Vodka vs Gin vs Tequila vs Rum vs Whiskey: Nutrition

By the DrinkLeader team · Published 2026-09-26 · Data updated 2026-09-26 · 8 min read

Vodka, gin, tequila, rum and whiskey are close to interchangeable on the nutrition label when they are unflavored and bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof): a 1.5 oz shot has roughly 100 calories and no carbs. USDA lists 80-proof distilled spirits at 231 kcal and 0 g of carbohydrate per 100 g. What separates one bottle from another is its strength and any added sweetener, not the base ingredient.

Why unflavored spirits are so similar

A US standard drink is 14 grams of pure alcohol. The CDC and NIAAA give 1.5 oz of 80-proof (40% ABV) spirits as the equivalent, and that is the serving used for nearly every spirit in the DrinkLeader catalog. Distillation leaves a spirit that is essentially alcohol and water. USDA records 33.4 g of alcohol and no carbohydrate per 100 g of 80-proof distilled spirit, so nearly all its calories come from alcohol (about 7 kcal per gram of ethanol). Whether the base was grain, sugar cane, agave or grapes, the label ends up in the same place.

Calories, carbs and ABV by spirit type

Two things stand out. First, the calorie averages track average ABV: types with a higher average strength sit higher on calories, as you would expect if alcohol is the main calorie source. Second, every plain spirit type averages close to zero carbs, while liqueurs sit far higher. The averages blend flavored and unflavored bottles, so individual products can differ from them.

Same proof, same calories: named examples

Where two products share an ABV in the catalog they share a calorie count. A higher-proof gin has more calories than an 80-proof vodka for the same reason: more alcohol in the same 1.5 oz. Sorting bottles by ABV is a more useful way to compare them than by spirit category.

Where carbs show up: flavored spirits and liqueurs

Flavored does not automatically mean sweetened. Some flavored vodkas and rums in the catalog are unsweetened and list zero carbs, but others add sugar. Here are entries with 3 g or more carbs per shot, up to three per spirit type:

These products often also have a lower ABV than the plain bottling, which trims alcohol calories while adding sugar. Liqueurs go further. They are sweetened by definition, and the catalog has 133 of 160 liqueurs above 5 g of carbs per serving, although some, such as absinthe and bitter aperitif liqueurs, are listed with none.

Tequila and mezcal

Both appear in the catalog as separate types, and the unflavored bottlings in each list zero carbs per 1.5 oz shot, the same as vodka or gin. If you are choosing between them for carb reasons, there is no difference to exploit; choose by taste and check the label on any flavored or pre-mixed product. See the keto tequila page for the lowest-carb picks.

Whiskey, bourbon and rye

Aged brown spirits are also carb-free when unflavored, and their calories follow strength. Flavored whiskeys (cinnamon, honey, apple) are the ones to check. The catalog keeps whiskey, bourbon and rye as separate types, so compare all three in the table above rather than one alone.

Mixers change the picture

Because the spirit itself contributes so little carbohydrate, the mixer usually decides a drink's totals. Soda water or a sugar-free mixer keeps a drink close to the shot alone, while juice, tonic, cola and sweet-and-sour mix each add sugar. The best keto drinks and zero-carb drinks lists show which catalog entries need no mixer math at all.

How to compare spirits fairly

• Check the proof or ABV first. Higher ABV means more calories in the same shot.
• Check the serving column. Nearly all spirits are stored at 1.5 oz, but a pour at the bar can be larger.
• Treat flavored and sweetened bottles separately from plain ones.
• See how DrinkLeader ranks these on the methodology page.

This page is general information about nutrition data and is not medical advice. Alcohol is not a health food, and current US guidance is to limit alcoholic drinks.