Does Vodka Have Carbs? The Complete Guide to Vodka and Your Diet

You may be wondering how many carbs and calories are in your favorite drinks and spirits. Notably, vodka contains fewer calories compared to many other alcoholic beverages.

In this guide, we’ll explore how many carbohydrates are in a shot of vodka, as well as where vodka fits within various diets and lifestyles.

Before we get started, please note that this information is for adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly. Please also note that vodka is not a ‘health’ drink, nor should it be used as a dietary aid.

What Is In Vodka? Understanding the Basics

Before we dive into the specifics of vodka’s carbohydrate content, let’s take a moment to understand what vodka actually is and how vodka is made – because the production process directly impacts its nutritional profile.

Vodka itself is a distilled spirit, which means it’s made by distilling – or purifying – a fermented liquid, often made from grains or potatoes. Distillation is essentially the process of separating the fermented ‘mash’ from the liquid alcohol to create a purified spirit.

Carbohydrate Content in Vodka: The Facts

Vodka distillation removes any nutrients from its source ingredients, such as grains, potatoes or fruit, so you’re left with a pure spirit that mostly consists of ethanol and water.

However, if you’re adding the spirit to a sugary mixer, like cola or lemonade, this will increase the carb and calorie count.

Flavored types of vodka will also have added calories, due to the sugars from the additional extracts and ingredients. Nutritional information will always be displayed on the bottle, so take a look before you decide which to buy or use.

Compared to other alcoholic beverages, however, vodka is quite low carb. For example, a standard 5-ounce glass of wine has around 3 grams of carbs, and between 100-160 calories. Meanwhile, a pint of medium-strength lager has around 8-12 grams – around 182 calories.

Is Vodka Vegan?

Most spirits are made from plant-based ingredients like grains and potatoes. However, some parts of the production processes may not be vegan-friendly. For example, some filtration methods used may be of concern for some vegans, such as those that use animal proteins.

At Absolut, we use charcoal filtration, and do not use any animal products either in the filtration or production process. For more information about our processes, products, and ingredients, take a look at our FAQ page.

If you’re ever unsure about whether a product is not vegan-friendly, it’s always best to check with the manufacturer.

How Many Carbohydrates Are in a Shot of Vodka?

The majority of vodkas contain zero carbs due to the distillation process. This means that a shot of pure, unflavored vodka (1.5 oz) also contains 0 carbs. However, if you’re opting for a flavored spirit or adding it to a mixer, your drink will contain more carbohydrates.

Besides carbs, vodka does contain a certain number of calories, which comes from the alcohol itself. A standard 1.5 oz shot usually contains around 97 calories, though this will depend on the alcohol content, and the addition of sugar.

Let’s take a look at the nutritional information of a shot of vodka in more detail. We’re using a 1.5 oz (42g) shot of 80 proof (40%) vodka as our reference:

• Carbohydrates – 0g
• Calories – 97g
• Sugars – 0g
• Fibre – 0g
• Fat – 0g
• Cholesterol – 0g
• Vitamins – 0g
• Minerals – 0g
• Sodium – 0g

Conclusion: Enjoying Vodka Mindfully Within Your Diet

Vodka itself is considered carb-free and and vegan-friendly, but you should always double-check the bottle or the manufacturer before consuming. If you’re ever unsure about a spirit’s compatibility with your diet, you should also reach out to the manufacturer for peace of mind.

While vodka is mostly carb-free, this doesn’t make it a ‘health’ drink, or a substitute for eating and drinking well. You should always consult a healthcare professional if you have any questions or concerns about nutrition or dietary choices.