Crown Apple is a popular flavored whiskey made by Crown Royal. As a distilled spirit, Crown Apple has zero grams of carbohydrates and sugar per serving. However, when mixed into cocktails with soda, juice or other sugary mixers, the carb and sugar content increases significantly. Let’s take a detailed look at the carb and sugar contents of Crown Apple on its own and in some popular mixed drinks.
Carb and Sugar Content of Crown Apple Straight
Crown Apple is 70 proof (35% alcohol). A standard 1.5 fluid ounce serving (one shot) contains:
- Calories: 105
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbs: 0 g
- Sugar: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
As a distilled spirit, Crown Apple contains no carbohydrates or sugar on its own. The caloric content comes purely from the alcohol itself, which provides 7 calories per gram.
This lack of carbs and sugar makes Crown Apple keto-friendly and low-carb diet friendly when consumed straight or on the rocks. It can be an ideal option for people monitoring their carb and sugar intake.
Carb and Sugar Content in Crown Apple and Soda
While Crown Apple itself is sugar-free, combining it with soda significantly increases the carb and sugar content.
Here are the nutrition facts for a typical Crown Apple and soda cocktail made with 1 shot (1.5 oz) Crown Apple and 5 oz soda:
- Calories: 180
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbs: 21 g
- Sugar: 21 g
- Protein: 0 g
This carb and sugar content comes entirely from the soda, which averages about 4.2 grams of sugar per ounce. Using a non-sugary soda like soda water or diet soda would keep the drink sugar-free.
Sugar Content of Various Sodas
| Soda | Sugar per 12 oz |
|---|---|
| Coca Cola | 39 g |
| Pepsi | 41 g |
| Sprite | 38 g |
| Root Beer | 44 g |
| Mountain Dew | 46 g |
As you can see, regular sodas contain very high amounts of added sugar, ranging from 38-46 grams per 12 ounce can. Combining Crown Apple with diet soda or soda water is the best way to avoid spiking your sugar intake.
Carb and Sugar Content in Crown Apple and Juice
In addition to soda, Crown Apple is commonly mixed with fruit juices. This also adds a considerable amount of carbs and sugar:
- Crown Apple and Cranberry Juice
- 1.5 oz Crown Apple
- 5 oz Cranberry Juice
- Calories: 185
- Carbs: 32 g
- Sugar: 28 g
- Crown Apple and Apple Juice
- 1.5 oz Crown Apple
- 5 oz Apple Juice
- Calories: 225
- Carbs: 44 g
- Sugar: 38 g
Both cranberry juice and apple juice contain around 7-8 grams of sugar per ounce. So a 5 ounce glass adds 35-40 grams of sugar to the drink.
Sugar Content of Fruit Juices
| Fruit Juice | Sugar per 8 oz |
|---|---|
| Orange Juice | 20 g |
| Apple Juice | 36 g |
| Grapefruit Juice | 17 g |
| Pineapple Juice | 27 g |
| Cranberry Juice | 30 g |
Diluting the juice with water or soda water can help lower the sugar content some. But for maximum sugar control, avoid mixing Crown Apple with juice altogether.
Carb and Sugar Content in Other Crown Apple Mixers
Some other common mixers for Crown Apple include tonic, ginger ale and energy drinks. Here’s how these affect the carb and sugar content:
- Crown Apple and Tonic
- 1.5 oz Crown Apple
- 5 oz Tonic Water
- Calories: 105
- Carbs: 12 g
- Sugar: 12 g
- Crown Apple and Ginger Ale
- 1.5 oz Crown Apple
- 5 oz Ginger Ale
- Calories: 135
- Carbs: 14 g
- Sugar: 14 g
- Crown Apple and Energy Drink
- 1.5 oz Crown Apple
- 5 oz Energy Drink
- Calories: 130
- Carbs: 18 g
- Sugar: 18 g
Tonic water, ginger ale and energy drinks all contain around 3-4 grams of sugar per ounce. So the 5 ounce mixers add 15-20 grams of sugar to the drink. To limit sugar content, best to avoid these sweetened beverages and use soda water, diet soda or still water as a mixer.
Low Sugar Crown Apple Mixers
To keep the carb and sugar content low, here are some of the best options for mixing Crown Apple:
- Soda water
- Diet soda
- Still water or mineral water
- Unsweetened iced tea
- Diet tonic water
- Lemon-lime sparkling water
- Diet ginger ale
Using any of these zero-calorie, sugar-free options will allow you to enjoy delicious Crown Apple cocktails without spiking your sugar intake. Simply mix 1.5-2 ounces of Crown Apple with 4-6 ounces of your chosen mixer over ice and garnish to taste.
Some great low sugar Crown Apple cocktail recipes include:
- Crown Apple and Soda Water with Lime
- Skinny Crown Apple and Diet Ginger Ale
- Sugar-Free Crown Apple and Iced Tea
- Keto Crown Apple Mule with Diet Ginger Beer
Sugar Content of Crown Apple Shots and Nips
In addition to the 750ml bottle, Crown Apple is also available in 50ml shots and 375ml “nip” bottles. Here’s the carb and sugar content for these smaller formats:
- Crown Apple 50ml Shot
- Calories: 70
- Carbs: 0 g
- Sugar: 0 g
- Crown Apple 375ml Nip Bottle
- Calories: 525
- Carbs: 0 g
- Sugar: 0 g
Regardless of the bottle size, straight Crown Apple contains zero carbs and sugar. The 50ml shot and 375ml nip bottle provide portion control for monitoring sugar intake.
Sugar Content of Crown Apple Miniatures and Airplane Bottles
Crown Apple is also sold in 50ml and 60ml “miniature” bottles, which are about the size of a typical airplane mini bottle. Here’s the nutritional info:
- Crown Apple 50ml Miniature
- Calories: 70
- Carbs: 0 g
- Sugar: 0 g
- Crown Apple 60ml Airplane Bottle
- Calories: 84
- Carbs: 0 g
- Sugar: 0 g
Again, the mini and airplane format contain zero sugar, making them a carb and sugar-free option while traveling.
Making the Most Low-Sugar Crown Apple Drinks
Here are some tips for minimizing sugar content when making Crown Apple cocktails:
- Use low-calorie, sugar-free mixers like soda water, diet soda, unsweetened tea, etc.
- Avoid regular sodas, juices, sweetened teas and energy drinks.
- Add fresh citrus like lemons, limes, grapefruit.
- Try sparkling waters and mineral waters for citrus flavored drinks.
- Use fresh herbs like mint, basil, rosemary to add flavor.
- Cut back on juice – dilute with water or skip altogether.
- When using juice, look for “light” or “low sugar” varieties.
- Spike still water with lemon/lime slices and cucumber.
- Opt for Crown Apple shots or mini bottles for easy portion control.
With smart mixer choices and portion control, you can make delicious Crown Apple cocktails that align with low-sugar, low-carb and keto diets.
Comparing Sugar in Crown Apple Vs. Other Whiskeys
Crown Apple has no sugar on its own. How does this compare to other popular whiskies?
Here’s how the sugar content stacks up in standard 1.5 oz servings of different whiskies:
| Whiskey | Sugar (g) |
|---|---|
| Crown Apple | 0 |
| Jack Daniel’s | 0 |
| Johnnie Walker Red Label | 0 |
| Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey | 8 |
| Seagram’s 7 | 0 |
| Jameson Irish Whiskey | 0 |
The vast majority of straight whiskies like bourbon, rye, Scotch and Irish whiskey contain zero sugar. The exception is flavored whiskies like Fireball that have added sugar in the formulation.
So Crown Apple aligns with most whiskies in having no sugar on its own. Any sugar in a Crown Apple drink would come strictly from added mixers, not the whiskey itself.
Crown Apple Nutrition Facts
Here are the full nutrition facts for Crown Apple whiskey:
| Serving Size | 1.5 fl oz (44ml) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 105 |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 0 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
Key points:
- 105 calories per serving, all from alcohol. No calories from carbs or fat.
- 0 grams of carbohydrates and sugar per serving.
- Minimal amounts of some vitamins like niacin, but no significant nutritional value.
- No fat, fiber, protein or other nutrients.
As a distilled spirit, Crown Apple itself is sugar and carb-free. The calories come strictly from the alcohol content. Any nutritional value would need to come from added mixers.
Does Crown Apple Have Any Benefits?
While Crown Apple does not provide any direct health benefits due to a lack of vitamins, minerals or antioxidants, research does suggest some potential benefits from moderate whiskey consumption:
- Lower Risk of Heart Disease: Moderate whiskey intake has been linked to increased levels of “good” HDL cholesterol and decreased risk of heart disease in some studies.
- Decreased Stroke Risk: Moderate whiskey intake may help prevent blood clots associated with ischemic stroke.
- Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Whiskey contains ellagic acid that may provide anti-inflammatory benefits.
- Improved Mental Health: Moderate whiskey intake may help reduce anxiety and depression.
- Antimicrobial Properties: Whiskey contains ethanol that acts as an antimicrobial against some bacteria and viruses.
That said, excessive whiskey intake negates any potential benefits. Moderation is key – up to 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women.
Downsides of Crown Apple
Despite a lack of sugar in the whiskey itself, there are some potential downsides to consider with Crown Apple consumption:
- High in calories and alcohol per serving.
- Impairs coordination, judgment and driving ability when consumed irresponsibly.
- Can lead to short term impairments even at moderate doses.
- Long term overconsumption may increase risk of liver damage and some cancers.
- Easy to consume excess calories and sugar when mixing with sugary beverages.
- Risk of long term addiction and alcohol abuse.
While moderate intake may offer some benefits, responsible consumption is extremely important. Excess intake of alcohol and sugar should be avoided by limiting total drinks per day, choosing healthy mixers or enjoying Crown Apple on the rocks or neat.
Conclusion
Crown Apple whiskey contains zero grams of sugar or carbohydrates per serving. The calories come strictly from the alcohol content. However, when mixed into cocktails with soda, juice and energy drinks, the sugar content climbs considerably. To keep sugar low, opt for sugar-free mixers like soda water, diet soda and unsweetened tea. Drink in moderation to minimize risks and maximize potential benefits. Overall Crown Apple can fit into a low sugar diet when consumed responsibly.
