Is Whiskey Keto? Carbs in Whiskey (Bourbon & Scotch)
How many carbs are in whiskey? Whiskey, bourbon, and scotch have zero carbs and about 97 calories per shot. Why whiskey is keto-friendly and how to drink it low-carb.
Nutrition Writer · July 14, 2026 · 2 min read
Whiskey has zero carbs and about 97 calories per 1.5 oz shot, so bourbon, scotch, rye, and Irish whiskey are all keto-friendly. Like every distilled spirit, whiskey comes out of the still carb-free — the only carbs in a whiskey drink come from a sweet mixer. Here's the breakdown and how to drink it low-carb.
Carbs and calories in whiskey
| Whiskey (1.5 oz) | Carbs | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Bourbon | 0g | ~97 |
| Scotch | 0g | ~97 |
| Rye | 0g | ~97 |
| Irish whiskey | 0g | ~97 |
| Flavored whiskey (honey, apple) | 3–6g+ | ~108+ |
| Whiskey liqueur | 6–12g+ | higher |
Plain whiskey has no sugar or carbohydrates because distillation leaves them behind. Watch out for flavored whiskeys (honey, cinnamon, apple) and whiskey liqueurs, which add sugar.
Why whiskey is keto-friendly
Whiskey adds zero net carbs to your day, so the keto question is really about how you drink it:
- Neat or on the rocks: ~0g ✅
- Whiskey + soda water: ~0g ✅
- Whiskey + diet cola: ~1g ✅
- Old fashioned (keto): ~2–3g with a drop of sweetener ✅
- Whiskey + regular Coke: ~27g ❌
- Whiskey sour (classic): ~14g from sweet-and-sour ❌ (use a sugar-free version)
How to drink whiskey on keto
The purest keto option is whiskey neat or on the rocks — no carbs, just the spirit. For a mixed drink, reach for soda water, diet cola, or sugar-free ginger ale. To make a keto old fashioned, muddle a drop of monk fruit or sugar-free simple syrup with bitters instead of a sugar cube, add bourbon and ice — about 2–3g of carbs versus the usual sugar cube.
A word of caution that applies to every spirit: zero carbs doesn't mean zero effect. Your body burns alcohol before fat, so fat-burning pauses while the whiskey is processed, and alcohol tends to hit harder in ketosis. Go slow and hydrate.
Track it in seconds
The simplest way to keep drinks from derailing keto is to log them. CarbMeNot shows the net carbs for whiskey, mixers, and cocktails and logs them from a photo — free on iOS and Android. See carbs in vodka, keto cocktails, the low-carb alcohol guide, and check any drink with the free Is It Keto? tool.
Frequently asked questions
- How many carbs are in whiskey?
- Pure whiskey — including bourbon, scotch, rye, and Irish whiskey — has zero carbs. A 1.5 oz shot has about 97 calories, all from the alcohol, with no sugar or carbohydrates. Flavored whiskeys and whiskey liqueurs can contain added sugar, so check those.
- Is whiskey keto-friendly?
- Yes. Whiskey has zero carbs, so it's one of the most keto-friendly drinks. Drink it neat, on the rocks, or with a zero-carb mixer like soda water or diet cola. The carbs only appear when you add sweet mixers.
- How many calories are in a shot of whiskey?
- A 1.5 oz shot of 80-proof whiskey has about 97 calories. Higher-proof whiskeys (90–100 proof) run 110–125 calories per shot because the calories come from the alcohol content.
- Can you drink bourbon on keto?
- Yes — bourbon is a type of whiskey and has zero carbs, about 97 calories per 1.5 oz. Sip it neat or on the rocks, or make a low-carb old fashioned with a drop of sugar-free sweetener instead of a sugar cube.
- Is whiskey and Coke keto?
- Not with regular Coke — that adds about 27g of sugar per can. Swap in Coke Zero or Diet Coke and a whiskey and diet cola is roughly 1g of carbs, keeping it keto-friendly.
Sources
Keep reading
Free tools: Is It Keto? checker · macro calculator · protein calculator · 7-day meal plan PDF