Which Liqueur Has the Least Sugar?

November 12, 2025 •

3 min read

Most liqueurs are known for being quite sweet, however some brands and types contain significantly less sugar than others. Finding a liqueur with the least sugar requires understanding how they are made and which ingredients contribute to their sweetness. This guide explores specific low-sugar options and provides a comparison to help you make informed choices for your cocktails.

Quick Summary

The lowest-sugar liqueurs are often those made with natural, low-calorie sweeteners, or are categorized as 'extra dry,' such as Algebra Extra Dry Coffee Liqueur and Barlei's sugar-free options. The key is seeking specialty brands that specifically craft lower-sugar products or turning to pure spirits, which contain zero grams of sugar.

Key Points

Zero-Sugar Spirits Are Best: Pure distilled spirits like vodka, gin, and tequila contain zero grams of sugar and offer the most control over sweetness.
Low-Sugar Liqueur Brands Exist: Specialty brands like Algebra, Barlei, and Derw specifically produce liqueurs with significantly less sugar, often using natural sweeteners.
Avoid Cream and Traditional Coffee Liqueurs: Classic liqueurs such as Baileys and Kahlúa are notoriously high in sugar and should be avoided on a low-sugar diet.
Check for 'Extra Dry': The term 'extra dry' or classifications that indicate lower sweetness are good indicators of a lower sugar content in a liqueur.
Use Zero-Sugar Mixers: The sugar content in cocktails often comes from mixers like soda and juice, so opt for sugar-free or fresh alternatives.
Make Your Own Simple Syrup: Replace sugar-based syrups with ones made from natural sweeteners like stevia, monk fruit, or allulose to control sugar levels.

Understanding the Sugar in Liqueurs

Liqueurs are sweetened spirits, but the amount of sugar varies. The legal classification of 'crème' liqueurs requires a minimum sugar content of 200g per litre. Modern brands have introduced production methods to offer options with lower sugar counts, using natural, zero-calorie sweeteners like stevia or erythritol. A pure distilled spirit, like vodka, gin, or tequila, contains zero sugar and zero carbohydrates before any mixers are added. Sweet mixers typically contribute the most sugar to a cocktail.

Leading the Pack: Liqueurs with the Lowest Sugar Content

For those seeking the lowest-sugar liqueur, the search often points to newer, specialty brands focused on health-conscious consumers. Here are some examples:

Algebra Extra Dry Coffee Liqueur: This brand has just 100g of sugar per litre, which is the minimum legal sugar content for a liqueur, and less than traditional coffee liqueurs.
Barlei Liqueurs: This Australian brand specializes in naturally sugar-free liqueurs and aperitivos, using premium ingredients. Their orange liqueur is naturally sugar-free.
Derw Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur: With only 8.4g of sugar per 100ml, Derw offers a low-sugar alternative to major coffee liqueur brands, which contain more.
Pale Ink Sugar-Free Coffee Liqueur: This Hong Kong-based company uses natural, zero-calorie stevia extract to create a sugar-free coffee liqueur.

The Zero-Sugar Alternative: The Role of Spirits

For the least amount of sugar, the best choice is a pure, unflavored distilled spirit. By starting with a zero-sugar base, you have complete control over the sweetness of your drink.

Low-Sugar Liqueur and Spirit Comparison

To highlight the difference, here is a comparison table of various liqueurs and spirits. All figures can vary by brand and serving size.


Beverage	Type	Approximate Sugar Content (per 100ml)	Notes
Vodka, Gin, Tequila (unflavored)	Spirit	0g	Pure distilled spirits contain no sugar.
Algebra Extra Dry Coffee Liqueur	Liqueur	10g	Meets minimum legal sugar content for a liqueur.
Derw Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur	Liqueur	8.4g	Uses a natural process to reduce bitterness and sugar.
Barlei Liqueurs (Various)	Liqueur	0g	Specifically formulated to be naturally sugar-free.
Baileys Original Irish Cream	Liqueur	~20g	A creamy, sweet liqueur with high sugar content.
Kahlúa Coffee Liqueur	Liqueur	~39g	One of the highest sugar content liqueurs.

How to Create Low-Sugar Cocktails

Creating a cocktail without excessive sugar is easy with the right ingredients. Instead of high-sugar liqueurs and syrups, consider these substitutions:

Use Sugar-Free Liqueurs: Brands like Barlei offer flavor without the sugar.
Choose Zero-Sugar Spirits: Start with an unflavored vodka, gin, or tequila. These spirits have a zero-carb base, giving you full control.
Opt for Natural Sweeteners: Use a sugar alternative like stevia, monk fruit, or allulose. These are zero-calorie options that provide sweetness without the carbs.
Use Fresh Ingredients: Muddle fresh fruits, herbs, or citrus peels to infuse your drinks with natural flavor instead of sugary juices or syrups. A vodka soda with a twist of lime is a refreshing, zero-sugar option.
Select Sugar-Free Mixers: Choose diet sodas, club soda, or seltzer water instead of regular sodas or juices, which are packed with sugar.

Conclusion: The Final Verdict

While the term “liqueur” is synonymous with sweetness, there are now specialty brands like Barlei and Pale Ink that offer genuinely sugar-free options by utilizing natural, zero-calorie sweeteners. However, the absolute least sugar option remains a pure distilled spirit such as vodka, gin, or tequila, which contains zero grams of sugar. For health-conscious drinkers, the best approach is to start with a zero-sugar spirit and use fresh ingredients or sugar-free alternatives to control sweetness, rather than relying on heavily sweetened, traditional liqueurs. This gives you the flexibility to craft delicious cocktails that align with a low-sugar lifestyle.

Authoritative Link: Difford's Guide Liqueurs Explained - A comprehensive guide on liqueurs, their classifications, and production methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

A spirit is a distilled alcoholic beverage with no added sugar, while a liqueur is a spirit that has been sweetened and flavored with various ingredients like fruits, herbs, and spices.

No, not all flavored spirits are liqueurs. Flavored spirits sometimes have a high alcohol content and may contain sugar, but liqueurs are specifically defined by their added sweetness and generally lower ABV.

Pure distilled spirits like vodka, gin, and tequila contain zero grams of sugar, making them the lowest-sugar alcoholic drink available, provided they are consumed without sugary mixers.

Most traditional liqueurs are not suitable for a keto or low-carb diet due to their high sugar content. However, specific sugar-free or extra dry liqueur brands can be used in moderation.

Some herbal liqueurs are lower in sugar, but you must check the specific brand. Options labeled as 'dry' or that explicitly state low or no sugar content are the best choices.

Derw Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur contains significantly less sugar than traditional brands like Kahlúa, and Pale Ink offers a completely sugar-free version using stevia.

To reduce the sugar in your cocktails, start with a zero-sugar base spirit, use fresh-squeezed juices and muddled fruits instead of syrups, and replace sugary mixers with club soda or diet sodas.