The Healthiest Alcoholic Drinks You Should Order at the Bar

For many adults, enjoying a drink now and then is part of social life or relaxation. But not all alcoholic beverages are created equal. Some are loaded with sugar, syrups, and artificial mixers that can quickly turn one drink into a calorie bomb. Others, when consumed responsibly, contain antioxidants, lower sugar content, or ingredients with potential health benefits.

Remember, “Rolling down the street…sipping on gin and juice?” Even though Snoop Dogg popularized his drink of choice, gin & juice, back in the ’90’s in his hit song, don’t think it should be your go-to drink as you get older. Your belly, heart and other others would disagree with you if you did.

But before we take a look at some of the healthiest alcoholic drinks you can enjoy, here’s a brief history of how some alcoholic drinks were used as medicine–for real–not just the hot toddys and other elixers Big Mama used to give you.

History of Alcohol as Medicine

1. Greece and Rome: The First Medical Endorsements

The Greek physician Hippocrates, wrote extensively about wine’s therapeutic value. He used it to disinfect wounds, aid digestion, and relieve pain.

In ancient Rome, doctors like Galen prescribed wine for a wide range of ailments, believing it promoted balance within the body’s four humors (blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile).

Common uses included:

Wound cleaning (due to its antiseptic properties)
Mixing with herbs for coughs, fevers, and digestive problems
Mild pain relief or sedation before primitive surgeries

2. The Middle Ages: Monks and Medicinal Brews

During the Middle Ages, alcohol’s role as medicine grew even stronger. European monks became expert brewers and distillers, not for recreation, but for healing.

Monasteries often ran infirmaries, where they made herbal liqueurs to treat the sick. Famous spirits like Benedictine and Chartreuse were originally developed by monks as medicinal tonics infused with dozens of herbs and roots.

Distillation techniques refined by Arab alchemists, such as Avicenna, gave rise to stronger spirits — and the word alcohol itself comes from the Arabic “al-kuḥl,” meaning “the essence” or “the spirit.”

3. Colonial America: “Liquid Medicine” for the Masses

In early America, alcohol was widely used as a household remedy. Whiskey and rum were believed to cure colds, relieve toothaches, and calm nerves. Physicians in the 18th and 19th centuries routinely prescribed alcohol to:

Stimulate appetite
Aid sleep
Reduce pain or anxiety
Treat digestive issues

It wasn’t uncommon to find alcohol in tonics, cough syrups, and even early formulations of over-the-counter medicines. In fact, during Prohibition (1920–1933) in the U.S., doctors could still prescribe medicinal whiskey legally, as it was considered essential for certain ailments.

8 of the Healthiest Alcoholic Drinks

8. Mojito (Made Fresh and Light)

Ingredients: White rum, fresh mint, lime juice, soda water, a touch of honey or stevia

Why It’s Healthier:
A traditional mojito can be sugar-heavy, but a “light” version made with fresh ingredients and minimal sweetener is refreshing and much lower in calories. Mint and lime add antioxidants, and soda water replaces sugary mixers.

Recipe:

1.5 oz white rum
Fresh mint leaves
Juice of ½ lime
1 tsp honey or stevia
Top with soda water and ice

Calories: Around 120–130 (versus 250+ in bar versions)

7. Whiskey (Neat or on the Rocks)

Ingredients: Distilled fermented grain mash (barley, corn, rye, or wheat)

Why It’s Healthier:
Whiskey contains ellagic acid, an antioxidant compound that may help neutralize free radicals. It’s also low in sugar and carbs when consumed straight — no mixers needed.

Because it’s typically sipped slowly, it encourages mindful drinking and portion control.

Best Choice:

Small serving (1.5 oz)
Try single malt scotch or bourbon without added flavors

6. Gin and Tonic (With a Twist)

Ingredients: Gin, light tonic water or soda water, cucumber or herbs

Why It’s Healthier:
Gin is made with botanicals like juniper berries, coriander, and citrus peels — all of which have natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Switching from regular tonic water to light tonic or soda water cuts sugar dramatically, while adding cucumber, mint, or rosemary gives flavor and a dose of phytonutrients.

Best Choice:

Use 1.5 oz gin, 3 oz soda or light tonic, and fresh herbs
About 100 calories

5. Light Beer

Ingredients: Water, malted barley, hops, yeast

Why It’s Healthier:
While beer is often seen as a “belly builder,” light beers offer a moderate option. They typically contain 90–110 calories per 12 oz serving and less alcohol (around 4% ABV), making them easier to enjoy without overdoing it.

Beer also contains small amounts of B vitamins, silicon, and antioxidants from hops, which can support bone health and metabolism.

Best Choice:

Look for unfiltered or craft light beers with minimal additives.
Avoid flavored beers that add sugar and artificial colors.

4. Vodka Soda with Lime

Ingredients: Vodka, soda water, fresh lime juice

Why It’s Healthier:
This simple cocktail has no added sugars, syrups, or artificial mixers, making it one of the lowest-calorie alcoholic beverages you can order — usually under 100 calories per serving.

The carbonation keeps it refreshing, while the lime adds vitamin C and flavor without calories.

Health Tip: Choose club soda or sparkling water — not tonic water, which is loaded with sugar.

3. Tequila (100% Agave)

Ingredients: Blue agave plant

Why It’s Healthier:
Unlike many grain-based liquors, pure agave tequila is naturally low in sugar and carbohydrates. It also contains agavins — a type of natural sugar that doesn’t spike blood glucose levels like refined sugar does.

When consumed neat or with soda water and fresh lime, tequila is a clean, low-calorie choice that won’t cause a sugar crash.

Best Choice:

100% agave tequila (not mixto or blended versions)
Serving size: 1.5 oz (about 96 calories)

2. Champagne or Sparkling Wine

Ingredients: Fermented white grapes (sometimes blended with red)

Why It’s Healthier:
Champagne is relatively low in calories compared to many cocktails — around 90–100 calories per glass — and offers the same polyphenols (plant-based antioxidants) found in red and white wine.

It’s also naturally portion-controlled, since most people drink it in small flutes.

Health Tip: Choose brut (dry) varieties to avoid extra sugar.

1. Red Wine

Ingredients: Fermented red grapes

Why It’s Healthier:
Red wine often tops the list of “healthier” alcoholic drinks because it contains resveratrol, a plant compound found in grape skins. Resveratrol acts as an antioxidant that can help protect blood vessels, reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol, and potentially improve heart health.

Moderate red wine consumption has also been associated with the “French Paradox” — lower heart disease rates despite a diet rich in fats.

Best Choice: