Short answer: Yes, pure 100% blue Weber agave tequila is keto-friendly. A 1.5 oz shot has about 97 calories and zero carbs — no sugar, no fat, no protein. It's one of the lowest-calorie spirits you can drink on a low-carb diet.
The catch is everything else: the mixer, the rim, the second drink, and the kind of tequila you buy. A clean 100% blue Weber agave tequila with nothing added beyond agave and time is genuinely zero-carb. A cheap mixto blended with cane sugar, or a 100% agave tequila with added syrup or glycerin, isn't — and Mexican law doesn't require those additives to be disclosed.
Our #1 keto tequila pick: Don Londrés at $49. 100% blue Weber agave, nothing added beyond agave and time, zero carbs.
The numbers
A 1.5 oz (44ml) shot of pure 100% agave tequila: ~97 calories, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fat, 0g protein. All calories come from ethanol. Pure distilled spirits contain no carbohydrates — the distillation process leaves the sugars behind in the fermented mosto.
| Spirit | Calories | Carbs |
|---|---|---|
| Tequila (100% agave) | 97 | 0g |
| Vodka | 97 | 0g |
| Whiskey / Bourbon | 97 | 0g |
| Light beer (12 oz) | 100 | 6g |
| Wine (5 oz) | 120 | 4g |
| Margarita (typical) | 200–300 | 25–40g |
The difference between drinks isn't the spirit — it's the mixer.
Why "tequila is keto" is technically true
The ketogenic diet keeps carbs under ~20–50g per day. Pure tequila has zero. Caveats:
- Alcohol pauses fat burning. Your liver prioritizes metabolizing ethanol over anything else.
- Alcohol tolerance drops on keto. Most people get drunk faster on low-carb diets.
- Mixers destroy keto math. A margarita has 25–40g of carbs. Most of that is the orange liqueur and added sugar — not the tequila.
The hidden-carb problem with cheap tequila
Under Mexican tequila regulations, brands can legally add up to 1% of approved ingredients to any tequila — including 100% agave tequila — without disclosing it on the label. The four permitted additives: glycerin, caramel coloring, sugar-based syrup (the keto problem), and oak extract.
That sugar-based syrup is enough to push some "100% agave" tequilas out of strict zero-carb territory without the label saying so. Buying a tequila that publicly commits to nothing added beyond agave and time — like Don Londrés at $49 — is the cleanest way to keep your drink at true zero carbs. (More on this here.)
The keto-friendly tequila cocktails
Ranch Water — 2 oz blanco tequila, 0.5 oz fresh lime, top with Topo Chico. ~110 calories, zero carbs. The most keto cocktail ever invented. (Recipe.)
Skinny Margarita — 2 oz blanco tequila, 1 oz fresh lime, 1 oz fresh orange juice (or 0.25 oz monk fruit simple syrup). Skip the Cointreau. ~130 calories, ~3g carbs.
Tequila Soda with Lime — 2 oz blanco tequila, sparkling water, lime wedge. ~100 calories, zero carbs.
Keto Paloma — 2 oz blanco tequila, 0.5 oz fresh lime, 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice, top with sparkling water. ~130 calories, ~4g carbs. (Classic Paloma recipe here.)
Tequila cocktails to skip on keto
Classic Margarita with Cointreau (~25–40g carbs), Tequila Sunrise (~30g carbs), frozen margaritas (400+ calories), anything with "mix" in the name.
Tequila and other diets
Paleo: Pure 100% agave tequila is paleo-compatible. Whole30: Prohibits all alcohol. Gluten-free: Tequila is naturally gluten-free. Low-sugar / diabetic-friendly: A pure 100% agave tequila has no impact on blood sugar from carbs, though alcohol can cause blood sugar dips — consult your doctor.
The tequila "less hangover" claim
Premium 100% agave tequila is often credited with milder hangovers. Pure 100% agave tequilas contain fewer congeners than dark spirits. Mixto tequila contains more because of the additional cane-sugar fermentation. A clean Ranch Water usually hits much easier than a sweet margarita.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories are in a shot of tequila? A 1.5 oz shot of 100% agave tequila has about 97 calories.
Does tequila have carbs? Pure 100% agave tequila has zero carbs. Mixto may have trace carbs from added sugars.
Is tequila better than vodka for keto? Calorically identical. Both are zero-carb when pure.
Does anejo tequila have more carbs than blanco? No, both should be zero carbs if produced without added sugar-based syrup.
Is a margarita keto? A standard margarita with Cointreau is not keto-friendly (~25–40g carbs). A Tommy's Margarita with minimal agave can stay under 10g.
What's the best low-calorie tequila drink? Ranch Water. 2 oz tequila + 0.5 oz lime + Topo Chico = ~110 calories, zero added sugar.
Build keto-friendly drinks with Don Londrés
- Shop Don Londrés Blanco — 100% blue Weber agave, nothing added beyond agave and time. Zero carbs.
- Read the brand story
Don Londrés is a Black-owned, 100% blue Weber agave tequila brand crafted in Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco. 50+ international awards. Please drink responsibly. 21+.