Data ranking
How Many Standard Drinks in a Gin Cocktail? Ranked by Data
The Gin cocktails with the fewest standard drinks in this data are Tanq-A-Rita (0.46 std drinks), Alexander (0.55 std drinks), Montreal Gin Sour (0.73 std drinks).
A US standard drink contains 14g of pure alcohol — roughly one 12 oz beer at 5%, one 5 oz glass of wine at 12%, or one 1.5 oz shot of spirits at 40%. The number of standard drinks in a cocktail depends on both the alcohol percentage and the estimated serve size, which means a high-ABV drink in a small glass can still fall under one standard drink. We reviewed 275 nutrition-complete cocktail recipes and found 25 that fit this guide. Median standard drinks for this set: 0.89. Median ABV: 21.9%.
275Recipes reviewed
25Matching this guide
0.89Median standard drinks
21.9%Median ABV
151 kcalMedian calories
7.9gMedian sugar
Ranked recipes
| # | Drink | Why it ranks | Std drinks | Nutrition | Alcohol | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tanq-A-Rita | 0.5 standard drinks | 0.46 | 287 kcal · 22.5g sugar · 24.8g carbs | 17.9% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 2 | Alexander | 0.6 standard drinks | 0.55 | 196 kcal · 7.2g sugar · 8.8g carbs | 11.0% ABV | Cocktail |
| 3 | Montreal Gin Sour | 0.7 standard drinks | 0.73 | 169 kcal · 17.7g sugar · 19.0g carbs | 8.8% ABV | Cocktail |
| 4 | Orange Blossom Cocktail | 0.7 standard drinks | 0.73 | 337 kcal · 68.7g sugar · 69.3g carbs | 7.3% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 5 | Prairie Chicken | 0.7 standard drinks | 0.73 | 110 kcal · 0.1g sugar · 0.2g carbs | 21.9% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 6 | Royal Fizz | 0.7 standard drinks | 0.73 | 248 kcal · 26.3g sugar · 27.6g carbs | 5.7% ABV | Cocktail |
| 7 | Seaboabd | 0.7 standard drinks | 0.73 | 212 kcal · 17.3g sugar · 18.6g carbs | 20.9% ABV | Cocktail |
| 8 | Smile Cocktail | 0.7 standard drinks | 0.73 | 155 kcal · 20.0g sugar · 22.6g carbs | 10.9% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 9 | White Cargo Cocktail | 0.7 standard drinks | 0.73 | 129 kcal · 6.2g sugar · 7.1g carbs | 21.9% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 10 | Imperial Cocktail | 0.7 standard drinks | 0.74 | 128 kcal · 7.9g sugar · 12.2g carbs | 13.2% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 11 | Chelsea Sidecar Cocktail | 0.9 standard drinks | 0.89 | 122 kcal · 6.1g sugar · 8.2g carbs | 23.8% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 12 | Lasky Cocktail | 0.9 standard drinks | 0.89 | 140 kcal · 11.1g sugar · 13.3g carbs | 23.8% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 13 | Waikiki Beachcomber | 0.9 standard drinks | 0.89 | 125 kcal · 7.0g sugar · 8.6g carbs | 26.7% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 14 | Coronation Cocktail | 0.9 standard drinks | 0.94 | 109 kcal · 2.7g sugar · 4.0g carbs | 25.0% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 15 | Dubonnet Cocktail | 0.9 standard drinks | 0.94 | 113 kcal · 3.6g sugar · 5.3g carbs | 24.7% ABV | Cocktail |
| 16 | Hotel Plaza Cocktail | 1.0 standard drinks | 0.96 | 113 kcal · 3.1g sugar · 4.4g carbs | 25.6% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 17 | Plaza Cocktail | 1.0 standard drinks | 0.96 | 113 kcal · 3.1g sugar · 4.4g carbs | 25.6% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 18 | Trinity Cocktail | 1.0 standard drinks | 0.96 | 113 kcal · 3.1g sugar · 4.4g carbs | 25.6% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 19 | Gin Tonic | 1.0 standard drinks | 0.99 | 217 kcal · 29.0g sugar · 29.0g carbs | 12.5% ABV | Cocktail |
| 20 | Allies Cocktail | 1.0 standard drinks | 1.00 | 287 kcal · 16.0g sugar · 22.5g carbs | 32.6% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 21 | Bronx Cocktail (Dry) | 1.0 standard drinks | 1.00 | 157 kcal · 11.1g sugar · 14.1g carbs | 10.0% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 22 | French Negroni | 1.0 standard drinks | 1.00 | 151 kcal · 4.7g sugar · 6.5g carbs | 25.8% ABV | Cocktail |
| 23 | Traditional Martini (Dry) | 1.0 standard drinks | 1.00 | 106 kcal · 1.2g sugar · 1.8g carbs | 29.7% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 24 | Favorite Cocktail | 1.1 standard drinks | 1.07 | 151 kcal · 8.1g sugar · 11.7g carbs | 21.3% ABV | Cocktail |
| 25 | Favourite Cocktail | 1.1 standard drinks | 1.07 | 151 kcal · 8.1g sugar · 11.7g carbs | 21.3% ABV | Cocktail |
All nutrition values are estimates based on standard recipe quantities. — = data not available.
US standard drinks depend on both alcohol strength and estimated serve size. A high-ABV cocktail can still be under 1 standard drink if the served volume is small.
Best picks by use case
Things to watch
- Recipe variations differ by bartender and bar — actual values may vary
- Double pours are not accounted for in standard recipe estimates
- ABV and standard drinks matter even when sugar and calories are low
- Some drinks are inherently higher in one metric even when lower in another
Methodology
Is this guide right for you?
Good fit if:
- You want to compare estimated alcohol load across cocktail recipes
- You want sugar and calorie context alongside standard drinks numbers
- You want a data-backed shortlist rather than a generic recipe list
Poor fit if:
- You assume lower standard drinks means low calories or low sugar — it may not
- You need medical advice about alcohol consumption
- You need exact bar-specific values — actual serve size affects standard drinks
Frequently asked questions
- How is the standard-drink ranking calculated?
- This page ranks directly on estimated US standard drinks from WhatDrink recipe quantities and ingredient strength data. Lower estimated standard-drink values rank ahead; calories, sugar, and carbs remain separate comparison metrics.
- Are these nutrition values accurate?
- These are estimates based on standard recipe quantities and ingredient nutrition data in the WhatDrink database. Actual values vary by brand, bartender pour, glass size, and preparation method. Use this as a relative comparison guide, not a precise dietary calculator.
- Does lower estimated standard drinks always mean a healthier drink?
- Not necessarily. A single lower metric does not make a cocktail healthier overall. Alcohol, calories, sugar, carbs, serving size, and individual context are different dimensions. Use this ranking for relative comparison on estimated US standard drinks, then check the other displayed metrics separately.
- How should I use this page to choose a drink?
- The table lets you compare gin cocktails side by side on estimated standard drinks. Click through to any individual cocktail page for the full ingredient list and nutrition breakdown. The "Top picks" panel adds cross-metric context without changing the page's primary ranking method.
- How many gin cocktails are on this page?
- This ranking includes 25 gin cocktails that pass WhatDrink's recipe quality and data completeness filters. The list updates as new recipes are added to the database.
- Why focus on gin specifically?
- Gin is the base spirit, which sets the alcohol foundation. The mixers and modifiers around it determine most of the sugar and calorie variation, making gin cocktails a useful controlled comparison.