Tequila vs. Vodka: What's More Fattening?

October 6, 2025 •

3 min read

One gram of pure alcohol contains approximately 7 calories. When it comes to deciding what's more fattening, tequila or vodka, the core difference isn't the spirit itself but how it's consumed, as both contain very similar calorie counts per standard serving.

Quick Summary

Pure, unflavored tequila and vodka have nearly identical calorie counts, with around 97 calories per 1.5-ounce shot. The fattening factor primarily depends on high-sugar mixers and accompanying food choices rather than the spirits themselves. Understanding the nutritional breakdown and moderating your consumption are key for weight management.

Key Points

Calorie Parity: A standard 1.5-ounce shot of pure, 80-proof tequila and vodka contains nearly the same number of calories, around 97.
Mixers Matter Most: The significant source of added calories comes from high-sugar mixers in cocktails like margaritas or flavored vodka drinks, not the spirits themselves.
Metabolic Halt: All alcohol, including tequila and vodka, forces the liver to prioritize processing it, which temporarily stops your body from burning fat for up to 36 hours.
Appetite and Inhibitions: Drinking can increase your appetite and lower inhibitions, leading to overeating and poor food choices that contribute significantly to weight gain.
Low-Calorie Options: For minimal calories, consume either spirit neat, on the rocks, or with zero-calorie mixers like soda water and a squeeze of fresh citrus.
No Nutritional Value: As distilled spirits, neither tequila nor vodka provides meaningful nutritional benefits, consisting of what are often called 'empty calories'.

Tequila vs. Vodka: The Calorie Showdown

When comparing tequila and vodka side-by-side, the answer to what's more fattening is not as straightforward as many people assume. For unflavored, 80-proof versions of both spirits, the caloric difference is negligible. A standard 1.5-ounce (44 ml) shot of each contains almost the same number of calories, roughly 97. The real weight-related impact comes from what is added to these spirits and how they affect your body's metabolism. Both are distilled spirits, meaning the fermentation and distillation processes remove carbohydrates and sugars, leaving a calorie-dense but nutritionally-devoid liquid.

The Caloric Impact of Mixers

Where things get complicated is in the cocktails. A neat shot of either spirit is a low-calorie option compared to many other alcoholic beverages, but the moment you introduce mixers, the calories can skyrocket. For example, a tequila margarita made with sugary syrup can contain hundreds of calories, far more than a simple vodka soda with a squeeze of lime. Similarly, a vodka tonic, which uses calorie-rich tonic water, will be significantly more fattening than a standard vodka neat. This is where consumer awareness becomes critical for weight management.

Alcohol's Effect on Metabolism and Appetite

Beyond the direct calorie content, alcohol impacts the body in ways that can lead to weight gain. When you consume alcohol, your body treats it as a toxin and prioritizes metabolizing it over other nutrients, such as fat. This process temporarily halts fat burning and can persist for up to 36 hours. Additionally, alcohol can increase appetite and lower inhibitions, which often leads to overeating or making poor food choices, such as late-night binging on high-calorie snacks. These indirect effects are arguably more fattening than the spirits' initial calorie load. Both vodka and tequila trigger this metabolic shift.

Production and Nutritional Differences

While nutritionally similar in terms of calories, vodka and tequila have different origins. Vodka can be made from various starches like grains or potatoes, while tequila is made from the blue agave plant. Some proponents suggest tequila offers minor health benefits from agave compounds like fructans, which may support gut health and affect blood sugar. However, these are generally not significant enough to impact overall weight management, and any such benefits are outweighed by the metabolic and caloric downsides of alcohol consumption. Aged tequilas (añejo, reposado) can sometimes absorb more sugars from barrels, potentially increasing their calorie count slightly compared to a blanco tequila or vodka, though differences remain minimal. Flavored vodkas, which often have added sugars, will always contain more calories than their unflavored counterparts.

Comparison: Tequila vs. Vodka (per 1.5 oz, 80-proof serving)


Feature	Tequila (Blanco)	Vodka (Unflavored)
Calories	~96-98	~96-97
Carbohydrates	0g	0g
Sugar	0g	0g
Fat	0g	0g
Primary Ingredient	Blue Agave	Grains, potatoes, etc.
Health Perks (claimed)	Agave fructans, prebiotics	None substantial
Metabolic Impact	Halts fat burning	Halts fat burning
Mixer Potential	Often sweet, high-calorie mixers	Can be low-calorie with soda water

How to Minimize the Fattening Factor

To enjoy either spirit without sabotaging your diet, moderation is key. The number one rule is to be mindful of mixers. Swap sugary sodas and juices for zero-calorie options like soda water, or use fresh citrus juice for flavor. Drinking spirits neat or on the rocks is the lowest-calorie option. Also, be aware of the cocktail effect on appetite; drinking can lead to poor food choices, which contributes significantly to weight gain. For more information on calorie content in alcohol, the CDC provides resources to help with dietary tracking.

Conclusion: The Verdict on Fattening Potential

Ultimately, neither tequila nor vodka is inherently more fattening than the other when compared ounce-for-ounce in their pure form. For a standard 80-proof shot, the calories are virtually identical. The fattening potential is not about the liquor itself but how it is consumed. The mixers used in cocktails and the effect of alcohol on your metabolism and appetite are the true culprits behind weight gain. To stay lean, opt for low-sugar mixers, drink in moderation, and be conscious of your food intake while drinking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Pure, unflavored tequila and vodka contain no sugar. The distillation process removes sugars and carbohydrates from both spirits. Any sugar comes from mixers or added flavorings, not the base liquor.

100% agave tequila, particularly blanco, is a purer spirit with no added sugars or other ingredients, making it comparable to pure vodka in terms of caloric content. Its 'fattening' potential remains dependent on mixers and portion size.

Yes, flavored vodkas often contain added sugars and artificial flavorings to enhance their taste, which significantly increases their calorie count compared to unflavored vodka.

For both spirits, the lowest-calorie cocktail is a simple 'and soda.' For tequila, that's a 'tequila soda' with lime. For vodka, it's a 'vodka soda' with lemon or lime. These use zero-calorie soda water and fresh citrus.

The myth that tequila is healthier stems from marketing claims about its agave origin and anecdotal stories. While some agave compounds have been studied for potential health effects, the alcohol itself is the primary factor and it functions metabolically like any other spirit.

Alcohol can hinder weight loss by adding empty calories to your diet, temporarily stopping your body's fat-burning process, and increasing your appetite, which often leads to overeating.

Binge drinking is more fattening due to the sheer volume of calories consumed and the extended metabolic disruption it causes. The body spends more time processing the large amount of alcohol, halting fat metabolism for a longer period.