How Many Calories Are in a Vodka Cocktail? A Complete Guide

December 15, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the USDA, a standard 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof vodka contains approximately 96 calories, all from the alcohol itself. However, the real question of how many calories are in a vodka cocktail depends almost entirely on the mixers, with some drinks soaring well over 400 calories.

Quick Summary

The number of calories in a vodka cocktail varies dramatically based on the mixers used. While the spirit itself is low-calorie, sugary additions like juice, tonic, and liqueurs can increase the total significantly, turning a simple drink into a high-calorie treat. Making mindful choices with mixers is key to managing the calorie count.

Key Points

Mixers are the Major Calorie Source: While a 1.5 oz shot of 80-proof vodka has about 96 calories, mixers like juice, tonic, and liqueurs contribute the bulk of a cocktail's total calories.
Higher Proof, Higher Calories: The higher the alcohol by volume (ABV), the more calories the vodka contains, as calories come directly from the alcohol.
Zero-Calorie Options Exist: To keep cocktails low in calories, use mixers like soda water, diet soda, or sugar-free flavored seltzers.
Juices and Syrups Add Up Fast: Popular mixers such as cranberry juice, tonic water, and creamy liqueurs can turn a low-calorie base into a high-calorie drink.
Craft Your Own Low-Calorie Drinks: Use fresh citrus juice, muddled herbs, and calorie-free sparkling water to create flavorful vodka cocktails without excess sugar.

The Core of the Matter: Vodka's Calorie Content

Before you mix, it's important to understand the baseline. Pure distilled spirits like vodka are essentially just alcohol (ethanol) and water, with no sugar, fat, or carbohydrates. All the calories come from the ethanol. Alcohol contains about 7 calories per gram, which is nearly as calorically dense as fat (9 calories per gram) and more so than carbohydrates or protein (4 calories per gram).

A standard 1.5 oz shot of 80-proof (40% ABV) vodka contains around 96 calories. The higher the proof, the higher the calorie count, as there is more alcohol by volume.

How Mixers Impact a Vodka Cocktail's Calorie Count

The journey from a simple shot to a complex cocktail introduces many potential calorie bombs. The mixers you choose have a far greater impact on the final calorie total than the vodka itself. Drinks mixed with simple, non-caloric mixers can remain surprisingly light, while those with sugary juices, syrups, or creamy liqueurs can skyrocket in calories.

High-Calorie Mixers to Watch Out For

Regular Soda and Tonic Water: An 8 oz pour of regular soda can add around 100 calories, and tonic water can add about 80 calories. A vodka tonic, for example, can have a total of 150-190 calories.
Fruit Juices: A popular choice for cocktails, fruit juices like orange and cranberry can significantly increase the sugar and calorie content. An 8 oz glass of orange juice adds about 111 calories. A vodka cranberry can easily reach 170-184 calories.
Creamy Liqueurs and Syrups: Drinks like the White Russian, which uses coffee liqueur and cream, are notoriously high in calories. These can quickly exceed 400 calories in a single glass, making them one of the most calorically dense vodka cocktails.
Sweet and Sour Mixes: These pre-made mixes are often loaded with high-fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors, providing a huge calorie boost without any nutritional benefit.

Low-Calorie Vodka Cocktail Alternatives

Fortunately, it’s easy to create delicious, low-calorie vodka cocktails with smarter choices.

Vodka Soda with Lime: This is the undisputed champion of low-calorie vodka drinks. Made with vodka, zero-calorie soda water, and a squeeze of fresh lime, it contains only the calories from the alcohol—around 96 for a standard pour.
Skinny Moscow Mule: Instead of regular ginger beer, use a sugar-free or diet version. Combine with vodka and lime juice for a spicy, refreshing cocktail with around 100-130 calories.
Berry Lemon Vodka Fizz: Muddle fresh berries and mix with vodka, fresh lemon juice, and sparkling water for a naturally flavored, low-calorie option.
Vodka with Diet Cola: For those who prefer a cola flavor, swapping to diet soda is a simple way to dramatically cut calories, bringing the total to just over 100.

The Role of Garnishes

While often overlooked, garnishes can add flavor without adding calories. Consider using:

Fresh herbs like mint, basil, or rosemary
Citrus wedges or peels
Cucumber slices
A dash of bitters for complex flavor without sugar

Comparison of Popular Vodka Cocktails

To illustrate the difference that mixers make, here is a comparison of common vodka cocktails. Calorie counts are approximate and depend on recipe variations and portion sizes.


Cocktail	Key Mixers	Approximate Calories
Vodka Soda	Soda Water, Lime	~96-100
Cosmopolitan	Cranberry Juice, Triple Sec, Lime	~150-220
Vodka Cranberry	Cranberry Juice	~170-185
Moscow Mule	Ginger Beer, Lime	~180
Vodka Tonic	Tonic Water	~150-190
White Russian	Coffee Liqueur, Cream	~300-425

Simple Steps to Lower Your Cocktail's Calorie Count

Prioritize Sugar-Free Mixers: Opt for soda water, diet soda, or sugar-free flavored sparkling waters instead of caloric juices and sodas.
Use Fresh Ingredients: Use fresh-squeezed citrus juice and muddled fresh fruit instead of processed juices or sugary syrups.
Go Light on the Liqueurs: Many cocktail recipes call for sweet liqueurs. Use a smaller amount or seek out lower-sugar alternatives.
Control Portion Sizes: Stick to a standard 1.5 oz pour of vodka and avoid supersizing your drinks.
Use Infused Vodka: Create your own flavored vodka at home by infusing it with fresh fruits or spices, which adds flavor without sugar.

Conclusion: The Bottom Line on Vodka Cocktail Calories

For those watching their calorie intake, it’s a misconception that all vodka drinks are a diet disaster. Vodka itself is a relatively low-calorie spirit. The calorie load in a vodka cocktail is almost entirely determined by the mixers. By making smart, intentional choices about what you mix your vodka with, you can enjoy flavorful cocktails without sacrificing your health goals. A simple vodka soda is the safest bet, but fresh citrus, herbs, and sugar-free alternatives allow for plenty of delicious, low-calorie variety. It all comes down to being mindful of the ingredients beyond the spirit. For more on the nutritional aspects of alcohol, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) offers a helpful guide at Rethinking Drinking.

Frequently Asked Questions

A standard 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof (40% ABV) vodka contains approximately 96 calories, with all calories coming directly from the alcohol itself.

The vodka soda is typically the lowest-calorie vodka cocktail, as it combines vodka with calorie-free soda water and a twist of fresh lime.

Most flavored vodkas have a similar calorie count to their unflavored counterparts, but some brands may add extra sugar for flavor, increasing the calories. It's best to check the specific product's nutritional information.

To reduce the calories in a vodka cranberry, use a sugar-free or diet cranberry juice blend or opt for just a splash of regular cranberry juice combined with soda water for a spritzer-style drink.

No, a vodka tonic is not a low-calorie option. While vodka is low-calorie, regular tonic water is high in sugar, adding significant calories. A better choice is a vodka soda.

Higher proof vodkas contain more alcohol and, therefore, more calories per serving. For example, a 100-proof vodka will have more calories per shot than an 80-proof vodka.

Excellent low-calorie mixers include soda water, diet sodas, diet ginger beer, fresh lemon or lime juice, and a wide variety of sugar-free flavored sparkling waters.

A White Russian is a very high-calorie vodka cocktail, often containing over 400 calories due to the caloric contribution of coffee liqueur and cream.