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    Home » Keto Diet » Articles » Keto Alcohol: The Best Guide to Alcohol on Keto

    Keto Alcohol: The Best Guide to Alcohol on Keto

    By Jennifer • May 27, 2019 • Leave a Comment

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    Best Printable Keto Alcohol List
    Best Printable Keto Alcohol List

    Can you drink alcohol on a keto diet? Yes! Our easy keto alcohol guide teaches you everything you need to know and the best keto alcohol drinks to stay in ketosis.

    Keto Alcohol Guide
    Table of Contents
    • Easy Keto Alcohol Guide
    • The Best Alcohol On Keto And What To Avoid
    • Wine And Beer On A Keto Diet
    • Spirits On A Keto Diet
    • Alcopops And Keto
    • The Best Alcoholic Drinks on Keto
    • 1. Champagne and Prosecco
    • 2. Dry Wines
    • 3. Whiskey
    • 4. Dry Martini
    • 5. Skinny Bitch
    • Drinking Alcohol On A Keto Diet – Final Thoughts
    • Keto Alcohol Chart With Carbs
    • Printable Keto Alcoholic Drinks Chart
    • More Keto Alcohol Beverages

    You'll be happy to know you don't have to give up alcohol on a keto diet.

    Easy Keto Alcohol Guide

    After the main keto questions, “How do I get into ketosis?” and “What can I eat on a keto diet?” the next question is usually, “Can you drink alcohol on keto?”

    The simple answer is, “Yes!”

    Here’s the thing about alcohol and a keto diet – you don’t have to stay sober and stop drinking just because you’re following a low-carb, high-fat diet.

    However, there are some alcoholic beverages on a ketogenic diet that are completely off-limits. Then there are low carb alcoholic drinks and even keto cocktails that are unlikely to kick you out of ketosis if you drink sensibly and in moderation.

    The keto diet is better than other diets for several reasons. There are so many benefits of going keto; one is that you can drink alcohol while following a keto diet.

    But what alcohol can you drink on keto?

    The Best Alcohol On Keto And What To Avoid

    The first thing to remember is just because you can drink alcohol on a keto diet. It doesn’t mean that it’s a weight-loss aid.

    In fact, the more you drink, the more likely your weight loss will slow down.

    This is not because keto friendly alcoholic drinks are calorific. It’s because before burning anything else, your body burns alcohol, which puts the fat-burning process on the back burner.

    Obviously, there are some better drinks than others (think fewer sugars and lower carbs).

    Wine, compared to beer, is generally considerably lower in carbs, which is why many people following a keto diet choose wine as their go-to alcoholic beverage.

    Also, what’s more, pure spirits, such as vodka, gin, and whiskey, have zero carbs, but it’s important to watch out for the mixers, as this is where many people go wrong.

    Best Printable Keto Alcohol List

    Wine And Beer On A Keto Diet

    Keto Alcohol: The Best Guide to Alcohol on Keto

    Even when you’re following a strict ketogenic diet and restricting yourself to 20 net grams of carbs per day, it’s most likely that you can enjoy a glass of wine regularly.

    Dry wine is probably the best to drink on keto, as it has less than 0.5 grams of sugar in every glass.

    The other carbs that makeup wine are the leftovers from the fermentation process, such as glycerol, which usually doesn’t affect your blood sugar or insulin.

    As the name suggests, sweet wines and dessert wines contain more sugar and, therefore, more carbs, so if you drink wine on a low carb diet, go for drier verities, such as pinot noir, merlot, and Chardonnay.

    Drinking beer on keto is more problematic. The term “beer belly” is no lie. Beer contains a plethora of carbs that are rapidly digested once consumed.

    This is why beer is a drink you need to avoid if you’re on a low-carb diet like a ketogenic one, as it’s a terrible thing for weight control.

    Spirits On A Keto Diet

    Keto Alcohol: The Best Guide to Alcohol on Keto

    Believe it or not, pure spirits and liquors on a keto diet are fine. Whiskey, vodka, brandy, tequila, gin, and a few others don’t contain ANY carbs!

    What makes drinking spirits on keto problematic are the sugary mixers that are often mixed with them.

    Take Gin and Tonics, for example. A refreshing glass of gin and tonic is one of the most popular mixed alcoholic beverages.

    The name ‘tonic water’ also makes it appear seemingly healthy, but did you know that a regular Gin and Tonic contains around 16 grams of sugar?

    However, if you remember to order a gin and diet tonic instead of a regular tonic, you won’t have that carb problem.

    Diet tonics and soda waters are far better to mix your drinks with, and if you can’t stand the taste of soda water, squeeze a little lime in there, too, to add some flavor.

    Just be aware that the worst thing you can do is mix your alcohol with regular sodas, fruit juice, or, worse, energy drinks – they’re total sugar bombs!

    Alcopops And Keto

    Keto Alcohol: The Best Guide to Alcohol on Keto

    Alcopops and wine coolers pretty much fall into the same category.

    At face value, they may seem harmless, but technically they’re the same as regular sodas, with alcohol added.

    Therefore if you are following a ketogenic diet, they should be avoided, as you want to avoid consuming sugar.

    The Best Alcoholic Drinks on Keto

    So, now that you know that you can drink alcohol on a ketogenic diet from time to time, which are the best alcoholic drinks for keto?

    1. Champagne and Prosecco

    Keto Alcohol: The Best Guide to Alcohol on Keto

    Special occasions on keto can still be celebrated with the world’s favorite bubbly.

    From champagne to Prosecco to Cava, depending on your price point, it’s still possible to toast special occasions on keto.

    Most dry sparkling wines contain only 1 gram of net carbs per glass, allowing you to enjoy the celebrations without guilt.

    2. Dry Wines

    Keto Alcohol: The Best Guide to Alcohol on Keto

    Wine has been part of civilization for thousands of years. It’s great as a standalone drink or paired with food. And with only 2 grams of net carbs per glass, you can’t go wrong!

    3. Whiskey

    Keto Alcohol: The Best Guide to Alcohol on Keto

    Mark Twain once famously said, “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.”

    While Twain probably had no clue about keto, what he said is 100% true regarding whiskey and keto.

    Drink it with soda, water, or on the rocks. It doesn’t matter because a good pure whiskey has no carbs.

    And despite it being made from fermented grains, it’s still gluten-free.

    4. Dry Martini

    Keto Alcohol: The Best Guide to Alcohol on Keto

    Whether you like your martini shaken or stirred, it doesn’t matter.

    This powerful-tasting drink made out of gin, vodka, or both and garnished with a twist of lemon or olive will always remain one of the most loved aperitifs ever.

    And better still, it doesn’t contain any carbs!

    5. Skinny Bitch

    Keto Alcohol: The Best Guide to Alcohol on Keto

    Think along the ‘Housewives of LA, and you’ll get the gist. The skinny bitch cocktail is the alcoholic drink that’s taken over GnTs.

    One long cocktail contains no carbs, so it’s no wonder ladies around the globe are sitting back without a care as they sip on this sparkling and refreshing vodka-based drink.

    Drinking Alcohol On A Keto Diet – Final Thoughts

    When drinking, whether you’re on a diet or not, it should always be done in moderation.

    However, it’s important to note that people who follow keto usually have a lower alcohol tolerance than those who don’t, so caution must always be taken.

    You can drink alcohol on keto, but if your drinks contain even a few carbs, they will add up the more you drink, so it doesn’t give you a license to drink whatever you want.

    Keto Alcohol Chart With Carbs

    USDA FoodData Central provides the information for these beverages.

    Liquor Chart

    LiquorServing SizeNet Carbs
    Vodka1.5 oz (45ml)0
    Whiskey1.5 oz (45ml)0
    Tequila1.5 oz (45ml)0
    Rum1.5 oz (45ml)0
    Gin1.5 oz (45ml)0
    Brandy1.5 oz (45ml)0

    Mixers Chart

    MixerServing SizeNet Carbs
    Sparkling Water0
    Unsweetened Flavored Water0
    Flavored Stevia Drops0
    Tonic Water4 oz (120ml)4.6
    Lemon Juice1 tablespoon (15ml)0.8
    Lime Juice 1 tablespoon (15ml)1.2
    Water Enhancers2.5
    Bittersdash2

    Red Wine Chart

    Red WineServing SizeNet Carbs
    Amarone5 oz (150ml)2.4
    Pinot Noir5 oz (150ml)3.4
    Rioja5 oz (150ml)3.4
    Merlot5 oz (150ml)3.7
    Malbec5 oz (150ml)3.8
    Cabernet Sauvignon5 oz (150ml)3.8
    Shiraz5 oz (150ml)3.8
    Syrah5 oz (150ml)3.8
    Sangiovese5 oz (150ml)3.9
    Barbera5 oz (150ml)4.1
    Zinfandel5 oz (150ml)4.2

    White Wine Chart

    White WineServing SizeNet Carbs
    Prosecco5 oz (150ml)1.5
    Sparkling White Wine5 oz (150ml)1.5
    Sauvignon Blanc5 oz (150ml)2
    Brut Cava5 oz (150ml)2.5
    Brut Champagne5 oz (150ml)2.8
    Pinot Blanc5 oz (150ml)2.85
    Pinot Grigio5 oz (150ml)3
    Chardonnay5 oz (150ml)3.1
    Albarino5 oz (150ml)3.5
    Brut Riesling5 oz (150ml)5.5
    Muscato5 oz (150ml)7.9

    Beer Chart

    BeerServing SizeNet Carbs
    Greens Trailblazer12 oz (330ml)0.5
    Budweiser Select 5512 oz (330ml)1.9
    DAB Low Carb12 oz (330ml)2
    Martens Low Carb12 oz (330ml)2.1
    Miller 6412 oz (330ml)2.4
    Rolling Rock Green Light12 oz (330ml)2.4
    Accel12 oz (330ml)2.4
    Rinebecker Extra12 oz (330ml)2.5
    Michelob Ultra12 oz (330ml)2.6
    IC Light12 oz (330ml)2.8
    Honey Almond Light12 oz (330ml)2.8
    Carolina Light12 oz (330ml)3
    Skinny Brands Lager12 oz (330ml)3
    Budweiser Select12 oz (330ml)3.1
    Beck's Premier Light12 oz (330ml)3.2
    Miller Lite12 oz (330ml)3.2
    Busch Lite12 oz (330ml)3.2
    Natural Lite12 oz (330ml)3.2
    Bitburger Lite12 oz (330ml)3.5
    Michelob Ultra Amber12 oz (330ml)3.7
    Miller Chill12 oz (330ml)4
    Coors Light12 oz (330ml)5
    Amstel Light12 oz (330ml)5
    Keystone Light12 oz (330ml)5
    Budweiser Light12 oz (330ml)6.6
    Heineken Light12 oz (330ml)6.8
    Yuengling Light12 oz (330ml)8.5

    Cider Seltzer Chart

    Cider SeltzerServing SizeNet Carbs
    Truly Spiked12 oz (350ml)2
    White Claw12 oz (350ml)2
    Nauti Selzter12 oz (350ml)5
    Spiked Selzter12 oz (350ml)5

    Printable Keto Alcoholic Drinks Chart

    Here's a printable complete keto alcoholic drinks list that you can keep on your phone or your fridge.

    Download the PDF version here: KDY-Keto-Alcohol-List-rev1.pdf

    More Keto Alcohol Beverages

    • Keto Cosmopolitan Cocktail
    • Keto Classic Margarita
    • Cucumber Gin Cocktail
    • Hot Buttered Rum (Zero Carbs!)
    • Avo Keto Margarita
    • Va-Va-Voom Cocktail
    • Candy Cane Vodka Cocktail
    « Best Keto Food List for Beginners
    How to Lose Belly Fat on Keto »

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    Jennifer Zhang Author

    Hi, I’m Jennifer, and I love to create sugar-free, low-carb, and keto recipes. Here on Keto Diet Yum, you’ll learn that carb-conscious recipes can be packed with flavor and healthy at the same time. There are also meal plans and guides to help you start the keto diet.

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