Data ranking
Low Standard Drinks Gin Cocktails — Ranked by Data
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 257 nutrition-complete cocktail recipes and found 25 that fit this guide. Median standard drinks for this set: 0.94. Median ABV: 20.9%.
257Recipes reviewed
25Matching this guide
0.94Median standard drinks
20.9%Median ABV
151 kcalMedian calories
8.1gMedian sugar
Ranked recipes
| # | Drink | Why it ranks | Std drinks | Nutrition | Alcohol | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander | 0.6 standard drinks | 0.55 | 196 kcal · 7.2g sugar · 8.8g carbs | 11.0% ABV | Any occasion |
| 2 | Montreal Gin Sour | 0.7 standard drinks | 0.73 | 169 kcal · 17.7g sugar · 19.0g carbs | 8.8% ABV | Any occasion |
| 3 | Orange Blossom Cocktail | 0.7 standard drinks | 0.73 | 337 kcal · 68.7g sugar · 69.3g carbs | 7.3% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 4 | Prairie Chicken | 0.7 standard drinks | 0.73 | 110 kcal · 0.1g sugar · 0.2g carbs | 21.9% 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 | Any occasion |
| 7 | Smile Cocktail | 0.7 standard drinks | 0.73 | 155 kcal · 20.0g sugar · 22.6g carbs | 10.9% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 8 | White Cargo Cocktail | 0.7 standard drinks | 0.73 | 129 kcal · 6.2g sugar · 7.1g carbs | 21.9% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 9 | Seaboabd | 0.7 standard drinks | 0.73 | 212 kcal · 17.3g sugar · 18.6g carbs | 20.9% ABV | Any occasion |
| 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 | Coronation Cocktail | 0.9 standard drinks | 0.94 | 109 kcal · 2.7g sugar · 4.0g carbs | 25.0% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 14 | Dubonnet Cocktail | 0.9 standard drinks | 0.94 | 113 kcal · 3.6g sugar · 5.3g carbs | 24.7% ABV | Any occasion |
| 15 | Gin Tonic | 1.0 standard drinks | 0.99 | 217 kcal · 29.0g sugar · 29.0g carbs | 11.7% ABV | Any occasion |
| 16 | Bronx Cocktail (Dry) | 1.0 standard drinks | 1.00 | 157 kcal · 11.1g sugar · 14.1g carbs | 10.0% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 17 | Favorite Cocktail | 1.1 standard drinks | 1.07 | 151 kcal · 8.1g sugar · 11.7g carbs | 21.3% ABV | Any occasion |
| 18 | Favourite Cocktail | 1.1 standard drinks | 1.07 | 151 kcal · 8.1g sugar · 11.7g carbs | 21.3% ABV | Any occasion |
| 19 | Thanksgiving Special Cocktail | 1.1 standard drinks | 1.07 | 151 kcal · 8.1g sugar · 11.7g carbs | 21.3% ABV | Any occasion |
| 20 | Rose | 1.1 standard drinks | 1.08 | 177 kcal · 16.6g sugar · 18.5g carbs | 23.4% ABV | Any occasion |
| 21 | Gin Squirt | 1.1 standard drinks | 1.09 | 233 kcal · 25.7g sugar · 32.7g carbs | 5.3% ABV | Any occasion |
| 22 | Orange Rosemary Collins | 1.1 standard drinks | 1.09 | 207 kcal · 22.8g sugar · 26.6g carbs | 7.8% ABV | Any occasion |
| 23 | Pink Lady | 1.1 standard drinks | 1.09 | 139 kcal · 3.5g sugar · 3.5g carbs | 23.0% ABV | Any occasion |
| 24 | Salty Dog | 1.1 standard drinks | 1.09 | 160 kcal · 10.4g sugar · 13.6g carbs | 10.0% ABV | Quick, easy serve |
| 25 | Clover Club | 1.1 standard drinks | 1.09 | 147 kcal · 6.8g sugar · 7.8g carbs | 19.6% ABV | Any occasion |
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
- What does this ranking show?
- This page ranks gin cocktails by a balanced score across nutrition metrics. All 25 drinks come from the WhatDrink database and pass the same recipe quality filters used on individual cocktail pages.
- How is the ranking score calculated?
- The ranking combines multiple nutrition signals from WhatDrink recipe data — including estimated sugar, calories, carbs, and ABV — weighted to surface drinks that are genuinely lower across all metrics, not just one.
- 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 carbs always mean a healthier drink?
- Not necessarily. Alcohol contributes roughly 7 kcal per gram. A drink with low carbs but high ABV can still be high in overall calories. Always check multiple metrics together rather than focusing on one alone.
- How should I use this page to choose a drink?
- The table lets you compare gin cocktails side by side on nutrition estimates. Click through to any individual cocktail page for the full ingredient list and nutrition breakdown. The "Top picks" panel highlights the best performers across multiple criteria.
- 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.