Data ranking

Low Standard Drink Tequila Cocktails, Ranked by Data

The Tequila cocktails with the fewest standard drinks in this data are Bloody Maria (0.71 std drinks), T.N.T. Cocktail No. 2 (0.71 std drinks), Viva Villa (0.71 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 68 nutrition-complete cocktail recipes and found 25 that fit this guide. Median standard drinks for this set: 1.42. Median ABV: 14.2%.

68Recipes reviewed

25Matching this guide

1.42Median standard drinks

14.2%Median ABV

227 kcalMedian calories

18.0gMedian sugar

Ranked recipes

#	Drink	Why it ranks	Std drinks	Nutrition	Alcohol	Best for
1	Bloody Maria	0.7 standard drinks	0.71	157 kcal · 18.0g sugar · 23.4g carbs	4.7% ABV	Low-alcohol occasions
2	T.N.T. Cocktail No. 2	0.7 standard drinks	0.71	99 kcal · 7.7g sugar · 7.7g carbs	10.5% ABV	Quick, easy serve
3	Viva Villa	0.7 standard drinks	0.71	128 kcal · 11.9g sugar · 15.8g carbs	7.7% ABV	Cocktail
4	Count Camillo's Paloma	1.0 standard drinks	1.04	231 kcal · 25.6g sugar · 28.2g carbs	14.7% ABV	Cocktail
5	Shady Lady	1.1 standard drinks	1.05	255 kcal · 26.9g sugar · 35.1g carbs	6.3% ABV	Cocktail
6	Sunday Confession	1.2 standard drinks	1.17	176 kcal · 10.4g sugar · 15.9g carbs	17.5% ABV	Cocktail
7	Paloma	1.2 standard drinks	1.20	266 kcal · 32.1g sugar · 33.4g carbs	13.7% ABV	Cocktail
8	Winter Rita	1.3 standard drinks	1.28	182 kcal · 12.7g sugar · 14.9g carbs	20.8% ABV	Cocktail
9	Margarita	1.3 standard drinks	1.29	154 kcal · 4.2g sugar · 6.9g carbs	25.8% ABV	Cocktail
10	Cactus Berry	1.3 standard drinks	1.32	368 kcal · 33.2g sugar · 41.3g carbs	8.5% ABV	Cocktail
11	Alamo Splash	1.4 standard drinks	1.42	215 kcal · 10.0g sugar · 13.7g carbs	14.2% ABV	Cocktail
12	Amante Picante	1.4 standard drinks	1.42	248 kcal · 23.0g sugar · 26.7g carbs	8.5% ABV	Cocktail
13	Dirty Daisy	1.4 standard drinks	1.42	264 kcal · 12.3g sugar · 17.9g carbs	15.7% ABV	Cocktail
14	Flower Power	1.4 standard drinks	1.42	351 kcal · 47.2g sugar · 47.9g carbs	9.4% ABV	Cocktail
15	Mexican Firing Squad	1.4 standard drinks	1.42	339 kcal · 41.2g sugar · 52.1g carbs	10.5% ABV	Cocktail
16	Mexican Madras	1.4 standard drinks	1.42	206 kcal · 11.6g sugar · 20.2g carbs	9.4% ABV	Cocktail
17	Mexicana	1.4 standard drinks	1.42	248 kcal · 25.1g sugar · 28.2g carbs	14.2% ABV	Cocktail
18	Mexicola	1.4 standard drinks	1.42	151 kcal · 1.0g sugar · 5.0g carbs	21.3% ABV	Quick, easy serve
19	Paloma (Natural)	1.4 standard drinks	1.42	159 kcal · 4.7g sugar · 5.9g carbs	19.6% ABV	Quick, easy serve
20	Tequila Collins	1.4 standard drinks	1.42	326 kcal · 44.4g sugar · 47.0g carbs	14.2% ABV	Cocktail
21	Tequila Fizz	1.4 standard drinks	1.42	323 kcal · 41.4g sugar · 42.1g carbs	11.6% ABV	Cocktail
22	Tequila Matador	1.4 standard drinks	1.42	182 kcal · 6.9g sugar · 12.6g carbs	14.2% ABV	Quick, easy serve
23	Tequila Mockingbird	1.4 standard drinks	1.42	326 kcal · 25.1g sugar · 45.0g carbs	7.4% ABV	Cocktail
24	Tequila Old-Fashioned	1.4 standard drinks	1.42	227 kcal · 21.4g sugar · 21.4g carbs	21.1% ABV	Cocktail
25	Tequila Sour	1.4 standard drinks	1.42	152 kcal · 3.3g sugar · 4.6g carbs	29.9% 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

Lowest sugar

Mexicola

1.0g estimated sugar

~151 kcal · 1.0g sugar

Lowest calories

T.N.T. Cocktail No. 2

~99 kcal estimated

~99 kcal · 7.7g sugar

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 tequila 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 tequila cocktails are on this page?: This ranking includes 25 tequila 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 tequila specifically?: Tequila is the base spirit, which sets the alcohol foundation. The mixers and modifiers around it determine most of the sugar and calorie variation, making tequila cocktails a useful controlled comparison.