Updated May 2026.
Unflavored whiskey has 0 grams of sugar on the USDA line for 80-proof distilled spirits (gin, rum, vodka, whiskey). Distillation does not leave table sugar in the bottle. A 1.5-ounce shot is about 97 calories, all ethanol, 0 g carbohydrate. That is USDA FoodData Central, not a keto-marketing sheet.
Flavored whiskey is a different class. Honey, maple, apple, and cinnamon SKUs add sweetener after distillation. Fireball, honey bourbons, and whiskey liqueurs are not the 0 g row. Mixers — cola, ginger ale, sweet vermouth, a sugar cube — are where most “whiskey calories” actually come from.
Where the sugar is (and is not)
| Drink | Sugar / carb (typical) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 80-proof bourbon, rye, Scotch, Irish, Canadian | 0 g / 0 g (USDA 80-proof spirits) | Distilled, unflavored |
| Straight bourbon (TTB) | No added coloring or flavoring allowed | 27 CFR 5.143 table: bourbon may not use those “harmless” additives |
| Some Scotch | Spirit caramel (E150a) for color is allowed in the UK | Color, not a dessert-spoon of sugar we will invent a gram count for |
| Flavored whiskey / whiskey liqueur | Sugar present — read the label | Different TTB class |
| Old Fashioned (whiskey + sugar + bitters) | The cube or syrup is the sugar | Count the sweetener |
| Whiskey & cola | ~20–30 g from 8 oz cola, plus the 97 kcal shot | The soda, not the whiskey |
Jim Beam’s own FAQ lists the flagship at 97 calories, 0 g carbs, 0 g protein, 0 g fat per 1.5 fl oz, and points to drinksmart.com for other SKUs. That matches USDA. It does not make bourbon a health food. See bourbon calories and Scotch calories.
Mash bill is not residual sugar
Bourbon is at least 51% corn. Corn is sweet in the mash. It is not sweet in the bottle. Yeast eats the sugar; the still takes ethanol. People taste vanilla and caramel from new charred oak and call it “sweet.” That is flavor, not grams of sucrose. If a bottle tastes like dessert and the label says honey or cinnamon, believe the label.
TTB does not require a Nutrition Facts panel on most spirits. If a brand publishes grams, use that sheet. If it does not, do not invent 0.1 g. For drink count see how much whiskey to get drunk.
Sources
- USDA FoodData Central: 80-proof distilled spirits — 0 g sugar, 0 g carbohydrate, ~97 kcal / 1.5 fl oz.
- Jim Beam FAQ: 97 kcal, 0 g carb per 1.5 fl oz on the flagship; other SKUs on drinksmart.com.
- TTB 27 CFR 5.143: straight bourbon — no added coloring/flavoring; flavored whiskey is another class.