Data ranking
Lowest Sugar Gin Cocktails, Ranked by Data
The lowest-sugar Gin cocktails in this data are Barton Special (0.0g sugar), Derby (0.0g sugar), Gentle Ben (0.0g sugar).
Gin is one of the more flexible spirits for lower-sugar mixing because it works well with soda water, lime juice, dry vermouth, and bitters — none of which add much sugar. The main source of sugar in gin cocktails is not the spirit itself; it is the sweetener. We found 25 recipes with complete nutrition data. The median sugar across this set is 0.4g.
275Recipes reviewed
25Matching this guide
0.4gMedian sugar
149 kcalMedian calories
37.6%Median ABV
Ranked recipes
| # | Drink | Why it ranks | Sugar | Nutrition | Alcohol | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barton Special | 0.0g sugar | 0.0g | 248 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 41.9% ABV · 2.44 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 2 | Derby | 0.0g sugar | 0.0g | 143 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 42.5% ABV · 1.48 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 3 | Gentle Ben | 0.0g sugar | 0.0g | 204 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 42.9% ABV · 2.15 std | Cocktail |
| 4 | Gin Cocktail | 0.0g sugar | 0.0g | 136 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 43.8% ABV · 1.50 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 5 | Pink Gin | 0.0g sugar | 0.0g | 136 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 43.8% ABV · 1.53 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 6 | Sake Martini | 0.0g sugar | 0.0g | 244 kcal · 1.5g carbs | 36.4% ABV · 2.43 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 7 | Sake Martini (Sakini) | 0.0g sugar | 0.0g | 244 kcal · 1.5g carbs | 36.4% ABV · 2.43 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 8 | Thunderclap Cocktail | 0.0g sugar | 0.0g | 160 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 42.9% ABV · 1.61 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 9 | Long Island Iced Tea | 0.1g sugar | 0.1g | 136 kcal · 0.1g carbs | 42.5% ABV · 1.44 std | Cocktail |
| 10 | Prairie Chicken | 0.1g sugar | 0.1g | 110 kcal · 0.2g carbs | 21.9% ABV · 0.73 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 11 | Gin and Soda | 0.2g sugar | 0.2g | 139 kcal · 1.2g carbs | 11.9% ABV · 1.46 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 12 | Casino | 0.3g sugar | 0.3g | 145 kcal · 0.5g carbs | 41.3% ABV · 1.48 std | Cocktail |
| 13 | Dry Martini | 0.4g sugar | 0.4g | 125 kcal · 0.6g carbs | 39.2% ABV · 1.31 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 14 | Martini | 0.4g sugar | 0.4g | 125 kcal · 0.6g carbs | 39.2% ABV · 1.31 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 15 | Vesper | 0.5g sugar | 0.5g | 182 kcal · 0.6g carbs | 41.1% ABV · 1.91 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 16 | Brown Cocktail | 0.9g sugar | 0.9g | 129 kcal · 1.3g carbs | 34.7% ABV · 1.30 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 17 | Orange Gin Rickey | 1.0g sugar | 1.0g | 151 kcal · 5.0g carbs | 21.9% ABV · 1.46 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 18 | Boomerang | 1.2g sugar | 1.2g | 161 kcal · 1.8g carbs | 38.1% ABV · 1.68 std | Cocktail |
| 19 | Brantini | 1.2g sugar | 1.2g | 245 kcal · 1.8g carbs | 35.1% ABV · 2.34 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 20 | Delmonico No. 2 | 1.2g sugar | 1.2g | 174 kcal · 1.8g carbs | 34.3% ABV · 1.73 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 21 | Traditional Martini (Dry) | 1.2g sugar | 1.2g | 106 kcal · 1.8g carbs | 29.7% ABV · 1.00 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 22 | Gin Toddy | 1.4g sugar | 1.4g | 141 kcal · 1.4g carbs | 36.2% ABV · 1.46 std | Cocktail |
| 23 | Mint Collins | 1.5g sugar | 1.5g | 149 kcal · 4.1g carbs | 21.9% ABV · 1.46 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 24 | Orange Gin Collins | 1.5g sugar | 1.5g | 149 kcal · 4.1g carbs | 21.9% ABV · 1.46 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 25 | Victor | 1.5g sugar | 1.5g | 161 kcal · 2.1g carbs | 37.6% ABV · 1.56 std | Quick, easy serve |
All nutrition values are estimates based on standard recipe quantities. — = data not available.
Best picks by use case
Watch-out ingredients for sugar
- Fruit juice (especially pineapple, mango, and passion fruit) — can add 10–15g sugar per 60ml serve
- Flavoured liqueurs — most contain 10–20g sugar per 30ml, even ones that do not taste obviously sweet
- Cordials and sweetened syrups — often 20–30g sugar per 30ml
- Grenadine — very high in sugar, used in small amounts but counts
- Fruit purées — natural sugar but still contributes meaningfully
Methodology
What the data shows
- 25 of 25 gin cocktails have under 5 g estimated sugar per serving.
- 15 have 0.5 g or less estimated sugar per serving.
- The median estimated sugar among the lowest-sugar gin cocktails shown is 0.4 g.
- 24 of the under-5 g drinks still contain one or more U.S. standard drinks — low sugar does not mean low alcohol.
- 9 under-5 g drinks still exceed 160 kcal — low sugar does not mean low calorie.
Figures are estimates from WhatDrink's current recipe data for nutrition-complete gin cocktails; per serving unless stated.
Low sugar vs low calorie vs lower alcohol
These are three different questions. This page ranks by estimated sugar per serving. A low-sugar cocktail is not automatically low in calories (alcohol contributes calories independent of sugar) nor lower in alcohol. Pick the ranking that matches what you care about:
- Low sugar — ranked by estimated sugar per serving (this page).
- Low calorie — ranked by estimated calories per serving: Low Calorie Gin Cocktails.
- Lower alcohol — compare ABV and U.S. standard drinks: Low ABV Gin Cocktails · Low Standard Drink Gin Cocktails.
Across 966 qualifying cocktails in WhatDrink's broader study, sugar per serving was strongly associated with calories per U.S. standard drink (Spearman ρ ≈ 0.78). The analysis is observational and does not establish causation. Sugar and alcohol remain separate dimensions, so use the ABV / standard-drink guides when alcohol strength is the decision.
Is this guide right for you?
Good fit if:
- You want to compare estimated sugar across cocktail recipes
- You want to see ABV and standard drinks alongside sugar numbers
- You want a data-backed shortlist rather than a generic recipe list
Poor fit if:
- You assume very low sugar means low alcohol — some dry cocktails are still high-ABV
- You need medical or dietary advice
- You need exact bar-specific values — these are recipe estimates
Frequently asked questions
- What makes a gin cocktail lower in sugar?
- The main driver of sugar in a cocktail is the sweetener — simple syrup, liqueur, juice, or flavoured spirit. Swapping syrup for bitters, soda water, or dry vermouth eliminates most added sugar. The base spirit itself contributes negligible sugar.
- Which gin cocktail in this list has the least sugar?
- Based on WhatDrink recipe data, Barton Special comes out lowest in estimated sugar in this ranking. Actual values depend on pour size, brand of mixer, and how the drink is prepared.
- Does a low-sugar gin cocktail mean it is low in calories?
- No. 9 of the under-5 g-sugar gin cocktails here still exceed 160 kcal. Alcohol contributes calories independently of sugar, so a low-sugar cocktail can still be calorie-dense. Compare the two separately.
- Does a low-sugar gin cocktail mean it is lower in alcohol?
- No. 24 of the under-5 g-sugar gin cocktails here still contain one or more U.S. standard drinks. Sugar and alcohol are different dimensions — check ABV and U.S. standard drinks separately.
- Which low-sugar gin cocktails are also under one U.S. standard drink?
- 1 of these gin cocktails are both under 5 g estimated sugar and under one U.S. standard drink — the option if you want lower sugar and a lighter alcohol serving together.
- What does "estimated sugar" mean on WhatDrink?
- Estimated sugar is the sugar per serving calculated from the recipe's standard ingredient quantities and reference nutrition data — not a lab measurement. It's for relative comparison across drinks; actual values depend on brand, pour size, and preparation.
- Does lower sugar 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 sugar content, 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 sugar. 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.