Think before you drink
- ciaralitchfield
- May 20, 2014
- 3 min read
A cocktail has to be the queen of summer time drinks. We all know that alcohol isn’t ideal for when you’re watching your weight but it’s not always clear exactly how many calories you are having. By Law the number of units in a set drink, such as pre mixed cans, must be displayed along with the overall percentage alcohol content. However, the nutritional information does not have to be displayed. The nutritional content of alcohol is pretty simple... zero. Calories from alcohol are known as empty calories as they provide no nutritional benefit to us. Gram for gram alcohol contains almost as many calories as pure fat (Fat contains 9 calories, Alcohol 7).
I searched the internet to find the apparent calorie content of some popular cocktails, below are the results.
Mojito: Ranged from 111 to 161
Daiquiri: 163
Bloody Mary: 90 to 168?!?
Margarita: 192 to 145
Martini: 99 to 200?
Long island ice tea: 170 to 275
Pina colada: 280
Tequila sunrise: 105
Sex on the beach: 150
Cosmopolitan: 99
I didn’t feel like I was any more in the know after researching than before. Many of the drinks I looked up had huge discrepancies. As a result I decided to calculate the calorie content for myself based on fairly common recipes. This way if you make them at home you have a rough idea of where the calories are coming from. The drinks are ordered from highest alcohol content (ml) downwards. This is because the alcohol is likely to be the most calorific element. Please note: I have rounded results to the nearest calorie; I have based them on average ingredients i.e. common brands of juice not low calorie, the alcohol listed is of average strength as stronger alcohol will contain more calories.
Martini: 75ml or alcohol
10ml Vermouth @ 11 calories
65ml or Gin @ calories
Total: 146 calories
Long island ice tea: 60ml of alcohol
20ml of Vodka @ 42 calories
20ml of Gin @ 42 calories
20ml of White rum @ 42 calories
20ml or lemon juice @ 3 calories
1 tsp of sugar @ 16 calories
50ml of coke @ 20 calories
Total: 166 calories
Mojito: 60ml of alcohol
Juice of 1 and a half limes @ 15 calories
Handful of fresh mint @ 9 calories
2 tsp of sugar @ 32 calories
60ml of white rum @ 125 calories
Topped up with soda water @ 0 calories
Total: 179 calories
Sex on the beach: 60ml of alcohol
45ml of Vodka @ 94 calories
45 ml or orange juice @ 20 calories
45ml of Cranberry juice @ 22 calories
15ml or Peach Schnapps @ 38 calories
Total: 174 calories
Cosmopolitan: 50ml of alcohol
35ml of Vodka @ 73 calories
15ml or orange liqueur @ 32 calories
Squeeze of fresh lime @ 11 calories
25ml of cranberry juice @ 12 calories
Total: 128 calories
Tequila sunrise: 50ml of alcohol
50ml Tequila @ 114 calories
1tsp grenadine @ 17 calories
80ml of orange juice @ 37 calories
Total: 168 calories
Pina Colada: 50ml of alcohol
35ml of Gold Rum @ 76 calories
18ml of Coconut Rum @ 32 calories
50ml of Coconut Cream @ 136 calories
50ml of pineapple juice @ 25 calories
Total: 269 calories
Bloody Mary: 50ml of alcohol
150ml Tomato juice @ 33 calories
50m Vodka @ 104 calories
6 dashes of Worcester sauce @ 6 calories
3 dashes of Tobacco @ 3 calories
Juice of half a lemon @ 5 calories
Total: 151 calories
Margarita: 50ml of alcohol
20ml of Cointreau @ 43 calories
30ml of Tequila @ 69 calories
17.5ml of lime juice @ 6 calories
Total: 118 calories
Daiquiri: 50ml of alcohol
2tsp of sugar @ 12 calories
35ml of White Rum @ 73 c calories
1 spoon of strawberry liqueur @ 62 calories
25ml of limejuice @ 6 calories
Total: 154 calories
Firstly you can see huge differences between the calculated content and those available online. Obviously discrepancies arise with changing recipes and the use of diet mixers or stronger alcohol. Based on the calculated recipes the lowest calorie cocktail is the Margarita at 118 calories each. The highest caloire cocktails is the Pina Colada at 269 calories.
If you’re watching your weight try to stick to clear spirits such as Gin, Vodka and White rum and avoid syrup based alcohol such as schnapps. Generally diet mixers such as soda water, diet sodas or tonics are a better choice than fruit juices. Long drinks will obviously last you longer which helps to reduce the amount of drinks you have over the evening. Long drinks are also kinder on a dieter’s stomach. After a day of smaller low calorie meals it won’t take many Cosmos to get you dancing on the tables so remember to adjust your alcohol intake if your completing a strict diet programme or start drinking on an empty stomach!
