Gin Sling (low-calorie)
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 17.6% ABV ∙
A low-calorie Gin Sling shakes gin with lemon juice and a sugar-free sweetener syrup, then tops it long with soda water. Crisp and citrus-forward, with juniper backbone cutting through a light fizz and a clean, barely-sweet finish that never turns syrupy.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake the first 3 ingredients with ice: London dry gin 45 mlLemon juice 15 mlSugar-free sweetener syrup 10 ml and fine strain into the ice-filled glass
- Top with Soda water
- Garnish with a lemon slice
Tips
- Fine-strain the shaken mix into the ice-filled glass so no ice shards or pulp dull the soda water's fizz.
- Top with the soda water last and pour gently down the side of the glass to preserve its carbonation.
- Pre-chill the glass before building so the drink stays cold without needing extra ice to dilute it.
History
This is a modern, no-added-sugar take on the classic Gin Sling, swapping in a sugar-free sweetener syrup so the drink keeps its balance of citrus, sweetness, and soda without the calories of sugar syrup.
The Gin Sling itself descends from the sling, a simple mix of spirit, sugar, and water that was already common in America by the late 18th century. Sources place an early reference to the style in Maryland as far back as 1778, and the sling was well established by 1806, when a Hudson, New York newspaper defined the newly coined word "cocktail" by comparing it to the already-familiar "bittered sling." Gin was one of several spirits used in these drinks alongside rum, brandy, and whiskey, giving rise to the Gin Sling as one of many popular 19th-century variations, later codified in bartending manuals such as Jerry Thomas's guide. The word "sling" itself is of uncertain origin, often traced to a German word meaning "to swallow."
FAQ
How many calories are in this Gin Sling?
This low-calorie Gin Sling has about 108 calories per serving. It uses a sugar-free sweetener syrup and soda water instead of full-sugar mixers, which keeps the calorie count well below a standard Gin Sling made with sugar syrup.
What is the lowest calorie mixer for gin?
Soda water is the lowest-calorie mixer for gin, adding carbonation and volume with essentially no calories. This is why it tops off this drink, keeping it at only about 108 calories.
Is gin okay for weight loss?
Gin itself is relatively low in calories for a spirit, but what you mix it with matters more for a weight-loss diet. Topping it with soda water instead of a sugary mixer, as done here, keeps the calorie count down.
