Data ranking
Cocktails Under 5g Sugar — Ranked by Data
The lowest-sugar cocktails in this data are 3 Wise Men (0.0g sugar), Zorbatini (0.0g sugar), Autodafé (0.0g sugar).
The main driver of sugar in cocktails is the sweetener — syrup, liqueur, juice, or flavoured spirit. Swapping any of these for bitters, soda water, or dry vermouth removes most of the sugar with little impact on ABV. We reviewed 189 nutrition-complete cocktail recipes and found 25 that fit this guide. Median sugar for this set: 0.0g.
189Recipes reviewed
25Matching this guide
0.0gMedian sugar
139 kcalMedian calories
33.5%Median ABV
Drinks that meet the threshold
| # | Drink | Why it ranks | Sugar | Nutrition | Alcohol | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 Wise Men | Zero estimated sugar, but not low alcohol — check ABV. | 0.0g | 74 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 41.7% ABV · 0.70 std | Low sugar but stronger |
| 2 | Zorbatini | Zero estimated sugar, but not low alcohol — check ABV. | 0.0g | 107 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 42.1% ABV · 0.89 std | Low sugar but stronger |
| 3 | Autodafé | Zero estimated sugar; a low-sugar pick, but check the ABV. | 0.0g | 92 kcal · 0.1g carbs | 16.9% ABV · 0.96 std | Lower sugar pick |
| 4 | Brandy and Soda | Zero estimated sugar; a low-sugar pick, but check the ABV. | 0.0g | 143 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 19.9% ABV · 1.33 std | Lower sugar pick |
| 5 | Tequila Straight | Zero estimated sugar; a low-sugar pick, but check the ABV. | 0.0g | 136 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 21.3% ABV · 1.42 std | Lower sugar pick |
| 6 | Pickled Pink | Zero estimated sugar; a low-sugar pick, but check the ABV. | 0.0g | 212 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 24.7% ABV · 1.42 std | Lower sugar pick |
| 7 | Derby | Zero estimated sugar, but not low alcohol — check ABV. | 0.0g | 143 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 42.5% ABV · 1.48 std | Low sugar but stronger |
| 8 | Gin Cocktail | Zero estimated sugar, but not low alcohol — check ABV. | 0.0g | 136 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 43.8% ABV · 1.50 std | Low sugar but stronger |
| 9 | Bourbon and Water | Zero estimated sugar; a low-sugar pick, but check the ABV. | 0.0g | 148 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 15.0% ABV · 1.50 std | Lower sugar pick |
| 10 | Bourbon On The Rocks | Zero estimated sugar, but not low alcohol — check ABV. | 0.0g | 148 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 45.0% ABV · 1.50 std | Low sugar but stronger |
| 11 | Buddy's Favorite | Zero estimated sugar; a low-sugar pick, but check the ABV. | 0.0g | 148 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 11.3% ABV · 1.50 std | Lower sugar pick |
| 12 | Pink Gin | Zero estimated sugar, but not low alcohol — check ABV. | 0.0g | 136 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 43.8% ABV · 1.53 std | Low sugar but stronger |
| 13 | Thunderclap Cocktail | Zero estimated sugar, but not low alcohol — check ABV. | 0.0g | 160 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 42.9% ABV · 1.61 std | Low sugar but stronger |
| 14 | Sake Martini | Zero estimated sugar, but not low alcohol — check ABV. | 0.0g | 244 kcal · 1.5g carbs | 36.4% ABV · 2.43 std | Low sugar but stronger |
| 15 | Sake Martini (Sakini) | Zero estimated sugar, but not low alcohol — check ABV. | 0.0g | 244 kcal · 1.5g carbs | 36.4% ABV · 2.43 std | Low sugar but stronger |
| 16 | Barton Special | Zero estimated sugar, but not low alcohol — check ABV. | 0.0g | 248 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 41.9% ABV · 2.44 std | Low sugar but stronger |
| 17 | Prairie Chicken | Low sugar with lower calories — lighter across both metrics. | 0.1g | 110 kcal · 0.2g carbs | 21.9% ABV · 0.73 std | Lower sugar pick |
| 18 | Vodka Soda | Low sugar with lower calories — lighter across both metrics. | 0.1g | 103 kcal · 0.4g carbs | 11.3% ABV · 1.06 std | Lower sugar pick |
| 19 | Long Island Iced Tea | Low sugar estimate, but ABV is relatively high. | 0.1g | 136 kcal · 0.1g carbs | 42.5% ABV · 1.44 std | Low sugar but stronger |
| 20 | Gin and Soda | Low estimated sugar — below the threshold with moderate other metrics. | 0.2g | 139 kcal · 1.2g carbs | 11.9% ABV · 1.46 std | Lower sugar pick |
| 21 | Beer Buster | Low estimated sugar — below the threshold with moderate other metrics. | 0.2g | 161 kcal · 2.1g carbs | 23.8% ABV · 1.58 std | Lower sugar pick |
| 22 | Dry Rob Roy | Low sugar estimate, but ABV is relatively high. | 0.3g | 194 kcal · 0.5g carbs | 42.4% ABV · 1.95 std | Low sugar but stronger |
| 23 | Apple Rum Rickey | Low sugar estimate, but ABV is relatively high. | 0.4g | 111 kcal · 2.3g carbs | 27.9% ABV · 1.05 std | Lower sugar pick |
| 24 | Dry Martini | Low sugar estimate, but ABV is relatively high. | 0.4g | 127 kcal · 0.6g carbs | 33.5% ABV · 1.31 std | Low sugar but stronger |
| 25 | Martini | Low sugar estimate, but ABV is relatively high. | 0.4g | 127 kcal · 0.6g carbs | 33.5% ABV · 1.31 std | Low sugar but stronger |
All nutrition values are estimates based on standard recipe quantities. — = data not available.
Best picks by use case
Watch-out ingredients for sugar
- Fruit juice (especially pineapple, mango, and passion fruit) — can add 10–15g sugar per 60ml serve
- Flavoured liqueurs — most contain 10–20g sugar per 30ml, even ones that do not taste obviously sweet
- Cordials and sweetened syrups — often 20–30g sugar per 30ml
- Grenadine — very high in sugar, used in small amounts but counts
- Fruit purées — natural sugar but still contributes meaningfully
Methodology
Is this guide right for you?
Good fit if:
- You want to compare estimated sugar across cocktail recipes
- You want to see ABV and standard drinks alongside sugar numbers
- You want a data-backed shortlist rather than a generic recipe list
Poor fit if:
- You assume very low sugar means low alcohol — some dry cocktails are still high-ABV
- You need medical or dietary advice
- You need exact bar-specific values — these are recipe estimates
Frequently asked questions
- What does this ranking show?
- This page ranks cocktails by estimated sugar content. All 25 drinks come from the WhatDrink database and pass the same recipe quality filters used on individual cocktail pages.
- What makes a cocktail lower in sugar?
- The main driver of sugar in a cocktail is the sweetener — simple syrup, liqueur, juice, or flavoured spirit. Swapping syrup for bitters, soda water, or dry vermouth eliminates most added sugar. The base spirit itself contributes negligible sugar.
- Which cocktail in this list has the least sugar?
- Based on WhatDrink recipe data, 3 Wise Men comes out lowest in estimated sugar in this ranking. Actual values depend on pour size, brand of mixer, and how the drink is prepared.
- Does lower sugar always mean a healthier drink?
- Not necessarily. Alcohol contributes roughly 7 kcal per gram. A drink with low sugar but high ABV can still be high in overall calories. Always check multiple metrics together rather than focusing on one alone.
- How should I use this page to choose a drink?
- The table lets you compare cocktails side by side on sugar estimates. Click through to any individual cocktail page for the full ingredient list and nutrition breakdown. The "Top picks" panel highlights the best performers across multiple criteria.
- How many cocktails are on this page?
- This ranking includes 25 cocktails that pass WhatDrink's recipe quality and data completeness filters. The list updates as new recipes are added to the database.
- Are mocktails included in this ranking?
- This ranking focuses on cocktails containing alcohol. Mocktails and non-alcoholic alternatives are covered in separate pages on WhatDrink.