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.
More in our Whiskey Guide.
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.