How Many Calories Are In A Shot Of Liquor? | Straight Facts

Calories In A 1.5-Ounce Shot Of Popular Spirits (Chart)

A straight pour of distilled alcohol gets its energy almost entirely from ethanol. Ethanol supplies 7 calories per gram. A 1.5-ounce serving of 40% ABV (80-proof) contains roughly 14 grams of alcohol, landing near 100 calories. Raise the proof, and the calorie count rises because there’s more alcohol in the same volume.

Spirit	1.5 oz At 80-Proof	1.5 oz At 100-Proof
Vodka	~97–100 kcal	~124 kcal
Gin	~97–100 kcal	~124 kcal
Rum	~97–100 kcal	~124 kcal
Tequila	~97–100 kcal	~124 kcal
Whiskey	~97–100 kcal	~124 kcal
Brandy	~97–100 kcal	~124 kcal

Those ranges reflect minor differences in density and rounding. Most clear and dark spirits cluster near the same number at the same proof. Carbs, protein, and fat are essentially zero in unsweetened distilled alcohol; flavor differences don’t move the math in a straight pour.

Once you’ve set your daily calorie intake, it’s easier to see where a quick pour fits into your budget on a night out or when hosting.

Why Proof Drives The Count

ABV tells you what portion of the liquid is alcohol. Keep the serving at 1.5 ounces. Increase ABV, and you pack more grams of ethanol into that glass. More grams mean more calories, since each gram contributes 7. That’s why an 80-proof measure sits near 98–100, a 90-proof pour pushes around 110, and a 100-proof pour reaches the low-120s.

Standard Pour Versus “Heavy Hand”

Bars use measured jiggers, but pours vary. A “generous” two-ounce neat adds roughly one-third more alcohol and energy than the 1.5-ounce baseline. That difference shows up quickly if you’re tracking intake.

Does Spirit Type Change Calories?

Not much when the proof matches. Vodka, gin, rum, tequila, whiskey, and brandy all land near the same number at 80-proof. Flavored liqueurs are a separate case because they include sugar, which adds energy beyond ethanol.

How Many Calories Are In A Double?

A double is usually 3 ounces. If the proof is the same, you can expect roughly twice the calories of a standard 1.5-ounce pour. For an 80-proof double, that’s around 200. For a 100-proof double, expect the mid-240s.

Quick Math You Can Use Anywhere

Baseline Rule

At 80-proof, think “~100 per shot.” At 90-proof, tack on about 10. At 100-proof, plan for ~124. This pocket rule stays consistent across common spirits.

Proof-To-Calories Estimator

If you want a back-of-napkin estimate for fresh bottles: calories ≈ 1.5 oz × ABV × density of ethanol (0.789 g/mL) × 7 kcal/g. You don’t need to crunch it every time; the values above keep you covered for typical labels.

Neat, On Ice, Or Mixed?

A neat pour or a splash over ice keeps the number close to the proof-based baseline. Mixers can change the picture quickly. Sugar-sweetened soda, juices, syrups, and creamy elements add their own energy. A single liqueur ounce can add over 100, and sour mix portions vary widely by recipe.

Common Mixers And What They Add

Club soda, plain seltzer, or diet soda add near-zero. Tonic water contributes sugar unless you choose diet. Juices vary: an ounce of simple syrup adds roughly 50; citrus juice brings less but still moves the total up. Creamy cordials push higher due to sugar and fat.

Evidence-Backed Benchmarks

Public health sources align around this estimate: a 1.5-ounce measure of 40% ABV spirits lands near 100 calories. The NIAAA standard drink defines the pour and the alcohol content, and the current Dietary Guidelines put that pour near 100 calories. You’ll see the same figure in medical library summaries and clinical handouts.

How Big Is A “Standard Drink”?

In the United States, one standard poured measure equals 14 grams of pure alcohol. That amount appears in 12 ounces of typical beer, 5 ounces of table wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits. Matching portions helps you compare energy across types, glass sizes, and labels you might see on a menu or bottle.

What About Liqueurs And Cordials?

Liqueurs blend spirits with sugar and flavorings. A 1.5-ounce pour often runs well above 100 calories because the sweet portion adds to ethanol’s contribution. That’s why a small shot of a creamy cordial can match or exceed a neat whiskey even when the glass looks smaller.

Practical Ways To Trim Calories From Drinks

Pick The Proof That Fits

Sticking with 80-proof keeps the base near 100 per pour. If you enjoy higher-proof bottles, plan your count accordingly or opt for a smaller measure.

Choose Mixers Wisely

Go with sparkling water, diet soda, unsweetened tea, or a long squeeze of citrus. Those choices help you keep the glass refreshing without a big calorie jump.

Set A Personal Cap

Decide your number of pours before the night starts. That single move does more for your total than swapping between rum and vodka.

Comparison: Straight Pours And Simple Cocktails

The table below groups common bar orders by serving size so you can glance at rough ranges. Recipes and brands vary, but these ballpark figures will help you plan your evening.

Beverage	Typical Serving	Calories (Approx)
Straight pour, 80-proof spirit	1.5 oz	~100
Straight pour, 100-proof spirit	1.5 oz	~124
Liqueur shot	1.5 oz	~165
Whiskey sour	~2.5–3 oz	~150–170
Rum and cola	~7 oz	~190
Tequila with soda & lime	~6 oz	~100–110

Label Reading Tips

Bottles list ABV and sometimes serving suggestions. Use ABV to infer calories per pour. If a label lists nutrition, remember that straight spirits typically show 0 grams of carbs, fat, and protein; energy reflects ethanol content.

Real-World Scenarios

Ordering At A Bar

Ask for a jiggered pour. If you prefer mixed, pair the base with soda water, add lime, and skip syrups. That keeps you near the baseline while still sipping something long and bubbly.

Hosting At Home

Use a jigger to pour consistently. Offer zero-cal mixers alongside juice and syrups so guests can build to taste. Keep small glasses for liqueurs; they pack more energy per ounce.

Health Context, At A Glance

For calorie math and intake comparisons across beverages, authoritative sources align on the figures above. You can see the shared baseline and pour sizes summed up on the CDC standard drink sizes page, which matches the public health benchmarks used by clinicians and researchers.

Frequently Seen Myths, Debunked

“Clear Spirits Are Lighter Than Brown”

Color doesn’t predict energy. Proof does. A clear vodka and a dark rum at the same ABV land in the same ballpark.

“Ice Melts Away The Calories”

Ice adds water, not alcohol. It dilutes flavor and slows sipping, which can still help you stay within your plan, but it doesn’t reduce the energy in the original pour.

“Shots Have Carbs”

Unsweetened distilled spirits have negligible carbs. Energy comes from ethanol. Carbs appear when sugar or dairy enters the picture through mixers or cordials.

When You Want A Lighter Night

Choose lower-proof options, keep servings measured, and pair with low-calorie mixers. If you’re aiming to lose weight, shaping your food plan matters more than swapping one base spirit for another. A steady, sustainable plan centered on portion control works better than obsessing over tiny differences between rum and gin.

Want a step-by-step walkthrough? Try our calorie deficit guide.