For those following a ketogenic or low-carb diet, alcoholic beverages can be a gray area. While hard liquors like vodka are generally low in carbs, it’s the mixers and other ingredients that can add sugar and throw you out of ketosis.
Vodka sodas have become a popular keto-friendly drink because they combine vodka with simple soda water. But are they always diet-approved? Here’s a detailed look at whether vodka sodas can fit into keto dieting.
What is a vodka soda?
A vodka soda is one of the simplest mixed drinks, containing just vodka and club soda or seltzer water. It’s typically served over ice in a tall glass like a highball.
The amounts can vary based on personal preference, but a standard vodka soda recipe calls for:
- 1 1⁄2 ounces (1 shot) vodka
- 4–6 ounces club soda or seltzer
- Lemon or lime wedge for garnish (optional)
This creates a fizzy, refreshing drink without any added sugars. The vodka provides the alcoholic kick while the soda water provides bubbles and dilution.
Is club soda keto-friendly?
Plain seltzer or club soda contains no carbohydrates, calories, sugars, or artificial sweeteners. This makes it a keto-approved option.
Carbonated waters like seltzer and club soda are simply water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas. This produces the bubbles and fizzy texture.
While tonic water may seem similar, it does contain added sugars and is not keto-friendly. Be sure to choose plain seltzer or club soda that contains no other ingredients except carbonated water.
Is vodka keto-friendly?
Vodka contains nothing except ethanol and water, so it is almost entirely carb-free. A 1.5 ounce shot of vodka typically provides:
- About 97 calories
- 0g carbs
- 0g sugar
- 0g protein
This makes vodka an ideal spirit option for low-carb and ketogenic diets.
Vodka tends to be lower in calories and carbs compared to sugary liqueurs, wine, beer, and other mixed drinks. It can be enjoyed on its own or mixed into keto cocktails.
Are there any other keto mixers besides soda water?
While club soda and seltzer are the most common keto-friendly mixers for vodka, here are some other low-carb options:
- Diet tonic water: Diet tonic has zero carbs and calories and provides a similar flavor as regular tonic.
- Sparkling water: Flavored sparkling waters like La Croix are typically sweetened with non-caloric sweeteners and contain no carbs.
- Light juice: Small amounts of low-sugar juices like lemon, lime, or cranberry can work.
- Broth or bouillon: For a savory vodka soda, try broth, bone broth, or bouillon cubes.
- Coffee and tea: A splash of unsweetened coffee or tea can make an iced vodka soda.
- Diet soda: While not as ideal as soda water, diet sodas are very low carb.
Avoid full-sugar juices, tonic water, colas, and other sugary mixers as these will quickly raise your carb count.
How many carbs are in a vodka soda?
Assuming you are using plain seltzer or club soda without added sugars or flavors, a vodka soda will have only trace amounts of carbs from the vodka itself.
A typical 1.5 ounce pour of vodka contains less than 0.1 grams of carbs. Even when mixed into a full vodka soda, the total carb count remains less than 1 gram.
This holds true regardless of the vodka brand. Since vodka is distilled, the base ingredients used to make it do not affect the nutritional value.
For example, a vodka soda made with 1.5 ounces Ketel One vodka and 5 ounces club soda has:
- About 110 calories
- 0.8g carbs
- 0g sugar
Most ketogenic diets allow 20–50 grams of net carbs per day. This means a vodka soda can easily fit within keto macro limits.
Does flavoring impact the carbs in vodka soda?
Adding lemon, lime, or other zero-carb fruits to your vodka soda won’t affect the carb or sugar content. These add great flavor and are keto-approved garnishes.
However, flavored vodka sodas from a bar or restaurant may be a different story. Establishments often add fruit purees or other high-sugar mixers to enhance the flavor.
For example, a vodka soda with mango or strawberry flavoring can have 15+ grams of added sugars in a single drink.
To keep your vodka soda keto-friendly, opt for:
- Plain vodka without added flavors
- Unflavored club soda or seltzer
- Squeeze or wedge of fresh fruit like lime or lemon
Or, ask your bartender to make your drink with sugar-free flavorings.
Can vodka sodas kick you out of ketosis?
Vodka sodas made the keto way are unlikely to kick you out of ketosis. Ketosis is a metabolic state where your body burns fat for fuel instead of carbs.
On keto, your daily net carb intake should be around 20–50 grams. Some can stay in ketosis with up to 100 grams per day.
Since an unmodified vodka soda contains less than 1 gram of carbs, it’s easy to fit into a keto eating plan without disrupting ketosis.
However, be mindful of your alcohol tolerance and portion sizes. Too much alcohol can temporarily pause ketone production. And if you overdo the vodka, those carbs can add up.
Here are some tips for staying in ketosis with vodka sodas:
- Sip your drink slowly and limit yourself to 1-2 per day max
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated
- Avoid sugary mixers or juices
- Stay within your daily net carb limit
- Don’t drink vodka sodas on an empty stomach
Are vodka sodas considered dirty keto?
“Dirty keto” refers to versions of the diet with more grey area foods. While they may be low carb, they aren’t as nutritious.
Some consider alcoholic drinks like vodka sodas dirty keto because alcohol provides “empty” calories without nutrition. However, vodka sodas are still a better choice than beer, wine, and sweet cocktails.
Having the occasional vodka soda is unlikely to sabotage your keto diet. But relying on them too heavily could promote unhealthy habits.
To make your vodka sodas cleaner:
- Use fresh squeezed juice instead of garnishes
- Add a few drops of bitters for flavor
- Use flavored soda water instead of plain
- Opt for potato vodka instead of grain vodka
- Drink only 1-2 times per week maximum
Should you count vodka sodas on keto?
Vodka sodas made with plain soda water contain negligible carbs and calories. But that doesn’t mean they get a free pass.
When following a keto diet, it’s still important to be mindful of overall alcohol intake for several reasons:
- Alcohol pauses ketosis while your body metabolizes it
- Alcohol is high in calories and can lead to weight gain
- Overdoing vodka sodas can lead to unhealthy habits
- Tracking intake promotes mindfulness and moderation
For these reasons, most experts recommend counting your vodka sodas within your daily macros and calories, even though the carb content is minimal.
The easiest way is to track each drink as 1-1.5 ounces of vodka and 4-6 ounces of soda. You can then tally the calories and carbs as you would with food.
Apps like MyFitnessPal make it simple to log vodka sodas alongside your keto meals for the day.
Tips for ordering vodka sodas at bars
Bars and restaurants often add secret sugars to their vodka sodas in the form of flavored syrups, purees, or juice mixes.
Here are some tips for ordering a keto-friendly vodka soda when out:
- Ask for soda water, not tonic
- Request no added flavors or sweeteners
- Ask for a lime or lemon wedge, not juice
- Specify no fruit purees or syrups
- Order vodka with “rocks” or “neat” instead of a mixed drink
- Opt for potato vodka since it’s gluten-free
Some places offer “skinny” or “zero sugar” vodka soda options. But when in doubt, customize your drink to avoid hidden carbs.
Low-carb vodka soda cocktail recipes
Plain vodka sodas can get boring after a while. Spice up your ketogenic cocktail hour with these refreshing low-carb recipes:
Cucumber Vodka Soda
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 4 oz seltzer water
- Thin cucumber slices for garnish
Muddle cucumber slices in a shaker. Add lime juice and vodka. Shake with ice and strain into a glass over fresh ice. Top with seltzer water. Garnish with cucumber.
Grapefruit Vodka Soda Spritz
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 1 oz fresh ruby red grapefruit juice
- 1⁄2 oz fresh lime juice
- 3 oz seltzer water
- Thyme sprig for garnish
In a shaker filled with ice, combine vodka, grapefruit juice, and lime juice. Shake and strain into a wine glass filled with fresh ice. Top with seltzer water and garnish with thyme.
Blueberry Basil Vodka Soda
- 10-15 fresh basil leaves
- 5-10 fresh blueberries
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 4 oz seltzer water
Muddle basil and blueberries in a shaker. Add vodka and shake with ice. Double strain into a glass over fresh ice. Top with seltzer water.
Prickly Pear Vodka Soda
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 1 oz prickly pear juice
- 1⁄2 oz fresh lime juice
- 4 oz seltzer water
- Lime wheel for garnish
Combine vodka, prickly pear juice, and lime juice in a shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice cubes. Top with seltzer water and garnish with a lime wheel.
The bottom line
Vodka sodas can absolutely be part of a ketogenic diet. As long as you use plain soda water without added sugars or high-carb flavorings, vodka sodas clock in at under 1 gram of carbs per serving.
Enjoy your vodka sodas in moderation by limiting yourself to 1-2 per occasion, sipping slowly, and staying hydrated. Flavor with keto-approved ingredients like fresh citrus, herbs, and berries to keep your drinks exciting and low in carbs.
While most should be able to drink vodka sodas without getting knocked out of ketosis, alcohol affects everyone differently. Pay attention to your body, stay within your macros, and don’t overdo the vodka.
