US Trends

how many calories are in a shot of vodka

A standard 1.5 oz (44 ml) shot of plain, 80-proof vodka has roughly 95–100 calories, with most sources landing around 96–97 calories.

Quick Scoop: Calories in a Vodka Shot

For a regular, unflavored vodka:

  • 1 shot (1.5 oz / 44 ml) of 80-proof (40% ABV) vodka: about 96–97 calories.
  • The calories come almost entirely from the alcohol (ethanol), not sugar or carbs in plain vodka.

Stronger vodka has more calories per shot:

  • 70 proof (35%): ~85 calories.
  • 80 proof (40%): ~96–97 calories.
  • 90 proof (45%): ~110 calories.
  • 100 proof (50%): ~124 calories.

How This Compares to Other Drinks

Plain vodka is often considered a relatively low-calorie choice compared with many beers, wines, and sugary cocktails.

  • A standard vodka shot is under 100 calories, while a typical beer or large glass of wine can easily exceed that.
  • Once you add juice, soda, or cream liqueurs, the drink’s total calories can climb quickly—often several hundred per cocktail.

Mini Forum-Style Take: What People Discuss

In recent online discussions, people tend to focus on:

  1. Weight-loss and fitness angles
    Many dieters and gym-goers ask whether vodka is the “best” alcohol for cutting because of its relatively low calories and zero carbs in the plain version.
  1. Mixers vs. straight vodka
    • Plain vodka with soda water or on the rocks stays close to that ~100-calorie mark per drink.
 * Mixers like tonic, cola, or energy drinks can add 50–150+ extra calories per glass.
  1. Flavored vodka confusion
    Some flavored vodkas are similar in calories to plain, but others with added sugar can be higher, which often surprises people reading labels or nutrition breakdowns.

A common sentiment you’ll see in forum threads is basically:
“Vodka itself isn’t the calorie bomb; it’s what you mix it with.”

Small HTML Table for Quick Reference

[9][3] [10][9][1][3][5] [7][9][3] [7][9][3]
Drink Serving Approx. Calories
Vodka, 70 proof 1.5 oz shot ~85 calories
Vodka, 80 proof 1.5 oz shot ~96–97 calories
Vodka, 90 proof 1.5 oz shot ~110 calories
Vodka, 100 proof 1.5 oz shot ~124 calories

A Quick Story-Style Example

Imagine two friends at a bar:

  • One orders a shot of 80-proof vodka with soda water and lime; that drink stays around ~100 calories.
  • The other orders a large, creamy vodka cocktail with sugary liqueurs and syrups; that can jump to 300+ calories without feeling “heavier.”

Same alcohol base, very different calorie impact.

Key Takeaways

  • A typical 1.5 oz shot of plain 80-proof vodka: around 96–97 calories.
  • Higher proof = more calories per shot.
  • Mixers often matter more for total calories than the vodka itself.

Bottom note
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.