Data ranking
Lowest Sugar Tequila Cocktails, Ranked by Data
The lowest-sugar Tequila cocktails in this data are Gentle Ben (0.0g sugar), Tequila Straight (0.0g sugar), Long Island Iced Tea (0.1g sugar).
Tequila 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 tequila 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 8.1g.
68Recipes reviewed
25Matching this guide
8.1gMedian sugar
204 kcalMedian calories
21.3%Median ABV
Ranked recipes
| # | Drink | Why it ranks | Sugar | Nutrition | Alcohol | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gentle Ben | 0.0g sugar | 0.0g | 204 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 42.9% ABV · 2.15 std | Cocktail |
| 2 | Tequila Straight | 0.0g sugar | 0.0g | 136 kcal · 0.0g carbs | 21.3% ABV · 1.42 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 3 | Long Island Iced Tea | 0.1g sugar | 0.1g | 136 kcal · 0.1g carbs | 42.5% ABV · 1.44 std | Cocktail |
| 4 | Mexicola | 1.0g sugar | 1.0g | 151 kcal · 5.0g carbs | 21.3% ABV · 1.42 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 5 | Montezuma | 2.0g sugar | 2.0g | 276 kcal · 4.6g carbs | 17.4% ABV · 1.74 std | Cocktail |
| 6 | 110 in the shade | 2.4g sugar | 2.4g | 305 kcal · 16.6g carbs | 8.2% ABV · 2.33 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 7 | Tequini | 2.4g sugar | 2.4g | 209 kcal · 3.6g carbs | 29.3% ABV · 1.97 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 8 | Tequila Manhattan | 3.0g sugar | 3.0g | 186 kcal · 4.1g carbs | 33.5% ABV · 1.69 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 9 | Margarita | 4.2g sugar | 4.2g | 154 kcal · 6.9g carbs | 25.8% ABV · 1.29 std | Cocktail |
| 10 | 3-Mile Long Island Iced Tea | 5.7g sugar | 5.7g | 188 kcal · 6.4g carbs | 32.8% ABV · 1.67 std | Cocktail |
| 11 | Winter Paloma | 6.2g sugar | 6.2g | 243 kcal · 10.1g carbs | 20.4% ABV · 2.12 std | Cocktail |
| 12 | Tequila Matador | 6.9g sugar | 6.9g | 182 kcal · 12.6g carbs | 14.2% ABV · 1.42 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 13 | Vagabundo | 8.1g sugar | 8.1g | 192 kcal · 14.4g carbs | 10.6% ABV · 1.42 std | Cocktail |
| 14 | Brave Bull | 8.9g sugar | 8.9g | 231 kcal · 11.8g carbs | 35.8% ABV · 1.79 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 15 | Alamo Splash | 10.0g sugar | 10.0g | 215 kcal · 13.7g carbs | 14.2% ABV · 1.42 std | Cocktail |
| 16 | Hot Shot Margarita | 10.1g sugar | 10.1g | 242 kcal · 16.4g carbs | 21.0% ABV · 1.75 std | Quick, easy serve |
| 17 | Sunday Confession | 10.4g sugar | 10.4g | 176 kcal · 15.9g carbs | 17.5% ABV · 1.17 std | Cocktail |
| 18 | Vampiro | 10.9g sugar | 10.9g | 188 kcal · 12.5g carbs | 18.8% ABV · 1.44 std | Cocktail |
| 19 | Mexican Madras | 11.6g sugar | 11.6g | 206 kcal · 20.2g carbs | 9.4% ABV · 1.42 std | Cocktail |
| 20 | Dirty Daisy | 12.3g sugar | 12.3g | 264 kcal · 17.9g carbs | 15.7% ABV · 1.42 std | Cocktail |
| 21 | Winter Rita | 12.7g sugar | 12.7g | 182 kcal · 14.9g carbs | 20.8% ABV · 1.28 std | Cocktail |
| 22 | La Ultima Palabra | 13.0g sugar | 13.0g | 203 kcal · 19.4g carbs | 23.6% ABV · 1.47 std | Cocktail |
| 23 | Mexican Monk | 13.4g sugar | 13.4g | 350 kcal · 21.4g carbs | 30.7% ABV · 2.81 std | Cocktail |
| 24 | Sea Of Cortez | 13.8g sugar | 13.8g | 283 kcal · 20.2g carbs | 26.8% ABV · 2.01 std | Cocktail |
| 25 | Bum's Rush | 13.9g sugar | 13.9g | 296 kcal · 19.8g carbs | 23.3% ABV · 2.14 std | Cocktail |
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
- 9 of 25 tequila cocktails have under 5 g estimated sugar per serving.
- 3 have 0.5 g or less estimated sugar per serving.
- The median estimated sugar among the lowest-sugar tequila cocktails shown is 8.1 g.
- 9 of the under-5 g drinks still contain one or more U.S. standard drinks — low sugar does not mean low alcohol.
- 5 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 tequila 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 Tequila Cocktails.
- Lower alcohol — compare ABV and U.S. standard drinks: Low ABV Tequila Cocktails · Low Standard Drink Tequila 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 tequila 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 tequila cocktail in this list has the least sugar?
- Based on WhatDrink recipe data, Gentle Ben 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 tequila cocktail mean it is low in calories?
- No. 5 of the under-5 g-sugar tequila 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 tequila cocktail mean it is lower in alcohol?
- No. 9 of the under-5 g-sugar tequila 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.
- 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 tequila 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.
- 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.