Key points

White Russians, with ingredients like Kahlua, vodka, and heavy cream, contain as many calories as a McDonald's value meal.
Mudslides, made of Baileys, Kahlua, chocolate and vanilla ice cream, and heavy cream, have the same caloric content as a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut.
Mai Tais, containing three kinds of sugary alcohol, have a calorie count equivalent to a Wendy's double cheeseburger.
Frozen cocktails like margaritas, daiquiris, and pina coladas have high caloric content due to sugary pre-mixtures.
Frozen drinks like margaritas, daiquiris, and pina coladas also have high caloric content. The article suggests using simpler ingredients like fruit juices and club soda to create lower-calorie versions. It advises sticking to cocktails with one type of alcohol and a lower-calorie mixer for healthier choices.

White Russian

This mixed drink was made famous by Jeff Bridges' character in 1998 film The Big Lebowski. However, the White Russian is a calorie offender with ingredients like Kahlua, vodka, and heavy cream. Drinking one White Russian is the same as eating a value meal at McDonald's at 670 calories - yikes!

It is difficult to get a replacement for all that thick, milkshake-y goodness. However, you can replace the ingredients with healthier alternatives to get the same effect with fewer calories. Instead of heavy cream, use coconut milk. Since Kahlua is basically coffee, vodka, and sugar, just add a bit of espresso to your drink and more vodka to get the same taste.

Mudslide

Keeping with the dessert drink theme, Mudslides are the fancy version of a White Russian. It is a chocolaty drink that you have to bat your kids away from because it looks like a tasty milkshake. Mudslides are made of Baileys, Kahlua, chocolate and vanilla ice cream, and heavy cream, adding up to 556 calories - the same as chowing down a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut.

Once again, it is hard to find a suitable replacement for the delicious mudslide. But when you want to cut calories, you have to make sacrifices. Just blend coffee liqueur, vodka, low-fat chocolate milk, and ice cubes to get your new low-calorie mudslide.

Mai Tai

When you think of Mai Tai, you think of sitting on a beach while sipping on your delicious drink. Mai Tais, however, are one of the most hostile drinks for your bathing suit. This is because there are three kinds of sugary alcohol in this drink - spiced rum, coconut rum, and curacao. Mai Tais have a surprising 620 calories per nine ounce drink, comparable to Wendy's double cheeseburger.

For a low-calorie version of this drink, stick to light rum only, and then add orange juice, lemon juice, pineapple, and almond syrup instead of grenadine.

Frozen Concoctions

Frozen drinks come in all varieties, including margaritas, daiquiris, and pina coladas. Anything that is frozen uses a sugary pre-mixture to make the drink come to life. A margarita has 550 calories, the same as a seven layer burrito and beef chalupa from Taco Bell. The Daiquiri has 300 calories that you can also get from a piece of fried chicken at KFC. The Pina Colada has 586 calories, also found in 16 Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies.

For a margarita replacement, just mix tequila with lime and orange juice. A Daiquiri only needs pureed strawberries and rum. Pina Colada ingredients can be replaced with coconut rum, pineapple juice, and club soda.

In general, it is a good idea to stay away from cocktails that have multiple kinds of alcohol. Going basic with just one type of alcohol and a lower calorie mixer is usually a safer choice.

FAQs

What makes White Russian cocktails high in calories?

The high calorie content in White Russians comes from ingredients like Kahlua, vodka, and heavy cream.

How can I make a lower calorie version of a Mudslide?

A lower calorie Mudslide can be made by blending coffee liqueur, vodka, low-fat chocolate milk, and ice cubes.

What contributes to the high calorie count in Mai Tais?

Mai Tais have high calories due to the three kinds of sugary alcohol in the drink - spiced rum, coconut rum, and curacao.

Are all frozen cocktails high in calories?

Not all frozen cocktails are high in calories, but many are due to the use of sugary pre-mixtures.

How can I reduce the calorie content in my cocktails?

Reducing the number of types of alcohol and using lower calorie mixers can help lower the calorie content in cocktails.

Why is a Mai Tai considered a high-calorie cocktail?

A Mai Tai is considered a high-calorie cocktail because it contains three kinds of sugary alcohol: spiced rum, coconut rum, and curacao. This results in a drink that has 620 calories per nine ounce serving, comparable to a double cheeseburger from Wendy's.

How can a Mai Tai be made with fewer calories?

A Mai Tai can be made with fewer calories by using light rum only, and then adding orange juice, lemon juice, pineapple, and almond syrup instead of grenadine.

What is a general rule to follow when trying to choose lower-calorie cocktails?

A general rule to follow when trying to choose lower-calorie cocktails is to avoid drinks that have multiple kinds of alcohol. Opting for a basic drink with just one type of alcohol and a lower-calorie mixer is usually a safer choice.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Rob Rohatsch, MD

Dr. Rob Rohatsch, MD, is a Board-Certified Emergency Medicine physician and urgent care executive. He earned his MD from Jefferson Medical College, currently serves on multiple boards and is Solv’s Chief Medical Officer.

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March 26 2014
Written by Solv Editorial Team
Medically reviewed by: Dr. Rob Rohatsch, MD