Vodka is a versatile liquor that can be mixed with a variety of ingredients to create sugar-free cocktails. When mixed with the right ingredients, vodka can be the basis for cocktails that are low in calories and carbs. Here are some of the best options for mixing vodka into delicious sugar-free drinks.
Soda Water
One of the simplest options for mixing vodka is to combine it with plain soda water. The soda water provides carbonation and refreshing flavor, without adding any sugar. Just pour vodka over ice and top with soda water. Add a squeeze of fresh citrus juice like lemon, lime or grapefruit if you want a little extra flavor. You can also add herbs, spices or a dash of bitters to spice it up.
Diet Tonic
Most people think of mixing vodka with regular tonic water. However, regular tonic contains loads of added sugar. Opt for diet tonic instead to keep your drink sugar-free. The combination of vodka and diet tonic makes for an easy low-calorie cocktail. Like the vodka soda, add fresh citrus juice or herbs to enhance the flavor.
Flavored Seltzer
Flavored seltzer waters add light flavor without sugar or calories. They come in a huge range of flavors from lemon to raspberry. For a flavored vodka soda, simply mix vodka with seltzer water of your choice. The seltzer provides light flavor and fizz.
Club Soda
Club soda is another bubbly low-calorie option for mixing with vodka. Unlike seltzer, club soda does contain some minerals, but the calories and carbs are still extremely low. The subtle saltiness of club soda also helps enhance the flavor of vodka. Squeeze in some fresh citrus juice to add a little more flavor.
Tomato Juice
While not the most common mixer, tomato juice can make for an interesting spicy vodka cocktail. Opt for low-sodium tomato juice without added sugar. Combine vodka and tomato juice over ice and add a dash of hot sauce or horseradish if you want to spice it up. Top with a celery stalk for garnish.
Vegetable Juice
Other unsweetened vegetable juices like beet, carrot or celery juice also work well as vodka mixers. The earthy, savory flavors pair nicely with vodka. For a sugar-free Bloody Mary, mix vodka with tomato juice and season with salt, pepper and hot sauce instead of the usual sugary Bloody Mary mix.
Coconut Water
Plain coconut water contains electrolytes and natural sweetness, but relatively low calories and carbs compared to juice or soda. Mixing vodka with coconut water makes for a tropical cocktail. Add fresh lime juice and mint for extra flavor.
Iced Tea
Brewed tea makes an appealing mixer for vodka cocktails. Opt for unsweetened iced tea, then mix it with vodka over ice. For a peach vodka iced tea, muddle fresh peach slices in the glass before adding ice, vodka and tea. Sweeten with a little honey or stevia if desired.
Coffee
The combination of vodka and coffee might sound unusual, but it can actually make for a nice after-dinner cocktail. Mix cooled brewed coffee with vodka and shake over ice. Top with a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream. A shot of vodka also goes well mixed into cold brew coffee.
Protein Shake
For a post-workout cocktail, add a shot of vodka to your protein shake. The protein powder adds creaminess and nutrients, while the vodka gives an extra kick. Blend together protein powder, water or milk, ice, vodka and any other desired ingredients like peanut butter or cocoa powder.
Broth
Savory bone broth makes an unlikely but tasty mixer for vodka. Try combining chilled vodka with hot broth for a satisfying cocktail. Stir together vegetable or bone broth with vodka, then finish with fresh herbs, hot sauce or black pepper.
Diet Ginger Ale
Just like tonic water, regular ginger ale is loaded with sugar. Opt for diet ginger ale instead to mix with vodka. The spicy ginger flavor complements the vodka beautifully. Add fresh lime or mint leaves to garnish.
Vermouth
Dry vermouth makes for a nice complement to vodka in cocktails. Mix vodka with dry vermouth and a dash of bitters over ice for a classic vodka martini. Add an olive or lemon twist to garnish. The herbaceous flavor of vermouth balances out the vodka.
Coconut Milk
For a creamier sugar-free vodka cocktail, use unsweetened coconut milk as the mixer. Blend together chilled vodka, ice, coconut milk and cocoa powder for a tasty virgin White Russian. Coconut milk adds rich flavor and texture.
Sparkling Water
Plain or flavored sparkling water makes an easy zero-calorie mixer. Combining chilled vodka with sparkling water makes a light, fizzy cocktail. Add fresh fruit like raspberries, blackberries or muddled cucumber to infuse more flavor.
Kombucha
The tangy flavor of kombucha works nicely with vodka for a probiotic cocktail. Mix together chilled vodka and kombucha over ice. Look for a kombucha variety without added sugar or fruit juice. Garnish your kombucha vodka with a slice of fresh ginger.
Coconut Water
Plain coconut water contains electrolytes and natural sweetness, but relatively low calories and carbs compared to juice or soda. Mixing vodka with coconut water makes for a tropical cocktail. Add fresh lime juice and mint for extra flavor.
Cranberry Juice
Choose unsweetened cranberry juice and avoid the sugary varieties. Combining cranberry juice and vodka makes for a tart, antioxidant-rich cocktail. Shake vodka, cranberry juice and lime juice over ice.
Grapefruit Juice
The bold, bitter flavor of grapefruit juice goes well with vodka’s neutral taste. Mix together chilled vodka, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and a dash of lime juice for a Paloma cocktail. Rim the glass with salt or chili-lime salt.
Lemonade
For homemade lemonade without added sugar, simply mix together fresh lemon juice, water and stevia or monk fruit sweetener. Stir in chilled vodka for a summertime cocktail. Garnish your sugar-free vodka lemonade with mint and frozen lemon slices.
Iced Coffee
Mix together strong chilled coffee, vodka and unsweetened nut milk or cream for a boozy iced coffee drink. Add ice and shake vigorously, then top with cocoa powder or cinnamon. The milk provides creaminess without tons of added sugar.
Seltzer with Bitters
Bitters add nice flavor complexity to vodka cocktails. Mix together chilled vodka, seltzer and a dash of aromatic bitters like grapefruit or orange. Add an herb sprig like rosemary or thyme to garnish.
Spicy Tomato Mixer
Muddle jalapeño and lime juice in a glass, then fill with ice and vodka. Top with low-sodium tomato or V8 juice for a spicy, savory cocktail. Rim the glass with chili powder or salt for extra flavor.
Cucumber Mint Seltzer
Muddle fresh mint leaves and cucumber slices in a glass, then add vodka and seltzer water. The cucumber provides refreshing flavor and the mint adds a nice contrast. Chill the vodka ahead for extra coldness.
Bloody Maria
For a lower-carb Bloody Mary, mix vodka with tomato juice, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and spices like celery salt, paprika and black pepper. Rim the glass with chili powder or celery salt. Garnish with celery stalk.
Skinny Cola
Make your own sugar-free “skinny” cola by mixing diet cola, lime juice and bitters. Fill a glass with ice and vodka, then top with the skinny cola. Enjoy this cocktail without the added calories and carbs of regular cola.
Spicy Pickle Back
After taking a straight shot of vodka, chase it with a shot of spicy pickle juice. The salty, tangy pickle brine makes for a great zero-calorie chaser. Add hot sauce or a dash of chili powder to amp up the spice factor even more.
Berry Lemon Seltzer
Muddle fresh raspberries and lemon slices into a glass. Add ice, vodka and seltzer water for a refreshing fruity cocktail. The berries provide natural sweetness so you can skip added sugars.
Herbal Tea
Chilled tea makes a pleasant mixer for vodka cocktails. Steep your favorite herbal tea, then allow to cool completely before mixing with vodka. Try soothing chamomile tea or tart hibiscus tea. Sweeten gently with stevia if desired.
Zesty Ginger Beer
Opt for diet ginger beer to avoid sugar. Mix chilled vodka with ginger beer and top with a squeeze of lime juice. The spicy, gingery flavor pairs perfectly with vodka’s neutrality. Garnish your Moscow mule with mint and lime wedge.
Sparkling Apple Cider
Around the holidays, mix up a batch of sugar-free apple cider vodka cocktails. Combine vodka with unsweetened sparkling apple cider or apple juice. Shake over ice and serve garnished with cinnamon sticks and apple slices.
Spicy Bloody Mary
For a lower-carb Bloody Mary, mix vodka with tomato juice, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and spices like celery salt, paprika and black pepper. Rim the glass with chili powder or celery salt. Garnish with celery stalk.
Vodka Martini
One of the most iconic vodka cocktails, the vodka martini contains just vodka and dry vermouth. Mix your vodka and vermouth over ice, then strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with olives or a lemon twist.
Skinny Margarita
For a lighter spin on the margarita, mix together tequila, vodka, lime juice and agave nectar instead of sugary margarita mix. Shake over ice and rim the glass with salt. The vodka helps tone down the sweetness.
Vodka and Cranberry Juice
This simple combo is a go-to low-carb option at many bars. Mix vodka with chilled unsweetened cranberry juice for a Tart Ocean Breeze. Add lime wedge and mint leaves to garnish.
Vodka with Herbs
Muddle fresh herb leaves like basil, rosemary or lavender into your glass. Add chilled vodka and stir gently. The fresh herbs infuse the vodka with aromatic flavor. Excellent served chilled up or over ice.
Spicy Bloody Maria
For a lower-carb Bloody Mary, mix vodka with tomato juice, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and spices like celery salt, paprika and black pepper. Rim the glass with chili powder or celery salt. Garnish with celery stalk.
Vodka and Tonics
Tonic water can contain loads of added sugar. For a low-carb option, mix your vodka with diet tonic instead. Add lime wedge and fresh herbs like mint, basil or rosemary. The diet tonic provides bitter flavor with less sugar.
Fruity Seltzer Cocktail
Combine chilled vodka with fruity flavored seltzer like grapefruit, pomegranate or black cherry. Shake over ice and serve garnished with fresh fruit slices. The seltzer provides light effervescence and fruit essence without artificial sweeteners.
Spiked Iced Tea
Brew a batch of unsweetened iced tea, then stir in chilled vodka once cooled. Serve over ice and garnish with mint or fruit slices. For a peach iced tea, add sliced peaches. You can gently sweeten with stevia if desired.
Bloody Maria
For a lower-carb Bloody Mary, mix vodka with tomato juice, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and spices like celery salt, paprika and black pepper. Rim the glass with chili powder or celery salt. Garnish with celery stalk.
Vodka Collins
The vodka Collins combines vodka with lemon juice and club soda. Build in a glass over ice and stir gently to mix. Garnish your Collins with lemon wheel and maraschino cherry. Enjoy this refresher without added sweeteners.
Grapefruit Vodka Soda
Grapefruit juice adds nice tart flavor when mixed with vodka. Combine chilled vodka, grapefruit juice and soda water over ice. Garnish with grated grapefruit zest for an extra kick.
Berry Lemonade
Mash fresh berries like raspberries, blackberries or strawberries in the bottom of a glass. Add vodka, lemon juice, water and stevia or monk fruit sweetener. Shake over ice for a naturally sweetened berry lemonade cocktail.
Vodka and Pickles
For a savory cocktail, muddle pickle slices and fresh dill in the bottom of a glass. Fill with chilled vodka and stir gently. Top with a pickle brine chaser for a uniquely delicious zero-carb creation.
Cucumber Lemon Soda
Muddle sliced cucumber and lemon wheels in a glass. Fill with ice, vodka and soda water. The muddled cucumber infuses each sip with refreshing flavor. Garnish with fresh mint.
Spiced Apple Cider
Warm up apple cider spiked with vodka and autumnal spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and allspice. Strain into mugs garnished with orange slices and enjoy this cozy cocktail on a chilly night.
Blackberry Basil Smash
Muddle blackberries and basil leaves in a glass. Add vodka and shake vigorously with ice. Double strain into a chilled glass. The fresh basil and blackberry flavors pair perfectly with the vodka’s neutrality.
Blueberry Mint Lemonade
Blend together fresh lemon juice, blueberries, mint and stevia. Pour over ice, add chilled vodka and stir to combine. Lovely garnished with extra blueberries and mint sprig.
Spicy Seafood Bloody
For a savory Bloody, mix vodka with tomato juice, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Top with fresh shrimp and Old Bay seasoning. Garnish with lemon and celery.
Orange Creamsicle
For a creamsicle-inspired cocktail, shake vodka with freshly squeezed orange juice, coconut cream, vanilla and ice. Rim the glass with orange zest and top with a dash of unsweetened shredded coconut.
Conclusion
Vodka’s neutral flavor makes it endlessly mixable into delicious zero-sugar cocktails. With so many tasty ingredients to choose from, it’s easy to avoid sugary mixers and create sugar-free vodka drinks at home. Soda, sparkling water, tea, coffee, juices and more can all be combined with vodka for flavorful cocktails that won’t spike your blood sugar. Just steer clear of sugary sodas, juices and syrupy liqueurs.
When mixing vodka drinks, also pay attention to portion sizes. While the mixers may be sugar-free, vodka still provides calories from the alcohol. Moderation is key for any cocktail!
