This guide compares the most popular vodka brands from a diet perspective. You will learn which vodkas mix best with zero calorie options, which are smooth enough to sip, and how to get the most value without sacrificing quality.
Vodka Nutrition: The Basics
Standard 80 proof vodka (40% ABV) contains:
- Calories: 97 per 1.5 oz shot
- Carbohydrates: 0 grams
- Sugar: 0 grams
- Fat: 0 grams
- Protein: 0 grams
This profile is identical across all unflavored vodkas at 80 proof, whether you pay ten dollars or one hundred dollars per bottle. The alcohol itself provides all the calories.
Higher Proof Vodkas
Some vodkas come in higher proof options:
- 100 proof (50% ABV): 124 calories per 1.5 oz
- 151 proof (75.5% ABV): 190 calories per 1.5 oz
Higher proof vodkas deliver more alcohol per pour, which can mean drinking less volume overall. However, they also require more careful mixing to avoid overly strong drinks.
Premium Vodka Brand Comparison
Grey Goose
Origin: France | Base: Wheat | Price: $$$$
Grey Goose became synonymous with premium vodka through brilliant marketing and genuinely smooth production. The wheat base creates a slightly sweet, creamy mouthfeel that works well in martinis and simple cocktails.
Diet verdict: Excellent for sipping and simple mixes where vodka quality matters. The smoothness means you may drink it more slowly, naturally reducing consumption. However, the premium price means budget conscious drinkers can find equal quality elsewhere.
Best uses: Vodka martinis, vodka on the rocks, any drink where vodka is the star
Belvedere
Origin: Poland | Base: Rye | Price: $$$$
Belvedere uses Polish rye and a four column distillation process. The result is a vodka with subtle spice notes and excellent smoothness. It has a slightly more characterful taste than completely neutral vodkas.
Diet verdict: Premium quality justifies sipping neat, reducing mixer needs. The slight flavor character means it works better in simple preparations rather than complex cocktails where it might compete with other ingredients.
Best uses: Martinis, vodka sodas, any preparation highlighting the spirit
Ketel One
Origin: Netherlands | Base: Wheat | Price: $$$
Ketel One offers near premium quality at a more accessible price point. The Dutch distillery uses a combination of column and pot still distillation, creating a crisp vodka with citrus undertones.
Diet verdict: Excellent value for quality. Works beautifully with club soda and lime without needing additional flavoring. The citrus notes complement low calorie mixers naturally.
Best uses: All purpose premium mixing, vodka sodas, martinis
Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Origin: Texas, USA | Base: Corn | Price: $$
Tito’s has become America’s bestselling vodka by offering excellent quality at a reasonable price. The corn base makes it naturally gluten free and creates a slightly sweet, smooth character.
Diet verdict: Outstanding value for diet drinkers. Smooth enough to mix with just soda water, inexpensive enough to use freely. The corn base appeals to those avoiding wheat and rye.
Best uses: Everything. Equally good in simple vodka sodas and complex cocktails.
Absolut
Origin: Sweden | Base: Winter Wheat | Price: $$
Absolut pioneered premium vodka marketing in the 1980s and remains a reliable choice. The continuous distillation process creates a pure, neutral spirit that mixes well with everything.
Diet verdict: Good all around choice. Neutral enough to disappear in diet mixers. Widely available at consistent quality. Not quite as smooth as Tito’s for sipping but excellent for mixing.
Best uses: Mixed drinks, cocktails where vodka should not dominate
Smirnoff
Origin: Multiple countries | Base: Corn | Price: $
The world’s bestselling vodka brand offers consistent quality at budget prices. Smirnoff is triple distilled and ten times filtered, creating a clean spirit that works well in any application.
Diet verdict: Best value for budget conscious drinkers. No reason to spend more if you are mixing with diet soda or tonic. The neutral profile means mixer flavors dominate, which is exactly what you want.
Best uses: Any mixed drink, especially those with flavored mixers
Budget Vodkas Worth Considering
Kirkland (Costco) Signature
Price: $ | Quality: Excellent
Persistent rumors link Kirkland vodka to Grey Goose production. Whether true or not, blind taste tests consistently rank Kirkland among the best values in vodka. If you have Costco access, this is the budget choice.
Luksusowa
Price: $ | Quality: Very Good
This Polish potato vodka offers surprising quality at a low price point. The potato base creates a creamy texture uncommon at this price. A favorite among vodka enthusiasts seeking value.
Monopolowa
Price: $ | Quality: Good
Austrian potato vodka with a clean profile. Not as refined as premium options but perfectly serviceable for mixing. Often found at very attractive prices.
Flavored Vodkas: A Warning
Flavored vodkas complicate the calorie equation significantly. Some contain added sugar, others use artificial sweeteners, and many fall somewhere in between.
Flavored Vodkas to Approach with Caution
| Product | Calories per 1.5 oz | Sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Smirnoff Vanilla | 97 | 0g |
| Absolut Citron | 97 | 0g |
| Pinnacle Whipped | 100+ | 1g+ |
| UV Cake | 105+ | 2g+ |
| Smirnoff Kissed Caramel | 105+ | 3g+ |
The pattern: Citrus and herbal flavored vodkas typically have zero added sugar. Dessert flavors like cake, whipped cream, and caramel almost always contain added sweeteners.
Safe Flavored Vodka Choices
- Ketel One Citroen
- Absolut Lime
- Absolut Peppar
- Stoli Cucumber
- Grey Goose La Poire
These flavors use natural essences without added sugar, maintaining the zero carb profile of unflavored vodka.
Best Vodka Cocktails for Dieters
Vodka Soda
Calories: 97 | Carbs: 0g
The ultimate diet drink. Any vodka works; quality matters less when diluted with soda water. Add fresh lime for brightness without calories.
Vodka and Diet Tonic
Calories: 97 | Carbs: 0g
Diet tonic adds bitter quinine complexity with zero calories. A more interesting drink than vodka soda for some palates.
Moscow Mule (Diet Version)
Calories: 110 | Carbs: 3g
Use diet ginger beer instead of regular. The spicy ginger flavor satisfies without the 20+ grams of sugar in standard ginger beer.
Vodka Martini
Calories: 130 to 175 | Carbs: 0 to 1g
Dry vermouth adds minimal calories. This is where premium vodka matters since you taste the spirit directly.
Vodka with Flavored Sparkling Water
Calories: 97 | Carbs: 0g
La Croix, Waterloo, or similar unsweetened sparkling waters add variety without calories. Grapefruit, lime, and coconut flavors work particularly well.
Vodka Drinks to Avoid
| Drink | Calories | Carbs | Problem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmopolitan | 250+ | 15g+ | Cranberry cocktail and triple sec |
| White Russian | 350+ | 18g+ | Cream and coffee liqueur |
| Mudslide | 500+ | 40g+ | Cream, chocolate, and liqueurs |
| Vodka Cranberry | 180+ | 15g+ | Cranberry cocktail is sugar water |
| Lemon Drop | 200+ | 20g+ | Simple syrup and triple sec |
| Sex on the Beach | 280+ | 30g+ | Multiple juices and schnapps |
Shopping Guide: Best Value by Category
Best Overall Value
Tito’s Handmade Vodka: Premium quality at mid shelf prices. Smooth enough to sip, affordable enough to use freely in mixed drinks.
Best Budget Value
Kirkland Signature: If you have Costco access, there is no reason to buy anything else for mixing. Premium quality at bottom shelf prices.
Best Premium Value
Ketel One: Near Grey Goose quality at a noticeable discount. Perfect for those who want premium without the premium price.
Best for Martinis
Belvedere or Grey Goose: When vodka is the star, quality matters. These smooth out the ethanol burn and provide clean, satisfying martinis.
Best for Flavored Vodkas
Ketel One Botanicals: Real botanical infusions with no added sugar, minimal calories, and lower alcohol (30% ABV = 73 calories per serving).
The Bottom Line
All unflavored vodkas at the same proof have identical nutritional profiles. The differences come down to taste, smoothness, and value. For diet purposes, any quality vodka works perfectly with zero calorie mixers.
Spend more on vodka when you are sipping it or making martinis. Spend less when you are mixing with diet soda or flavored sparkling water. Avoid flavored vodkas with dessert names, and always check labels for added sugar.
Use the DrinkLeader database to look up specific vodka cocktails and find the lowest calorie options for your home bar.
Calorie values based on standard 80 proof vodka. Higher proof products contain proportionally more calories. Always drink responsibly.
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