Is Tito's Vodka Ok for a Keto Diet?

October 25, 2025 •

4 min read

Over 7 million U.S. adults follow a ketogenic diet, prompting many to scrutinize every food and drink they consume [1.1]. For those looking to enjoy a drink while sticking to their low-carb lifestyle, a common question arises: is Tito's vodka ok for a keto diet? The answer is yes, as pure distilled spirits like Tito's contain zero carbs, making them a suitable option in moderation.

Quick Summary

Pure distilled liquors like Tito's Handmade Vodka are carb-free and can be consumed on a ketogenic diet. The key is to avoid high-carb, sugary mixers that would add unnecessary carbs and potentially disrupt ketosis. Choosing zero-carb mixers like club soda or diet sodas is crucial for maintaining a keto-friendly beverage.

Key Points

Tito's Vodka is Carb-Free: As a pure distilled spirit, Tito's contains zero carbohydrates and no sugar, making it suitable for a keto diet.
Choose Sugar-Free Mixers: The carb count of a vodka drink depends on the mixer; always pair Tito's with zero-carb options like club soda, diet soda, or flavored seltzer.
Practice Moderation: Even though it's carb-free, alcohol contains empty calories that can temporarily slow down fat burning as your body prioritizes metabolizing alcohol.
Expect Lower Tolerance: Being in ketosis often leads to a lower tolerance for alcohol, meaning you may feel intoxicated more quickly than usual.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water before, during, and after consuming alcohol on a keto diet to combat dehydration, which can lead to worse hangovers.
Avoid Sugary Cocktails: High-carb mixers like fruit juices, regular sodas, and syrups will knock you out of ketosis, so avoid cocktails like traditional margaritas or screwdrivers.

Tito's Vodka and the Keto Diet: How It Works

Distilled spirits like vodka, including Tito's, are created through a process that removes carbohydrates and sugars. The fermentation of starches from corn (in Tito's case), potatoes, or grains creates an alcoholic wash, which is then distilled. During distillation, the ethanol is separated from the other components, leaving behind a pure, carb-free alcohol. This is why an unflavored, pure vodka is a zero-carb beverage, aligning perfectly with the strict carbohydrate limits of a ketogenic diet.

However, it is crucial to remember that while the vodka itself contains no carbs, the calories from the alcohol can still impact your weight loss goals. When alcohol is consumed, the liver prioritizes metabolizing it over fat, temporarily slowing down the fat-burning process. For this reason, moderation is key, and excessive drinking can still hinder progress on a keto diet.

The Importance of Keto-Friendly Mixers

While Tito's vodka has no carbs, its keto suitability depends entirely on what you mix it with. Pairing it with sugary juices, regular sodas, or sweet liqueurs can quickly turn a zero-carb drink into a carb bomb that will throw you out of ketosis. The best practice is to stick to zero or very low-carb mixers.

Here are some excellent keto-friendly mixers for Tito's:

Club Soda or Seltzer: A classic and simple choice that adds no carbs and provides effervescence. Add a squeeze of lemon or lime for flavor.
Diet Soda: For those who prefer a cola or lemon-lime taste, using a diet version is a zero-carb alternative to regular soda.
Sugar-Free Flavored Water: Brands like Sparkling Ice offer a variety of flavors with zero carbs and are a popular choice for mixing with vodka.
Water with Fresh Citrus: For a clean, refreshing taste, simply add a wedge of lemon or lime to your vodka and water.
Unsweetened Iced Tea: A great base for a keto cocktail, just be sure it's genuinely unsweetened.
Sugar-Free Syrups: There are many brands of sugar-free cocktail syrups available for crafting more complex low-carb drinks without the sugar.

Comparing Keto-Friendly and High-Carb Alcohol Options

To illustrate why mixer choice is so critical, let's compare some common drink options. This table highlights how easily carbs can accumulate, even with a zero-carb base spirit like Tito's.


Drink Example	Base Spirit	Mixer	Approx. Carb Count (1 serving)	Keto Friendly?
Vodka Soda	Tito's Vodka (1.5 oz)	Club Soda + Lime Wedge	0g	Yes
Screwdriver	Tito's Vodka (1.5 oz)	Orange Juice (4 oz)	15-30g	No
Vodka Martini	Tito's Vodka (1.5 oz)	Dry Vermouth (0.5 oz)	~0.2g	Yes
Cosmopolitan	Tito's Vodka (1.5 oz)	Cranberry Juice + Triple Sec	~7g+	No
Vodka Cran	Tito's Vodka (1.5 oz)	Cranberry Juice (4 oz)	~5g	No

Potential Side Effects and Considerations

For those on a ketogenic diet, there are several important factors to consider before drinking alcohol. Firstly, alcohol tolerance can decrease significantly. With reduced carbohydrate intake, your body's glycogen stores are lower, which means alcohol is metabolized more quickly and its effects are felt more intensely. This can lead to faster intoxication and potentially worse hangovers due to dehydration.

Furthermore, consuming alcohol, even in moderation, can temporarily suppress fat burning. The liver, which is responsible for ketone production, will prioritize processing alcohol as a toxin first. This means your body is using alcohol for fuel instead of fat, which can stall weight loss efforts. For individuals with health goals centered around rapid weight loss, abstaining from alcohol may be the better option, especially in the initial stages of keto adaptation.

Lastly, drinking can lower inhibitions, making it more difficult to stick to your dietary plan and potentially leading to poor food choices. It is important to have a plan in place and be mindful of your intake to avoid derailing your progress.

Conclusion: A Clear Verdict with a Catch

In short, is Tito's vodka ok for a keto diet? The answer is yes, as the distillation process leaves it with zero carbohydrates, making it a perfectly acceptable spirit. The catch lies entirely in the mixers and portion control. By opting for sugar-free mixers and consuming it in moderation, Tito's can be included in a ketogenic lifestyle without fear of adding carbs. However, drinkers on a keto diet must be aware of their increased sensitivity to alcohol and the temporary slowdown of fat metabolism. As with any part of a diet, mindfulness and moderation are the ultimate keys to success. For more detailed information on alcohol's effect on ketosis, it is helpful to consult resources like Healthline.

How to create keto-friendly cocktails with Tito's

Creating delicious and low-carb cocktails with Tito's is easy. A classic vodka soda with a squeeze of lime is a timeless zero-carb choice. For something different, try a 'Keto Mule' by mixing Tito's with diet ginger beer and a lime wedge. A 'Keto Cosmopolitan' can be made using Tito's, a splash of cranberry-flavored sparkling water, and fresh lime juice. Always remember to use sugar-free ingredients and keep an eye on portion sizes to stay within your daily carb limits. Enjoy responsibly!

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Tito's Handmade Vodka is a pure distilled spirit and, like most unflavored hard liquors, contains zero carbohydrates and zero sugar.

When on a keto diet, your body has lower glycogen stores. Without carbohydrates to slow down alcohol absorption, your body processes it faster, leading to quicker intoxication and lower overall tolerance.

The best keto-friendly mixers include club soda, seltzer, diet soda, sugar-free sparkling waters (like Sparkling Ice), or plain water with a squeeze of lemon or lime.

While Tito's is carb-free, consuming alcohol can temporarily pause fat burning because your liver prioritizes metabolizing the alcohol over fat. This can slow down weight loss progress, so moderation is recommended.

Yes, despite being made from corn, Tito's is considered gluten-free because the distillation process removes gluten proteins. It is generally safe for people with celiac disease.

Using a sugary mixer like fruit juice or regular soda will introduce a high amount of carbs into your drink. This will raise your blood glucose and likely push your body out of the metabolic state of ketosis.

To minimize hangovers, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and consume alcohol in moderation. Because the keto diet can cause increased fluid loss, dehydration is a major contributor to feeling unwell the next day.