Because going keto doesn’t necessarily mean going dry.
The keto diet has taken off in recent years, and everyone from athletes and A-listers to your neighbour Jenny seems to be giving the low-carb, high-fat lifestyle a crack. The goal is to reach a metabolic state known as ketosis, during which your body becomes a supercharged fat-burning machine by replacing carbohydrate intake with fats. There are some strict conditions involved, but the good news is you can still enjoy a drink while going keto, though you do have to be mindful of what you’re drinking.
Going keto can be a big lifestyle change, and alcohol may take a backseat while you adjust. But when you’re ready, there’s a huge range of keto-friendly drinks that can complement your new lifestyle without disrupting it. To help you find the best keto-friendly drinks, take your pick of these top ideas below.
Adhering to a keto diet doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a glass of wine. The thing to watch out for is residual sugar, which is where any carbohydrates are going to come from. Given this information doesn’t tend to be readily available on a bottle’s label, it’s important to know which styles of wine to avoid and how residual sugar translates to carbohydrates.
Your dry styles of red and white wines – pinot noir, chardonnay, pinot grigio, cabernet sauvignon – tend to have the smallest amount of residual sugar, so if you don’t have access to actual numbers, these are your best bet. That said, we’ve found that one of the simplest ways to ensure that carbohydrates are in check is actually by drinking bubbles. Champagne and Cava (the Spanish sparkling) are both labelled according to their sweetness, so it’s much easier to tell whether they are likely to have higher or lower levels of residual sugar.
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1. Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel Extra Brut
Champagne is labelled according to its sweetness, with Brut Nature/Zero being the driest and Doux the sweetest. This Piper-Heidsieck Champagne is an Extra Brut style, which means it’s right up at the drier end of the scale. It has 6g/l of residual sugar, or less than 1.5g of carbs per 150mL serving, so it’s a super tasty option for anyone on the keto diet and pairs well with keto-friendly foods like salmon and oysters.
2. Villa Conchi Extra Brut Imperial Cava
Cava uses a similar sweetness scale to Champagne, and just like the Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel Extra Brut, this cava from Villa Conchi falls into the Extra Brut category with 6g/l of residual sugar, or less than 1.5g of carbs per 150mL serving. It’s a dry, complex cava with persistent bubbles and an aromatic nose, working perfectly as an aperitif or with seafood or salad.
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3. Hahn Ultra Crisp
While a typical Aussie lager contains around 10g of carbohydrates per 375mL bottle, Hahn Ultra Crisp has just 4.5g. And not only is it low in carbohydrates, it’s also full strength and gluten free thanks to a brewing process that uses rice instead of wheat. Don’t expect complex flavours reminiscent of the craft beers that dominate the market, but if you’re after a cold, keto-friendly beer that tastes like beer, this is it.
4. Pure Blonde Crisp Apple Cider
Some of the sweeter styles of cider can pack in over 40g of carbs in the form of sugar, and while it’s been slim pickings for cider enthusiasts in the past, things are finally starting to change. Pure Blonde makes its Crisp Apple Cider with 60% less sugar and 50% less carbs than a regular cider, and with 8.5g of carbs per serving, it may just be the answer for those that love a cider as much as they love the keto diet.
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5. Grey Goose Original Vodka
We’re the first to admit that the classic combo of vodka and soda water can get a little tiresome, but going for a quality vodka like Grey Goose definitely makes a difference. Made from the best ingredients of France, this is a great keto-friendly spirit, and if you’re after a little more flavour in the mix, we’re all about adding a slice of lime or lemon – or both – along with some fresh mint leaves for bright aromatics.
6. Tanqueray No. Ten
Most gins are keto-friendly, but when mixing it with soda, we want as much flavour as we can get, and that means going for a juniper-dominant style like Tanqeray No. Ten. There’s also coriander, anjelica root and a hint of sweet licorice in here, which makes this a super aromatic and botanical pick. Perfect for simple mixers.
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7. Pals Vodka Peach Passionfruit & Soda
This Kiwi seltzer is ideal for anyone looking for a crisp drink that fits into keto guidelines. On top of that, it’s gluten-free, vegan and free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives. This crisp and clean drink makes for an enjoyable, refreshing experience that shows why seltzers are set to be a summer favourite.
8. White Claw Hard Seltzer Watermelon
This super popular seltzer brand gets it right every time, and this one, with watermelon, is no exception. This is made with sparkling water, triple- distilled spirit and a hint of natural watermelon flavour, creating another fresh, clean and keto-friendly option with plenty of summer fruit flavour.
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1. Is wine keto-friendly?
Yes, some white, red and sparkling wines are considered keto-friendly because they are generally low in carbohydrates. Pinot noir, chardonnay, pinot grigio, and cabernet sauvignon are some examples of drier wine styles, while brut and extra brut sparkling wines are also low-sugar options.
2. What are the best keto-friendly alcoholic drinks?
The focus should be on options that are low in carbohydrates and sugar. Spirits like vodka, gin and tequila are good choices as they generally contain little to no carbohydrates, but they need to be mixed with keto-friendly soda water and other sugar-free mixers. Other options could be dry wines, sugar-free cider and seltzers, but these should all still be consumed in moderation.
3. What alcoholic drinks should you avoid on keto?
When you are on a keto diet, you should avoid consuming sugary cocktails, sweet wines, dessert wines and high-carb beers. Always be mindful of the carbohydrate and sugar content when choosing a drink.
