Is All Whiskey Sugar-Free?

It's an expansive world when it comes to the selection of amber-hued bottles of whiskey. Unless you're a seasoned spirit collector, it can be confusing enough to know the difference between a classic whiskey and a bourbon, not to mention how they differ in terms of ingredients and their unique flavor profiles. For those considering sugar intake or who just prefer a totally stiff, never syrupy pour of liquor, it's worth knowing that when it comes to the sweet stuff, the amount is practically non-existent in pure whiskeys. 

The process of making whiskey does indeed involve sugars — the naturally occurring ones within the grain the spirits are made from, usually rye, corn, wheat, barley, or some combination — but they're distilled away. When whiskey is made, these starches are broken down into sugars, which play a crucial role in the next step of fermentation. At this point in the process, the sugars are transformed into alcohol, leaving us with the strong, pure whiskey we know and love, with only trace amounts of remaining sugar at most. 

However, though pure whiskey is for all intents and purposes classified as sugar-free, containing close to none, it does vary ever so slightly depending on the type in question. For instance, the more caramel-flavored, corn-based bourbon or rye types of whiskey will sometimes contain a tad more, though still very small amounts, than scotch, for example. 

Sugar content is virtually zero when we're talking pure whiskeys — and this is the case whether you're pouring a shot from an upscale bottle of the super-pricy stuff or from a bottle of your neighborhood Costco's Canadian whisky. So pick your sugar-free hooch based on your personal preference and budget.

Of course, there are plenty of flavored whiskeys you can sip on if that's more your style, with all sorts of added flavors like juicy peach, watermelon, or other sweet, dessert-based or even spicy or smoky notes. These flavored varieties are generally considered less pure than a basic bottle of whiskey, and in many cases will contain added sugar or other sweeteners, so just check labels when delving into the territory of flavored spirits. 

Similarly, in the case of whiskey based cocktails like the classic old fashioned or a New York sour, simple syrups are usually added to the mix. For for those watching their sugar intake or searching for a stiff drink, go ahead and make it a double — just keep your whiskey neat or on the rocks.