Wondering how many carbs are in tequila and other distilled spirits is a question that comes up quickly for most people making the switch to low-carb diets.
Drinking excessively is never recommended if you’re trying to better your health, but there’s nothing wrong with having a cocktail or two!
We’re sharing all the details you need to fit tequila into your diet comfortably with super simple, delicious recipes.
Key Takeaways
- Tequila has no net carbs!
- It’s keto-friendly and has less than 100 calories per 1.5 fluid ounces shot.
- While distilled liquor has no carbs and a low-calorie count, most mixed drinks contain high-calorie, carb-heavy mixers that will not fit into a strict diet plan or healthy lifestyle.
- Making simple swaps to sugar-free ingredients can turn traditional cocktails into low-carb drinks that won’t have adverse health effects!
Does Tequila Have Carbs?
Instead of asking how many carbs are in tequila, you should start by asking if tequila has carbs at all. The answer is simple and may surprise you; tequila has no carbs! There is also no fat or sugar.
Since tequila has no net carbs, it’s popular among people who want to enjoy alcoholic beverages on a ketogenic diet. You should keep in mind that drinking alcohol will impact your keto diet even if the alcohol doesn’t have carbs. When your body is processing alcohol, energy will go to that instead of fat burning.
It won’t put you out of ketosis the same way eating a high-carb meal would, but it does temporarily put a pause on the fat-burning process.
Tequila Nutrition Facts VS Other Spirits
While carbs are important, knowing the other nutritional facts about the alcohol you’re drinking is never a bad thing. Instead of just looking at the nutrition facts of tequila, we decided to see how tequila stacks up against other popular spirits.
As a baseline, we’ll start with the nutrition info for a 1.5-ounce shot of tequila. A shot of tequila has zero fiber, protein, sodium, carbs, sugar, or fat.
That means no naturally occurring sugars or added sugars. There are 97 calories per shot. While it’s still debated, tequila has some potential health benefits too! It’s been known to help with gut, cholesterol, and heart health.
For some comparison, we looked at whiskey and vodka. Both liquors have no fiber, protein, sodium, carbs, sugar, or fat, similar to tequila. Whiskey has 105 calories per 1.5-ounce shot, and vodka has about 97, sometimes slightly more depending on the brand and flavor.
Overall, tequila and other alcoholic beverages have a lot of similar nutrition facts, but tequila is one of the lower-calorie options! Having an alcoholic drink while on a strict keto diet or a calorie-counting plan is possible. It’s all about maintaining a moderate alcohol intake and choosing diet-friendly ways to drink alcohol.
Low Carb Tequila Cocktails
Keto Paloma
Mixed drinks make drinking tequila more fun and a whole lot tastier. A Paloma is one of the most popular, timeless tequila mixed drinks. This keto recipe is made with sugar-free grapefruit soda, Blanco tequila, and fresh lime juice. Using diet soda helps keep the drink keto and won’t spike blood sugar levels.
The drink can be prepared in the glass over ice, or made in a cocktail shaker, then strained and garnished for a better visual appeal.
Keto Margarita
If you love margaritas in the summertime, join the club! This recipe is quite strong, so be cautious of your alcohol consumption and be prepared to fall in love.
Blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, club soda, orange extract, and sugar-free simple syrup create a bright, classic margarita that’s easy to throw together. Garnish with a fresh lime wedge, and if you’re feeling a little extra, add a salt rim to the glass before pouring your drink.
Keto Tequila Sunrise
Tequila Sunrise is a fruit juice-forward drink that commonly gets lumped together with other sugary cocktails, but there’s a healthier way to make it! Silver tequila, sugar-free orange juice, and grenadine are used to make a mixed drink that looks layered, tropical, and absolutely delicious.
The key to getting a gorgeous, layered tequila sunrise is to add the grenadine very slowly, so it won’t mix with the other ingredients. Instead, it will float to the bottom of the glass.
Keto Long Island Iced Tea
A long island iced tea isn’t a go-to for someone who’s drinking tequila because they enjoy the flavor of the blue agave plant. It has a little bit of everything, so the flavors aren’t tequila-forward, but it’s strong, easy to prepare, and uses ingredients you probably already have on hand.
This keto recipe calls for tequila, rum, gin, and vodka. Diet cola, orange extract, and low-carb sweet and sour mixed are used to finish it off.
Ranch Water
by Dear Mica
Ranch Water is a simple cocktail that requires no changes to be low-carb! Topo Chico sparkling water is the main ingredient besides, of course, the tequila. A splash of fresh lime juice brings just the right amount of citrus to the drink but keeps the flavor profile simple.
FAQs
Can you drink tequila on keto?
Yes, tequila is a great choice for alcohol on the keto diet. Some cocktail recipes contain higher-carb content, so be mindful of how you’re drinking your tequila.
How many carbs are in 3 shots of tequila?
Tequila has zero carbs, no matter how many shots you take!
How many carbs are in Patron tequila?
Like all distilled, pure tequila, Patron has no carbs.
Does tequila have a lot of sugar and carbs?
Pure agave tequila is free of carbs and sugar.
