There always comes a moment when we want to live on the lighter side of life here at Craft Gin Club HQ (take January, as we recover from the indulgence of Christmas and New Year’s Eve is a prime example.) But whether you’re lying on the sofa after a big Sunday roast, enjoying a summer BBQ or ordering takeaway with your gin pals, there are always times when you’re after a lighter choice in your gin glass without compromising on taste or flavour.
That’s why we’ve pulled together this list of our favourite low-calorie and low-sugar tonic waters and mixers to be enjoyed with all of your favourite craft gins and gin-based liqueurs. These delicious gin mixers are so good that you might find yourself reaching for them every time you want to whip up a gin & tonic!
11 of the best low-calorie and low-sugar mixers for gin:
Aqua Libra Fruit-infused Sparkling Water
Who says no sugar has to mean no flavour?! The Aqua Libra range comes in three crisp, fruity flavours - Cucmber, Mint & Lime, Raspberry & Blackcurrant and Pineapple & Grapefruit - which we sent our members in the January 2022 Gin of the Month box.
With absolutely no sugar, sweeteners, calories or anything artificial at all, they’re simply made with sparkling water, natural fruit flavours and a dash of lemon juice. We love them in these easy low calorie cocktails - just add your favourite gin and fruit!
2. TwelveBelow Tonics
Made with 100% natural ingredients and with only 12 calories per serving (hence the name), TwelveBelow’s low-sugar tonic waters are utterly delicious. We included the Twelve Below Pear & Cardamom Tonic in our January 2021 Gin of the Month box and their Classic Premium Tonic and Apple & Garden Mint Tonic in our January 2023 Gin of the Month box because they are perfect, lighter tonic waters to start the year, and those amazing fruits, herb and spice flavours make for an incredible low-calorie, low-sugar G&T recipe!
3. PURA Soda Cucumber & Lime
PURA Soda makes soft drinks that are brimming with natural flavours without using any artificial colourants and using only the smallest amounts of sugar possible to elevate their flavours without making them sickly sweet. We included their Cucumber & Lime edition in our January 2021 Gin of the Month box for it’s beautiful balance of fragrant cucumber and tart, zesty lime flavours. It works so well in our Cucumber Cooler as well as these other gorgeous cocktails.
4. Upstream Grapefruit & Bergamot
Putting the adventure back into your soft drinks, Upstream are here to bring the world incredible flavours. Using only natural flavours and UK spring water, their lightly sparkling soft drinks are zero-sugar and only 3 calories per can. With an exciting range of flavours including Grapefruit & Bergamot, Pomegranate & Lime and Strawberry & Lychee, their drinks are just as delicious on their own as they are with gin - try them in these two tantalising gin cocktails.
5. Nexba Strawberry & Peach Kefir
Whilst we won’t ever call drinking gin a “healthy” choice, you can definitely add a ton of beneficial ingredients to your glass, and Nexba Kefir is the real deal.
Fermented with real kefir crystals and brimming with all the nutrients including B vitamins, potassium and calcium, this is bursting with probiotic goodness for your gut, without any sugar or fructose. We loved their summery Peach & Strawberry kefir so much we sent it to our members in our July 2021 Gin of the Month box and it was a total hit - check out these three gin cocktails to mix it up with.
6. Dash Water Rhubarb & Ginger Soda Water
Made using only wonky fruit and vegetables that would otherwise be thrown away, Dash Soda Rhubarb & Fiery Ginger contains no sugar, calories or sweeteners, just beautiful, authentic rhubarb and ginger flavours. Paired with a good craft gin, it’s perfect served simply over ice.
7. The Artisan Drinks Co. Skinny Tonic Water
Artisan’s Skinny London Tonic Water is low-calorie and full of unique orange and lemon citrus flavours that work wonderfully with its crisp quinine base. It makes a wonderfully light and fresh G&T when paired with a good craft, juniper-forward gin like Boatyard Double Gin. What’s more, we love the London guard in heels on the label!
8. London Essence Pomelo & Pink Pepper Tonic Water
The mouth-watering mix of pomelo (which has a flavour profile that’s similar to grapefruit) and pink peppercorn at the heart of this low-calorie tonic water makes it so special - the pink colour helps too! We love mixing London Essence Pomelo & Pink Pepper Tonic Water with our favourite craft gins in cocktails like a Cosmo Highball or simply garnished with a slice of fresh lemon or grapefruit to make a delicious G&T.
9. Lixir Refreshingly Light Tonic Water
Refreshingly light by name, refreshingly light by nature, Lixir Refreshingly Light Tonic Water is made with 60% less sugar than is usually used to create more traditional tonic waters. That reduction in sugar has the wonderful effect of keeping the tonic water crisp and clean on the palate and allowing more of the deliciously tart citrus notes come through. Yum!
10. Fitch & Leedes Pink Tonic Sugar Free
With its tantalising mix of cucumber and rose flavours, Fitch & Leedes Pink Tonic Water never fails to get us very excited, and their sugar-free version is no different. It maintains all of those wonderfully refreshing and fragrant flavours but drops the sugar. It’s gorgeous in a Pink Pomegranate & Mint G&T.
11. Acti-Vit Sparkling Vitamin Water
Acti-Vit has two fabulous flavours of vitamin-rich sparking water: Lemon, Lime & Orange Sparkling Vitamin Water and Tropical Boost Sparkling Vitamin Water. Both contain your recommended daily allowance of seven different vitamins and absolutely no calories, sugar or caffeine - just fantastic fruit flavours. We love using them to make delicious low-calorie and low-sugar gin cocktails. Find the recipes here!
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