Whenever I go to a bar, I order a cocktail – and ask for the sweetest one available on the menu. Even with all the scrutiny about always ordering a “girly” cocktail, I stick to my favorites. As much as I don’t want to know how much sugar is really in these cocktails, I probably should know. And so should you. Here are your favorite cocktails’ sugar content, ranked from low to high.
#SpoonTip: The cocktails’ sugar content can vary depending on what ingredients you use.
#1. Martini: 0.11 grams
There are 160 calories in one Martini. The calorie breakdown is 0% fat, 97% carbs and 3% protein, with 0.11 grams of sugar.
#2. Bloody Mary: 3.6 grams
This brunch favorite contains 123 calories and 3.6 grams of sugar. To be honest, it’s not as bad as I expected.
#3. Mimosa: 10.35 grams
A Mimosa contains 144 calories and 10.35 grams of sugar. A big jump from the Bloody Mary, but hey, sometimes you just have to do it for a perfect brunch.
#4. Cosmopolitan: 12 grams
A Cosmopolitan made with a sugar-free mixer and only vodka can have as little as three grams of sugar. But a bartender using triple sec and cranberry juice can make it about 12 grams.
#5. Rum and Coke: 12.87
I’m personally not a fan, but honestly, most of my rum-loving friends would order this in a heartbeat. One Rum and Coke contains 154 calories, 2% fat and 12.87 grams of sugar.
#6. Moscow Mule: 13 grams
A six-ounce Moscow Mule contains 120 calories, 15 grams carbs and 13 grams of sugar. Hey, at least it looks good, right?
#7. Screwdriver: 14.36 grams
Here is one of my favorite cocktails. You are drinking 181 calories in one Screwdriver. With 1% fat, 93% carbs and 6% protein, the sugar content comes down to 14.36 grams.
#8. Gin and Tonic: 14.96 grams
There are 171 calories in one Gin and Tonic. The calorie breakdown is 1% fat, 99% carbs and 0% protein, with about 14.96 grams of sugar.
#9. Mojito: 23.47 grams
I mean, sometimes you just need a mojito (I like to drink it with tortilla chips). But remember, with 217 calories in one Mojito, you are drinking 23.47 grams of sugar.
#10. Long Island Iced Tea: 33 grams
An 8 ounce Long Island Iced Tea roughly contains 275 calories and 33 grams of sugar. But the sugar content of this cocktail can go even higher (up to 61 grams!), so watch what’s going in your drink.
#11. Margarita: 55 grams
The calorie intake of a margarita depends a lot on how it’s prepared. But a margarita made from standard commercial mix, versus fresh limes, can have as many as 576 calories and 55 grams of sugar.
#12. Piña Colada: 68 grams
The perfect drink for your summer vacation. But as you can see, a pina colada can have up to 68 grams of sugar. It’s equivalent to six and a half of Reese’s peanut butter cups! I mean, if you think this cocktail is still worth your while, go for it. But maybe you should just eat a Reese’s instead.
Well, Now You Know.
You’ve learned about your favorite cocktails‘ sugar content, but remember that there are ways to lower the sugar content in any cocktail, just by using less-sugary ingredients.
If you’re looking to avoid a sugar overload, I’d suggest sticking to the basics (and this Spoon article ranks alcohol’s sugar content).
So if you like cocktails, just be aware of how much sugar you might be putting in your body, and try to stick to low-sugar options!