, but the low-carb criteria will be as important as ever.
The main drinks that are high in carbohydrates are those that are high in sugar and artificial sweeteners. This includes fizzy drinks, such as Cola and lemonade, and also natural juices such as orange juice, apple juice, and cranberry juice.
Unfortunately, fizzy drinks and cocktails make up some of the biggest ingredients in cocktails, which is why a lot of cocktails are not keto-friendly. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best cocktails which are suitable for those who follow a keto diet.
Best Keto Cocktails
- Keto Tequila Sunrise
- Keto Raspberry Daquiri
- Skinny Margarita
- Skinny Mojito
- Low-Carb Gin Fizz
- Zero Carb Moscow Mule
- Keto White Russian
- Vodka Collins
- Espresso Martini
- Keto Eggnog
Keto Tequila Sunrise
At the height of summer, there is no better cocktail to enjoy than a tequila sunrise. This cocktail screams hot weather in its flavor, appearance, and so much more. A regular tequila sunrise is unsuitable for those following a keto diet because it is packed with juice. But, if you modify this recipe, you can create a truly delicious keto-friendly tequila sunrise cocktail.
To make your tequila sunrise, keto-friendly, you have to substitute your regular juice for a vitamin water alternative. So, replace your orange juice with 0 calorie orange-flavored vitamin water juice.
Mix this with a shot of tequila, a teaspoon of lemon juice, some water, a couple of drops of fruit punch flavored water drops, and some liquid sweetener. Give your cocktail a stir, and you will have a keto-friendly tequila sunrise ready for you to enjoy. The colors will look like a regular tequila sunrise and everything!
Keto Raspberry Daiquiri
Another classic cocktail for a hot day is a daiquiri. A lot of people opt for strawberry daiquiris, but we will always prefer the raspberry version of this drink. If you aren’t a huge fan of cocktails, then a daiquiri is likely the perfect drink for you. The flavor of alcohol in this drink isn’t overpowering, and every sip will be refreshing. So, let’s take a look at how to make it keto-friendly.
It is impossible to make a zero-carb raspberry daiquiri, but you can make a low-carb raspberry daiquiri. To do this, all you need to do is substitute your sugar with stevia, because you have already substituted the strawberries that would usually be used in this drink for raspberries.
To make this drink, start with a cup of frozen raspberries, add some stevia powder, a shot of rum, a cup of ice, and a splash of lime juice. Mix together in a blender, and your raspberry daiquiri will have a delicious, frozen texture. But don’t drink too much because it does contain a small number of carbs.
Skinny Margarita
If you prefer Mexican cocktails, then it is likely that one of your go-to cocktails is a margarita. These cocktails aren’t for everyone, but if you are a big fan of them, then it is likely that you are trying to figure out how to make this drink keto-friendly. Thankfully, because a margarita is actually a pretty basic cocktail, modifying it to be suitable for a keto diet isn’t all that difficult.
To make a skinny margarita, you need to begin with a cocktail shaker. Add a handful of ice, 2 tablespoons of lime juice, a shot of tequila, and a quarter cup of water. Give this a shake, then open the cocktail shaker back up.
You should then add 1-2 tablespoons of sweetener powder to the cocktail until it tastes right. Give the cocktail another shake, then pour it over ice into a suitable glass. Garnish with lime if you wish, then enjoy. As you can see from the recipe list, this cocktail does not contain carbohydrates, so it is perfectly suitable for those following a keto diet.
Skinny Mojito
Speaking of skinny cocktails, you should also consider making a skinny mojito. Especially if you are a fan of this type of cocktail. Just like the margarita, a mojito isn’t for everybody because it does contain a variety of different flavors. Some of these flavors aren’t for everyone, such as the mint flavor, which is very predominant in a mojito. But, if you like this type of cocktail, keep on reading to find out how to make it.
Thankfully, making a skinny mojito is actually pretty easy. Just like with the margarita, mojitos are generally low-carb anyway, so with just a few minor changes, you can easily make this keto-friendly.
Start with 6 tablespoons of lime juice over a handful of ice cubes. Mix with a shot of white rum and a cup of sparkling water before adding around 14-16 mint leaves. Stir thoroughly, then pour into a glass that is filled with ice. This drink will taste exactly like a regular mojito, only healthier.
Low-Carb Gin Fizz
Simple cocktails are sometimes the best, and that is why a gin fizz is so popular. With a cocktail as simple as this one, it is once again easy to make it keto-friendly, and because of this, the low-carb version will not taste that different from the regular version. This cocktail is basic, but it tastes great, and that is something that just can’t be beaten.
To make your low-carb gin fizz, you need to start by freezing mint leaves in water in an ice cube tray. Once these have frozen, you can then get to work. Juice half a lime before chopping up some cucumber.
Add the frozen mint cubes, lime juice, and cucumber slices to a glass and pour sparkling water over the top with a shot of gin. Finish off by adding a couple of drops of liquid stevia to the cup, then stir. Once it tastes right, your keto gin fizz is ready to be enjoyed.
Zero Carb Moscow Mule
Another great cocktail to easily make keto-friendly is the Moscow mule. This is fairly similar to the cocktails which we have just looked at, with one major difference, and that is the fact that it contains fizzy soda in its recipe. This is what would make a regular Moscow mule unsuitable for those on a keto diet, but with a few small modifications, this drink can be made suitable.
To make a Moscow mule, you need to take a copper cup and add one or two shots of vodka to it. At the same time, add half a cup of sugar-free ginger ail, and a teaspoon of lime juice. Stir together, then top up the glass until it is full of ice.
Sprinkle some mint over the top, and garnish with a slice of lemon, then sit back and enjoy. Again, this is a simple cocktail, but it definitely tastes great.
Keto White Russian
For a quick and easy cocktail, you should follow this recipe for a keto white Russian. This drink takes just a couple of minutes to prepare, and it is perfect for waking you up because it contains coffee. So, here is the recipe to follow.
Begin by making a cold brew coffee. With this done, you simply need to get a glass and then start adding your ingredients. Begin by adding a tablespoon of cold brew coffee to a glass, along with a shot of vodka and a tablespoon of water.
Add a teaspoon of powder sweetener and mix together thoroughly. Add ice cubes to the glass, and finish off with 3 ounces of heavy cream. Your keto white Russian is then ready to drink.
Vodka Collins
Another easy cocktail to make is this keto-friendly vodka Collins. It is easy to make and very enjoyable because all the flavors in this drink complement each other perfectly. So here is how to make it.
Using a tall glass, add 2 shots of gin, and 1-2 tablespoons of low-carb syrup, then mix. Then cut a lemon in half, and squeeze the juice out of one half, directly into your glass. Ideally, you need around 2 tablespoons, so bear this in mind when you squeeze.
Stir together, then add ice to the glass, and fill to the brim with sugar-free soda water before garnishing with a slice of lemon.
Espresso Martini
If you love a coffee cocktail, then you are probably a big fan of the Espresso Martini. So, if you want to make a keto-friendly version of this drink, then check out the recipe that we have given you below.
This is an easy cocktail to make, and the first thing you need to do is take a cocktail shaker and open it up. Inside the shaker, you need to add 45ml vodka, a shot of espresso, a teaspoon of cocoa powder, 30ml sugar-free sweetening syrup, and 30ml pouring cream.
Put the lid on, then give it a thorough shake for a minute. Once shaken, pour your drink into a martini glass, and garnish with some coffee beans. Then enjoy!
Keto Eggnog
Finally, if you are getting in the holiday spirit, then you probably want to find a keto-friendly recipe for Eggnog. In which case, you are in the right place. So here is how to make keto-friendly eggnog.
Crack 5 egg yolks into a bowl, and mix with granulated sweetener, then stir until they are frothy. Once that is done, put a pan on the hob and add 2 cups of almond milk, 1 cup heavy cream, and a sprinkle of nutmeg and cinnamon. Bring it to a boil, then take off the heat when it starts to go frothy.
Mix the two mixtures together in a bowl, then put it back on the heat, stirring constantly. Remove it from the heat after a couple of minutes, then add a teaspoon of vanilla extract and ¾ cup of dark rum and stir. Place it in the fridge until it is time to enjoy your keto-friendly eggnog.
Final Thoughts
Anyone that says you can’t enjoy a good cocktail while maintaining a keto diet really needs to read this list. There are plenty of delicious drinks you can mix up that will take the edge off, taste great, and won’t interfere with your diet regimen. Enjoy your next cocktail totally guilt-free when you follow this guide.
Don’t forget to cure that hangover the next morning with a keto-friendly drink from Starbucks!
Which cocktail is your favorite? Leave a comment down below and let us know!
