How many calories in your cocktail?

Football season is just around the corner! Which also means that the holidays aren’t far behind. This time of year means lots of parties, tailgating, and nights out on the town on the weekends.

Have you ever wondered what to order at the bar without ruining all your hard work at bootcamp and the gym?

Let’s compare drinks in terms of the least amount of calories it takes to get a little buzz going. This is calculated by the Calorie to Alcohol Ratio (C.A.R.) where the lower the number is a better choice. The C.A.R. is calculated by dividing the calories in 12 ounces of an alcoholic beverage by the Alcohol % by Volume (ABV). These numbers were obtained from the website Get Drunk Not Fat. (getdrunknotfat.com)

Liquor:
When watching your calories, liquor drinks are usually the best way to go. They top the list in having the lowest calorie to alcohol ratio. Jose Cuervo Especial Tequila (Silver or Gold), Crown Royal-Special Reserve, Ketel One Vodka, and Gordons Dry Gin all have 64 calories per ounce and a C.A.R. of 19.2. Due to its slightly higher alcohol content, Knob Creek Bourbon has the same C.A.R. of 19.2 but has 80 calories per ounce. Some other options are Bacardi Gold Rum and Jack Daniels Whiskey. Both have 65 calories per ounce and a C.A.R. of 19.5.

Bacardi 151 Rum has 122 calories per ounce, which is one of the highest in the list of liquors. However, it is much higher in alcohol content, 75.5% compared to 40% for Ketel One Vodka, which makes its C.A.R. only 19.4. This means you can enjoy much LESS of the liquor for the same effect. Malibu Rum has lower calories per ounce, only 54, but has lower alcohol content, and thus, a higher C.A.R. of 30.9. This means you have to drink MORE for the same effect, negating its low calorie benefit. Stay away from creamy liqueurs such as Bailey’s Irish Cream. Bailey’s has 97 calories per ounce, 5.7 grams of sugar and a C.A.R. of 67.8.

Distilled liquor contains no sugar and no carbohydrates. “The distillation process converts the carbohydrates and the sugars into ethyl alcohol and there is no trace of them left behind.” However, unless you’re taking straight shots, carbs and sugar can sneak their way into your cocktail.

Orange juice (8 ounces) can add 110 calories and 20 grams of sugar.

Cranberry juice (8 ounces) adds 130 calories and 30 grams of sugar.

Regular coke (8 ounces) adds 100 calories and 27 grams of sugar.

To avoid added calories and sugar, choose regular water, seltzer water, or seltzer water with just a splash of OJ or cranberry juice (my personal favorite). A squeeze of fresh lemon or lime will add a bright flavor without any unnecessary calories! Also, some flavored vodkas, such as Smirnoff Raspberry Twist, add extra flavor without any extra calories or sugar.

Wine:
Wine has the highest sugar content of any other alcoholic beverage. “The fermentation process of wine does not completely eliminate the sugar in its base ingredients.” Wine is also high in carbs which will be converted into glucose in your body. Most wines fall in the middle ground on the C.A.R. scale. A white wine, such as sauvignon blanc has about 28 calories per ounce and a C.A.R. score of 25.8. Most white wines have 1 to 2 grams of sugar per serving. A red wine, such as merlot, has 30 calories per ounce and a C.A.R. of 26.2. Most red wines have 2 to 4 grams of sugar per serving.

A fun way to cut your wine calories in half is to make a wine spritzer. Just add some seltzer water to your wine to give it a little bubble. This will allow you to drink less wine/calories while still drinking a full glass. Sangria is a wine cocktail mixed with fruit juices. This yummy concoction can easily double the calories and add 15 to 20 grams of sugar per glass. The same goes for the popular brunch favorite, the mimosa. A mimosa is champagne mixed with orange juice, so be careful of the hidden calories/sugar content in the juice.

Beer:
Beer is the staple drink of football season. Although beer does not contain any sugar, it is high in carbohydrates. Here is how some popular lower calorie beer options stack up: Michelob Ultra has 95 calories for a 12 ounce glass with a 22.6 C.A.R.; Bud Light Platinum has 137 calories for a 12 ounce glass with a 22.8 C.A.R.; Miller Lite has 96 calories for a 12 ounce glass with a 22.9 C.A.R.; Bud Select 55 has 55 calories for a 12 ounce glass with a C.A.R. of 22.9. Here are two popular non-lite beer options for comparison: Budweiser has 145 calories for a 12 ounce glass with a 29 C.A.R.; Heineken has 150 calories for a 12 ounce glass with a 30 C.A.R.

Before you leave the house, have a plan in mind about what you will order and how many drinks you will indulge in. Having a game plan will help prevent a Mai Tai (260 calories, 17 grams of sugar) showing up at your table.

With any option you choose, please do so responsibly and with moderation.

What is your favorite low-calorie cocktail?  Share with us in the comments section below.  Please ‘like’ this post if you found it helpful.  Have fun this weekend!