Clear Vs Dark Liquor: Which Is Better For You?

Wouldn't it be wonderful if clear alcohol gave you "better" hangovers? The drinkers' myth that clear liquors like vodka, gin, or white rum are better for you than darker liquors like whiskey or brandy is partly rooted in truth, but it's also quite a simplification. Let's break it down.

One of the most frequently cited reasons clear liquors are considered "better" for you is that they contain fewer congeners. Congeners are byproducts of fermentation and aging (chemical compounds like tannins, esters, and aldehydes) that are found in higher concentrations in dark spirits like bourbon, brandy, and dark rum. Some studies suggest congeners may contribute to more intense hangovers, as they're harder for the body to metabolize. Darker spirits are often aged in barrels, which introduce additional compounds from the wood and add complexity, but with those also come more chemicals for your body to process. Clear spirits are usually distilled more times and filtered. Vodka, for instance, is prized for its neutrality. 

To be clear, this doesn't mean colorless spirits are good for you. If you're prone to headaches or sluggishness the morning after drinking, choosing clear liquor or a less dehydrating cocktail like a vodka soda may help minimize those effects. That said, let's be real: How much you drink matters far more than what color it is. Slamming multiple tequila shots will still leave you hurting, regardless of the congener count. Alas, the search for a hangover cure continues.

Some people find they react worse to certain types of alcohol, like bad headaches with sugary red wine, nausea with dark rum, or flushed skin with gin. Some of these reactions might be about individual body chemistry. But more often than not, you probably just drank too much of a particular beverage and made a false association.

Many people think vodka or tequila is healthier because it has fewer calories. But the truth is, most liquors (clear or dark) have between 97 and 116 calories per 1.5-ounce shot. The difference is minimal, but you know what really impacts your calorie intake? The mixers. A gin and tonic with sugary tonic water or a rum and Coke will pack far more sugar and calories than straight whiskey or a tequila soda. If you're watching your sugar intake, you're better off sipping spirits neat or with low-calorie mixers like soda water rather than choosing based solely on color.

So, clear liquors might be easier on your body thanks to fewer congeners and a highly rectified distillation process, but they offer no significant advantage health-wise when compared to darker spirits. In the end, the healthiest drinking habit is to not drink at all, regardless of what's in your glass. If you are going to consume alcohol, drink in moderation, focus on hydration, and know your limits.