Discover 20 flavorful low-sugar cocktails that deliver all the taste without the excess sweetness.

1. Lillet Strawberry Spritz

This cocktail blends Lillet Blanc, dry sparkling rosé, and club soda for a refreshing, fruity experience with a subtle floral sweetness. Surprisingly, it only has 5 grams of sugar, making it a guilt-free treat. Add a slice of fresh strawberry as a garnish and enjoy!

2. Paloma with Fresh Grapefruit Juice

While many palomas use grapefruit soda, opting for fresh grapefruit juice gives the drink a bolder, less sugary taste. If you need a touch of sweetness to counter the tartness of the juice, agave nectar is a great choice due to its low glycemic index. For a completely sugar-free version, just mix tequila with fresh grapefruit juice and grapefruit-flavored seltzer.

3. Coffee Spritz

For a spritz with an extra kick, try this lighter version of the espresso martini, featuring bourbon, cold brew coffee, coffee liqueur, a hint of orange juice, and bubbly club soda. The final creation contains just 8 grams of sugar.

4. Tom Collins

The Tom Collins is a timeless favorite for good reason: it’s simple to make, strong, and perfect for a hot day. This easy recipe comes together in five minutes and requires only a few ingredients: lemon soda and gin, plus lemon slices and fresh mint for garnish.

5. Ranch Water

Ranch water is marketed as a healthier twist on a margarita, featuring tequila, fresh lime juice, and a splash of seltzer like Topo Chico. Since it skips sugary ingredients like Triple Sec or Cointreau, this low-sugar cocktail is easy to whip up with items you likely have at home.

6. Classic Margaritas

This margarita recipe is as traditional as it gets. While it typically uses an orange liqueur like Triple Sec or Cointreau, you can substitute with agave if you prefer. Feel free to adjust the ingredient ratios until you find your perfect mix.

7. Bloody Mary

Bloody Mary cocktails aren't sweetened, so the only sugar in them comes from the tomato juice. For the least sugary option, choose a tomato juice without added sugar, or better yet, make your own.

8. Pickle Juice Bloody Mary

This variation on the Bloody Mary swaps lemon juice for tangy pickle juice. For a non-alcoholic version, simply use non-alcoholic vodka or gin, which are more easily accessible due to their growing popularity.

9. Old Fashioned

Although the old fashioned is traditionally made with a sugar cube, it’s not overwhelmingly sweet. For a more nuanced flavor and less sweetness, substitute the sugar cube with maple syrup instead.

10. White Wine Spritzer

Before the Aperol and Hugo spritzes took over, white wine spritzers were the go-to choice. These light, customizable drinks can be prepared in a large batch if needed. The version described here features pinot grigio, elderflower liqueur, club soda, and a generous amount of fresh citrus.

11. John Collins

Introducing John Collins, the cooler, younger sibling of the Tom Collins. This variation of the classic cocktail replaces gin with Irish whiskey, offering a smooth, citrus-forward flavor. Garnish with a lemon wedge before serving.

12. Mojito

Mojitos are a summer favorite for their refreshing and cooling qualities. With just 10 grams of sugar, you can indulge without feeling guilty. For the best flavor, make sure to muddle the mint leaves thoroughly before shaking the cocktail to release their full aroma.

13. Vesper

A Vesper is a cocktail crafted with gin and vodka, alongside a touch of Lillet Blanc. With no added fruit juices or syrups, this bold drink is an excellent low-sugar choice. Just ask James Bond, who’s a devoted fan of the Vesper.

14. Cherry Americano

This drink, which resembles a Shirley Temple, is a bittersweet, alcoholic spritz made with Campari. While the cherry Americano is slightly sweeter than other options on this list, it still has less sugar than a peach. To reduce the sweetness, simply skip the maraschino cherry juice.

15. Irish Iced Coffee

Why choose between a caffeine kick and a boozy buzz? This cocktail combines just four ingredients: rich coffee, Irish whiskey, simple syrup, and heavy cream. For an extra touch, freeze cold brew coffee into ice cubes to keep your drink from getting watered down.

16. Gin, Grapefruit, and Thyme Cocktail

Don’t be fooled by the sugar rim on this zesty drink—it only contains 13 grams of sugar in total, which is less than a banana. For a refreshing non-alcoholic version, simply skip the gin and enjoy a mocktail instead.

17. Limoncello Spritz

This refreshing cocktail combines limoncello—a lemon-based liqueur from southern Italy, often enjoyed as a digestif—with dry sparkling wine, fresh lemon juice, and club soda. To reduce the sugar content, simply increase the sparkling wine and reduce the amount of limoncello.

18. Jalapeño-Lime Spritzer

To prepare, simply mix together club soda, lime juice, agave nectar, sliced lime, and jalapeño in a pitcher, and you’re good to go! This zesty drink provides a quick and refreshing pick-me-up with just the right amount of heat. If you prefer less spice, remove the seeds from the jalapeños, or leave them in for a bolder kick.

19. Elderflower Spritz

Spritzes are known for being a low-sugar option, thanks to their bubbly nature and soda water, which has no sugar. This elderflower spritz mixes elderflower liqueur, dry sparkling wine, club soda, and lime juice, resulting in a drink that’s floral and fruity yet not overly sweet.

20. Martini

Martinis are crafted entirely from alcohol—specifically gin, dry vermouth, and a touch of orange bitters—making them a great low-sugar choice. And since olive brine is more savory than sweet, feel free to make your martini dirty without adding to your sugar intake.