Low Calorie Vodka Cocktail Recipes

Nothing quite helps kick off a night out like a nice cocktail, does it? And, nothing quite works as a better cocktail base than vodka, does it? Bartenders can tell you that vodka is considered to be a universal cocktail additive because of the fact that it doesn't have a distinct flavor of its own.

Vodka cocktails are popular because they work with every flavor palate. Unfortunately, they also tend to work poorly with diets. That's why many people don't drink, honestly.

As a liquor critic, I love vodka cocktails and am not about to drop them over the size of my waistline. That's why I stick to these low calorie vodka cocktail recipes below...

Vodka Gimlet

Many of the low calorie vodka cocktail recipes you'll see make a point of keeping things sweet — but not the Vodka Gimlet. Gimlets are known for being crisp, refreshing, and strong rather than sweet.

Gimlets are all about delivering a strong punch of lime juice with your liquor of choice. A traditional Vodka Gimlet, which is equal parts vodka and lime juice, therefore, will really only hit you with 145 calories.

Most people tend to add simple syrup or straight sugar to their Vodka Gimlets. If you choose to do this, you might have a higher caloric rating. So, if you can, skip the sugary stuff.

Vodka and Seltzer

Vodka and seltzer is one of the best ways to stick to a diet while enjoying the goodness that is a good ol' fashioned vodka cocktail. A single shot of vodka is only 97 calories, and seltzer has 0 calories in it.

Unlike other low calorie vodka cocktail recipes on this list, you don't really need an official guide to figure out how to make this one. All you need to make this cocktail is a shot of vodka (flavored or not), and to top the shot off with the seltzer of your choice (flavored or not). You can even add a lemon or lime for some extra flavor.

If you want a vodka cocktail that won't kill you, this is one of the best low calorie vodka cocktail recipes to choose.

Bloody Mary

Both a cause and a cure for hangovers, the Bloody Mary is a classic drink that focuses on the savory and spicy rather than the sugary and sweet. It's a great diet drink choice for a number of different reasons.

Along with being under 150 calories a pop, drinking a Bloody Mary allows you to get a good amount of vitamins and minerals in every sip. Additionally, high-fiber V8 might also mean that your Bloody Mary will fill you up before appetizers even come out of the kitchen.

Learning how to make a classic Bloody Mary is simple enough, and most restaurants have no problem making them in a pinch.

Vodka and Diet Soda

As we've said before, a single shot of vodka will only clock in at 97 calories. Diet soda, on the other hand, has no calories whatsoever. This leads adding a can of diet soda to a shot of vodka to be one of the best low calorie vodka cocktail recipes you can use — at least, in terms of caloric content.

The coolest thing about vodka-soda combos is that there are a nearly infinite number of ways you can make this happen. Here are some of my favorite choices for vodka-soda combos:

• Vanilla Vodka and Diet Cherry Cola
• Vodka and Diet Cucumber Soda
• Vodka and Diet Grape Soda
• Vodka and Monster Energy Absolute Zero

Cosmopolitan

Much love to Sex and the City for making this low calorie vodka cocktail as popular as it is. A Cosmopolitan focuses on vodka and cointreau to provide the buzz, but uses cranberry juice to deliver that deliciously tart pucker we all love.

You can make a Cosmopolitan that's really low calorie by choosing to switch regular cranberry juice for diet cranberry juice. Doing this will shrink the already reasonable 212 calorie drink to a more agreeable 150 calories a pop.

If you don't know how to make this classic cocktail, this easy recipe for a diet Cosmo will teach you how to make one of the best low calorie vodka cocktails out there. It is one of the best low calorie vodka cocktail recipes since it easy to understand and a smarter option for a cosmo.

Cape Codders

Cape Codders, also known as Vodka-Cranberries, are a mainstay of the bar scene. They're cheap, quick to make, and surprisingly tasty — even if you're using terrible turpentine flavored vodka.

This is one of easiest low calorie vodka cocktail recipes to use just by switching diet cranberry juice for the regular cranberry juice.

A standard Cape Codder will be around 190 calories. You can further slim it out by using five calorie diet cranberry juice, making the diet version a very reasonable 101 calories.

Phil Collins

You may have heard about a Tom Collins cocktail, but have you heard of a Phil Collins? Of all the low calorie vodka cocktail recipes, this is a perfect choice for people looking for exceptionally light, refreshing, and delightfully low calorie vodka cocktails.

To make a great Phil Collins, you'll need cucumber vodka, some sugar-free cranberry bitters, and some Chartreuse. Overall, you should expect a single Phil Collins drink to clock in under 180 calories.

You can get the original Phil Collins recipe online fairly easily, and once you try it, your love of vodka cocktails will experience a real Genesis. (Pun totally intended!)

Spiked Light Lemonade

Lemonade is really not the best mixer, at least, not the 200-calorie storebought stuff you see at picnics. However, some companies have been rolling out with some pretty tasty, high-quality lemonades that are around 40 calories at most.

Adding a shot of vodka to a light lemonade is a great way to make sure that you keep your bikini body on point without having to sacrifice your partying ways.

Assuming you're using 100-proof vodka, this will max out at only 136 calories. That's not a shabby look, if you ask us.

Screwdriver

A Screwdriver is a classic cocktail that bartenders love to mix — it's just vodka and orange juice. It is one of the easiest low calorie vodka cocktail recipes. With all the Vitamin C it packs, we can't hate on it. It's a diet-friendly drink, and one of the best low calorie vodka cocktails for people who just want an easy well drink.

While it's not as low calorie as others on this list, a Screwdriver is still under 200 calories. (It's 190, to be precise.) You can shave off more calories from this cocktail by choosing low calorie orange juice for an additional 40 calories saved.

Lemon Drop Martinis

Of all the low calorie vodka cocktail recipes we'll talk about, Lemon Drop Martinis might be one of the oldest. This sweet-tart martini option has been shown to be a hit with the ladies — and it should be.

In the 1970s, fern bars began to offer Lemon Drops as a way to get single women to enjoy life out at the bar scene. Incidentally, the original recipe for a Lemon Drop Martini was actually one of the lowest calorie drinks out there.

The original Lemon Drop will clock in at around 125 to 180 calories, depending on serving size, making it a great low calorie cocktail with a tangy punch.

However, you might want to be careful if you choose to order this at a chain restaurant. Most restaurants will add way more sugar, or even douse it with high fructose corn syrup mixer — which in turn makes it into a major calorie bomb.