What spirit gives the worst hangover?

January 2, 2026 •

4 min read

A study comparing bourbon and vodka found that bourbon produced more severe hangovers. This is due to congeners, toxic byproducts found in higher concentrations in darker spirits, which directly answers the question of what spirit gives the worst hangover. The more congeners a spirit has, the rougher the next morning is likely to be.

Quick Summary

Darker spirits like bourbon, brandy, and whiskey are most likely to cause severe hangovers because they contain high levels of congeners, chemical byproducts that are toxic to the body. Clearer spirits like vodka are lower in these compounds.

Key Points

Congeners are the Culprit: Darker spirits like bourbon and brandy contain higher concentrations of toxic byproducts called congeners, which significantly worsen hangovers.
Vodka is a Safer Bet: Due to its extensive filtering, vodka has minimal congeners and is less likely to cause a severe hangover compared to darker liquors.
Quantity Matters Most: While congeners increase hangover severity, the most important factor is the total amount of ethanol consumed. Binge drinking any type of alcohol will likely result in a bad hangover.
Dehydration Is a Major Factor: Alcohol is a diuretic, causing dehydration that contributes significantly to classic hangover symptoms like headache and fatigue.
Sugar Compounds the Problem: Sugary cocktails and mixers can intensify a hangover by increasing dehydration and the body's inflammatory response.
Prevention is Key: Moderation, staying hydrated, and eating food are the most effective ways to prevent or minimize a hangover, regardless of the spirit chosen.

The Science Behind Congeners

To understand which spirits cause the worst hangovers, you first need to know about congeners. Congeners are chemical byproducts that are produced during the fermentation and distillation process of alcohol. These compounds, which include substances like methanol, acetone, and tannins, contribute to a beverage's distinct taste, aroma, and color. However, they are also toxic and place additional stress on the liver as it processes them, leading to intensified hangover symptoms.

All alcoholic beverages contain congeners, but in vastly different amounts. The amount of congeners depends heavily on the distillation process; highly filtered spirits have fewer impurities, while those aged in wooden barrels absorb compounds from the wood. This is why the color of a spirit is a reliable indicator of its congener content: the darker the drink, the higher the concentration of these hangover-inducing compounds.

Dark vs. Clear: The Congener Scale

As a general rule, clear or light-colored spirits contain fewer congeners than their darker counterparts. A study comparing the effects of bourbon and vodka demonstrated this perfectly, with bourbon drinkers reporting significantly worse hangover symptoms. The reasons lie in the production methods. Vodka, for example, is highly distilled and filtered, resulting in a product that is nearly pure ethanol with minimal congeners. Bourbon, on the other hand, is aged in charred oak barrels, a process that intentionally adds congeners for flavor and color.

The Top Culprits for a Rough Morning

Based on congener content, certain spirits are more likely to ruin your next day. The primary offenders include:

Brandy: A report in the British Medical Journal identified brandy as producing the most severe hangover symptoms. It is an aged, dark spirit, meaning it has high levels of congeners. According to one source, brandy can contain up to 4,766 mg/L of methanol congeners.
Bourbon: A specific type of whiskey, bourbon is aged in new charred oak barrels and is consistently cited as having a very high congener count. A study found it can have 37 times more congeners than vodka.
Whiskey: Similar to bourbon, whiskey is known for its high congener content. Scotch and other types of whiskey are aged in barrels, contributing to a substantial amount of hangover-causing impurities.
Dark Rum: While its congener levels can vary, some rum, particularly dark rum, can have high levels of certain congeners like propanol, making for a rough morning.
Red Wine: Red wine contains significant levels of congeners, including tannins and histamines, which can trigger headaches in some individuals.

Other Factors Affecting Hangover Severity

While congeners play a major role, they are not the only factor determining how bad your hangover will be. The most significant contributor is still the amount of ethanol you consume. Other important factors include:

Dehydration: Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it makes you urinate more, leading to dehydration. The associated headaches and fatigue are common hangover symptoms.
Sugar Content: Sugary mixers and cocktails, like margaritas, can increase dehydration and inflammation, compounding the effects of the alcohol itself.
Binge Drinking: Consuming a large amount of any alcohol quickly overwhelms the liver's ability to process the toxins, leading to a much worse hangover.
Poor Sleep: Drinking disrupts sleep quality and duration. Lack of restful sleep after a night of drinking significantly contributes to feelings of fatigue.
Individual Sensitivity: Genetics and other personal health factors can influence how your body metabolizes alcohol and congeners, affecting hangover severity.

How to Reduce Hangover Risk

While no spirit is completely hangover-proof, you can make smarter choices and take proactive steps to minimize your risk. Here are some tips:

Choose Clearer Spirits: When possible, opt for beverages with lower congener counts, such as vodka, gin, or white wine.
Hydrate Consistently: Drink a glass of water between each alcoholic beverage to combat dehydration.
Eat Before and While Drinking: Having food in your stomach slows the absorption of alcohol, giving your liver more time to process it.
Know Your Limits: Drink in moderation and decide on your limits before you start. The total amount of alcohol consumed is the most important factor.
Avoid Sugary Mixers: Steer clear of excessively sweet drinks, which can worsen dehydration and other hangover symptoms.

For more in-depth information, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) provides comprehensive hangover facts and resources.


Feature	Dark Spirits	Clear Spirits
Congener Level	High	Low
Common Examples	Bourbon, Brandy, Whiskey, Dark Rum, Red Wine	Vodka, Gin, White Rum, White Wine, Sake
Aging Process	Typically aged in charred oak barrels	Often highly filtered and minimally aged
Taste & Aroma	Richer, more complex flavor profile	Lighter, more neutral flavor profile
Hangover Severity	More severe symptoms reported in studies	Milder symptoms reported, though still possible

Conclusion

Ultimately, the science is clear: the darker the spirit, the worse the hangover is likely to be. Spirits like bourbon, brandy, and whiskey are packed with congeners, toxic compounds that intensify the unpleasant morning-after effects. While choosing a clear, low-congener spirit like vodka can reduce the severity, it is not a cure-all. The surest way to prevent a hangover is by consuming any alcohol in moderation, staying hydrated, and avoiding binge drinking, regardless of your drink of choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

A congener is a chemical byproduct created during the fermentation and aging of alcohol. Higher levels of congeners, found in darker spirits, are linked to more severe hangovers because the body has to work harder to process these additional toxic compounds.

Clear spirits like vodka and gin are typically distilled and filtered more extensively than darker spirits. This process removes many of the congeners, resulting in a purer ethanol product that is less taxing on the body.

Not necessarily. While higher-end spirits may be more refined, their color indicates the presence of congeners. A cheap, highly filtered vodka could give you a milder hangover than a high-end bourbon, though the main factor remains the quantity consumed.

This depends on the type. Clear tequila (Blanco) has fewer congeners than aged or gold tequila (Reposado, Añejo). When compared to vodka, most tequilas still have more congeners. Additionally, many tequila cocktails contain high sugar content, which contributes to worse hangovers.

Yes. While clearer spirits have fewer congeners, they are not hangover-proof. The total amount of alcohol consumed and factors like dehydration and poor sleep are powerful enough to cause a severe hangover from any alcoholic beverage if over-consumed.

The severity of a hangover is not primarily caused by mixing different types of alcohol. The myth likely stems from the fact that people who mix drinks tend to drink more overall. The primary factors are the total amount of alcohol consumed and the congener content of the beverages.

Red wine, especially inexpensive varieties, contains high levels of congeners, including tannins and histamines, which can contribute to severe headaches and other hangover symptoms. White wine generally has fewer congeners than red, making it a better choice if you are concerned about hangovers.