Whiskey vs Bourbon vs Rye: Calories and Carbs Compared

By the DrinkLeader team · Published 2026-10-13 · Data updated 2026-10-12 · 8 min read

Whiskey, bourbon and rye have nearly the same nutrition per pour: close to 0g of carbs and 108 to 120 calories per 1.5 oz on average. Bourbon is highest (120), then rye (114), then other whiskey (108), and that order follows average strength, not the grain or the barrel. The one real exception is flavored whiskey, where added sweeteners push carbs up.

What separates the three

The names describe how the whiskey is made, not what it contains nutritionally. Under the US federal standards of identity in 27 CFR Part 5, bourbon is made from a mash of at least 51% corn and aged in new charred oak barrels. Rye whisky is made from a mash of at least 51% rye. Other whiskeys, including Irish, Scotch, Canadian and Tennessee styles, follow their own rules, and the catalog groups many of them under "Whiskey."

All of them are distilled, which removes the sugar and starch from the grain mash and leaves ethanol, water and flavor compounds. The color and flavor of aged whiskey come from the barrel, and none of that adds meaningful carbohydrate. So the three categories share the same basic numbers.

The averages side by side

Vodka and rum are included for scale. All three whiskey groups average more calories than vodka and rum because the average bottle is bottled at a higher strength. The ABV column explains almost all of the difference.

Lowest-calorie bourbons and ryes

If you want the lightest pour, look at the lowest-calorie entries. They are the standard 80-proof bottles:

The lowest rows share their figure because they share a proof. Brands that publish several expressions, such as Wild Turkey, Woodford Reserve and Old Forester, show how calories rise a little with each step up in proof.

High proof: where calories do change

Calories are about alcohol, and alcohol is about ABV. The NIAAA standard drink is 1.5 fl oz at about 40% ABV, which holds 14 grams of pure alcohol. A barrel-proof bottle at 55% or more holds a good deal more alcohol per pour, so the same 1.5 oz counts as more than one standard drink. These are the strongest bourbons in the catalog:

A rough rule: each additional 10 points of ABV adds about 25 calories to a 1.5 oz pour, because alcohol supplies about 7 calories per gram. Treat that as an estimate and check the catalog rows above for the specific bottle.

Flavored whiskey is a different product

Cinnamon, honey, apple and "moonshine" flavors are often sold under the whiskey name but are sweetened. These are the whiskey entries with 3g or more of carbs per pour:

The highest-carb whiskey on the list has 11.0g per pour. Those bottles are usually lower in ABV too, so the calories are not always higher; the sugar replaces some of the alcohol. Read the row, not the category.

Whiskey in a drink

An old fashioned or a whiskey and soda has the base spirit plus whatever sugar goes into it. A whiskey sour or a canned whiskey cocktail typically adds sweetener and juice. Check the low-calorie cocktail guide for how to order a lighter version, and the whiskey keto page for the carb view of the whole category.

How to choose

• For nutrition, there is no reason to prefer bourbon over rye or Scotch. Pick on flavor.
• Compare ABV. Higher proof means more calories per pour and more than one standard drink in a 1.5 oz glass.
• Avoid flavored or liqueur-style bottles if you are watching carbs.
• Serve it neat, on ice or with soda water to keep added sugar at zero.
• Measure your pour. A bar pour is often 2 oz or more, and a home pour can be larger still. See the standard drink guide.

This page is information, not medical advice. The CDC defines moderate drinking as up to two drinks a day for men and one for women when adults choose to drink, and says drinking less is better for health than drinking more. Catalog figures are rescaled to a standard serving for comparison; see the methodology page for details.