Quick Answer
A Tito’s Punch drink from Chili’s contains approximately 490 calories per 16 oz serving. This is based on the standard recipe which includes Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Monin Pomegranate Syrup, fresh sour mix, and Sprite. The calories come mainly from the alcohol, syrups, and soda.
Ingredients and Nutrition Facts
The Tito’s Punch is made with the following key ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Tito’s Handmade Vodka (approx. 96 calories)
- 1 oz Monin Pomegranate Syrup (approx. 260 calories)
- 2 oz Fresh Sour Mix (approx. 10 calories)
- Sprite soda (approx. 124 calories)
Tito’s Handmade Vodka itself contains 96 calories per 1.5 oz serving (64 calories per 1 oz). Monin Pomegranate Syrup contains 130 calories per 0.5 oz or 260 calories per 1 oz serving.
The fresh sour mix is made from simple syrup, lemon, and lime juice and only contributes around 10 calories per 2 oz. Sprite soda contains approximately 62 calories per 6 oz serving, so 124 calories per the 12 oz used in the Tito’s Punch.
Adding up the key ingredients, the total calories per 16 oz Tito’s Punch is approximately:
| Tito’s Vodka (1.5 oz) | 96 calories |
| Pomegranate Syrup (1 oz) | 260 calories |
| Fresh Sour Mix (2 oz) | 10 calories |
| Sprite (12 oz) | 124 calories |
| Total | 490 calories |
So a 16 oz Tito’s Punch from Chili’s contains around 490 calories. This makes it a high calorie cocktail, providing close to 25% of daily calories for a standard 2000 calorie diet.
Alcohol and Sugar Content
In addition to calories, the Tito’s Punch also contains a significant amount of alcohol and sugar:
- Alcohol: The 1.5 oz shot of Tito’s Vodka contains just under 0.5 oz of pure alcohol.
- Sugar: The pomegranate syrup adds around 33g of sugar per serving.
The alcohol content makes this a strong cocktail that should be consumed responsibly. And the high sugar content from the pomegranate syrup means it is not the healthiest choice for regular consumption if you’re watching your sugar intake.
Tito’s Vodka Nutrition Facts
Since Tito’s Handmade Vodka makes up a significant portion of the calories and alcohol content in a Tito’s Punch, let’s take a closer look at the nutrition facts for Tito’s specifically:
| Serving Size | 1.5 oz (one shot) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 96 |
| Carbohydrates | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
As you can see, Tito’s contains 96 calories and 0 grams of carbs, protein, and fat per standard 1.5 oz pour. The calories come purely from the alcohol itself.
Tito’s is distilled from corn, so it would contain no gluten. It’s also certified kosher. So if you are looking for a gluten-free or kosher vodka option, Tito’s can be a good choice.
Pomegranate Syrup Nutrition Facts
Now let’s look at the nutrition facts for Monin Pomegranate Syrup, which adds significant calories and sugar to the Tito’s Punch:
| Serving Size | 1 oz |
|---|---|
| Calories | 260 |
| Total Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 66 g |
| Sugars | 57 g |
As you can see, a single ounce of the pomegranate syrup contains 260 calories, 0 fat, 5mg sodium, 66g total carbs, and 57g of sugar. So the syrup adds a substantial amount of sugar and nearly 1/4 of the calories in the Tito’s Punch.
How to Lighten Up the Tito’s Punch
If you are looking for ways to make the Tito’s Punch a bit lighter and less sugary, here are some ideas:
- Use sugar-free pomegranate syrup instead of regular syrup.
- Use diet sprite instead of regular sprite to reduce soda calories.
- Add extra ice to make it more diluted and lower calorie.
- Use club soda instead of sprite for a zero calorie mixer.
- Ask for less or no pomegranate syrup.
- Swap vodka for soda water with a splash of pomegranate juice.
Making some of these simple modifications can reduce the calories, sugar, and alcohol content while still preserving the core flavor profile.
Lower Calorie Chili’s Cocktail Options
If you are looking for lower calorie cocktails in general at Chili’s, here are some options under 300 calories:
- Skinny Rita (170 calories) – Gold tequila, fresh citrus sour, agave nectar
- Margarita on the Rocks (190 calories) – Lime margarita with rocks glass
- Strawberry Mango Margarita (260 calories) – Strawberry and mango margarita
- Mojito Classico (260 calories) – Classic lime mojito
Sticking with tequila and rum based cocktails in moderation is generally a good strategy for minimizing calories at Chili’s and when dining out in general. Avoid heavy cream or syrupy additions to keep the calorie counts down.
Conclusion
To summarize key points:
- A standard 16 oz Tito’s Punch from Chili’s contains approximately 490 calories.
- The high calories come mainly from alcohol, pomegranate syrup, and soda.
- You can lighten it up by using zero calorie mixers, less syrup, and more ice.
- When dining at Chili’s, stick to tequila/rum cocktails under 300 calories for lower calorie options.
So in answer to the original question – a Tito’s Punch packs nearly 500 calories! Knowing the calorie counts can help make informed decisions when looking for lighter cocktails.