Calories in Gin and Tonic: A Refreshing Low-Calorie Choice
A gin and tonic is one of the most popular drinks in the world. Crisp, refreshing, and versatile, it’s also a surprisingly light option if you’re watching your calorie intake.
But what’s the calorie content of gin and tonic? And how do the Rock Rose Gin editions’ perfect serve G&Ts compare? Let’s explore.
How Many Calories Are in
Gin and Tonic?
A standard gin and tonic with regular tonic typically contains between 97–140 calories, depending on how much tonic you use.
On average:
- 25ml gin = 55–60 calories
- 50ml gin = 110–120 calories
- 100ml regular tonic water = 35–40 calories
- 200ml regular tonic water = 70–80 calories
- 100ml slimline/light tonic = 0–10 calories
- 200ml slimline/light tonic = 0–20 calories
That means:
- A single (25ml) gin with 100ml regular tonic comes in at around 90–100 calories
- A single (25ml) gin with 200ml tonic is closer to 125–140 calories
- With slimline tonic, you can enjoy a G&T for as little as 55–60 calories
By comparison:
- A 175ml glass of wine = 160–180 calories
- A pint of lager = over 200 calories
So a gin and tonic is one of the lighter alcoholic options — without compromising on taste.
Does the Garnish Add Calories?
The short answer is no — not really. A slice of grapefruit, curl of orange peel, or sprig of rosemary won’t add any significant calories. They simply enhance aroma and flavour, which is why garnishes are such an important part of the perfect serve.
Rock Rose Gin Perfect Serves
and Calories
At Dunnet Bay Distillers, we handcraft our award-winning Rock Rose Gin using a carefully selected combination of locally foraged botanicals. Each one is chosen for its flavour properties, creating a truly excellent gin that reflects the Scottish Highlands and captures the essence of Caithness in every bottle.
To help you enjoy Rock Rose Gin at its very best, we’ve put together some of our favourite G&T perfect serves from the core range — complete with calorie estimates so you can see just how light, refreshing, and low calorie a gin and tonic can be.
1. Rock Rose Gin Original – G&T Perfect Serve
- 25ml Rock Rose Gin Original (55 calories)
- 100ml tonic water (35–40 calories)
- Garnish: Toasted rosemary or a curl of orange peel
Total: 90–95 calories
Rock Rose Gin is flavourful and fresh, zesty yet berryful with a long smooth finish. The rosemary garnish enhances its herbal character, while orange peel brings out the sweeter side.
2. Rock Rose Citrus Coastal Edition – G&T Perfect Serve
- 25ml Rock Rose Gin Citrus Coastal Edition (55 calories)
- 100ml tonic water (35–40 calories)
- Garnish: A slice of grapefruit and a few goji berries
Total: 90–95 calories
Rock Rose Gin Citrus Coastal Edition is flavourful and fresh, zesty with a bracing sea air finish. Our most experimental edition to date was inspired by the Caithness coastline and is distilled using locally foraged kelp from Shore Seaweed and liquorice salt from Hebridean Mustard Company.
3. Rock Rose Gin Pink Grapefruit Old Tom – G&T Perfect Serve
- 25ml Rock Rose Pink Grapefruit Old Tom Gin (55–60 calories)
- 100ml tonic water (35–40 calories)
- Garnish: Fresh pink grapefruit peel
Total: 95–100 calories
A classic sweet Old Tom with a zesty finish, Rock Rose Gin Pink Grapefruit Old Tom uses organic pink grapefruit peel, all lovingly peeled by our distillery team! These are added to our botanical basket and vapour infused along with all our traditional gin botanicals. It is then lightly sweetened with muscovado sugar.
4. Rock Rose Smoked Orange Edition – G&T Perfect Serve
- 25ml Rock Rose Smoked Orange Gin (55 calories)
- 100ml tonic water (35–40 calories)
- Garnish: A twist of orange peel and sage
Total: 90–95 calories
A zesty citrus burst with a delicious smoked tea undertone. This release uses fine Lapsang Souchong tea to deliver smoky notes to enhance zesty organic orange peel. Complemented by tangerine sage and lemon verbena from our geodome, this is a richly complex gin with a bright bonfire nose and a palate that awakens the taste buds.
5. Rock Rose Navy Strength Gin – Perfect Serve Options
- With tonic
• 25ml Rock Rose Navy Strength Gin (75 calories, higher ABV = more calories)
• 75ml tonic water (35–40 calories)
• Garnish: Pink grapefruit
Total: 110–115 calories - Neat
• 25ml Rock Rose Navy Strength Gin (75 calories)
• Poured straight over ice
Total: 75 calories
Enjoy our Navy Strength Rock Rose Gin poured neat over ice to save calories, or pair it with tonic and a wedge of pink grapefruit for a bold, refreshing G&T.
Intense, fresh, and distinctive with warm pine, bright lemon sherbet, and rich berry notes, this higher ABV edition also reveals hints of blaeberries and rowan before finishing with lingering earthy botanicals for a truly complex sip.
A Lighter Way to Enjoy Gin
With Rock Rose Gin, you don’t need to compromise on flavour for fewer calories. A gin and tonic can be as low as 55–60 calories with slimline tonic, or around 90–100 calories with regular tonic (based on a 25ml gin and 100ml tonic). If you prefer using a full 200ml bottle or can of tonic, expect around 125–140 calories.
That still makes a G&T one of the lightest — and tastiest — drinks you can enjoy.
Why not try one of our perfect serves at home?
Explore our Rock Rose Gin range — available in our iconic Bottle for Life, eco-friendly refill pouches and miniatures.
For the best value — and to discover new G&T perfect serves every month with our limited-edition Rock Rose Gin guest pouches, join our Refill Rewards Club and enjoy:
- Free delivery straight to your door
- Plus exclusive members-only benefits
- Regular deliveries of your favourite Rock Rose Gin editions
- Flexibility to switch pouches anytime to explore the full range
- Access to exclusive limited-edition guest pouches
- Mixers and treats included in every box
Frequently Asked Questions about Calories in Gin and Tonic
The calorie content of a gin and tonic depends on the serve. A single 25ml gin with slimline tonic is around 55–60 calories, while with regular tonic it’s closer to 90–100 calories. A double with 200ml tonic can range from 145–200 calories depending on the tonic you choose.
A single 25ml measure of gin has around 55–60 calories on its own. Without tonic or mixers, gin is one of the lowest-calorie spirits you can choose.
Around 55–60 calories. Slimline tonic has very few calories, making this the lightest way to enjoy a gin and tonic.
A 50ml double gin has 110–120 calories. Add 100–200ml tonic (35–80 calories) and your G&T will be around 145–200 calories.
Yes. Even with regular tonic, a single gin and tonic is usually lighter than a 175ml glass of wine (160–180 calories).
Regular tonic adds 35–80 calories depending on how much you pour. Switching to slimline tonic is the easiest way to lighten your G&T.
A single (25ml) gin with slimline tonic or soda water, plus a garnish, is around 55–60 calories.
All Rock Rose Gin editions are similar in calorie content, with around 55–60 calories per 25ml serve. The difference is in flavour rather than calories. Pairing with slimline tonic keeps your Rock Rose G&T at just 55–60 calories.
Yes. Because of its higher ABV, Rock Rose Navy Strength Gin has around 75 calories per 25ml serve. Enjoy it neat over ice for a bold, low-calorie option, or add a splash of tonic and garnish for around 110–115 calories — still lighter than a glass of wine or a pint of beer.