Vodka Vs Whiskey

Key Takeaways

• Whiskey and vodka have several differences in taste, production, nutrition, and more.
• The main difference is in taste, as vodka has more citrusy and herbal tastes, while whiskey has more caramel and woody tastes.
• Both are made by fermenting grains or other products containing natural sugars, then distilling them, though the exact process is unique to each spirit and affects the final product.
• Unfortunately, whiskey will leave you feeling hungover more than the same amount of vodka.

Taste Difference In Vodka Vs. Whiskey

Both vodka and whiskey have very different taste profiles because they are made with different ingredients and with unique processes. We’ll talk more about that later.

Vodka without added flavoring tends not to have many tasting notes unless you go with high-quality vodka. When you do taste higher-end pure vodka, they range from slightly spicy and peppery to sweet, citrusy notes. Then, of course, there are also a seemingly endless amount of flavored vodkas.

Grape, lemonade, cherry, strawberry, whipped cream… the flavored vodka selection on the market is vast. Though most of the flavored vodka tastes much sweeter than pure varieties, there are also spicy and sour flavored vodkas.

Whiskey, on the other hand, has a lot of different flavors that come through in the spirit. However, if you are not used to tasting whiskey straight, you might have to first overcome the burning sensation, though the higher end of the whiskey, the less burn there tends to be.

The primary flavor profile of most whiskeys is notes of vanilla, caramel, tobacco, oak, and occasionally herbal flavors.

Nutritional Differences in Vodka Vs. Whiskey

In addition to the differences in taste, both whiskey and vodka have unique nutritional differences. Though neither is particularly healthy despite occasional claims of various health benefits since they are alcohol, you can compare them in terms of their micronutrient levels.

Let’s start with calories. One ounce of plain vodka comes in at about 64 calories, while one ounce of whiskey comes in at about 70 calories. Both have zero carbs and zero grams of sugar.

One of the biggest things to keep in mind when it comes to alcoholic beverages or even just drinking whiskey and vodka by itself is that mixers and flavor additions are typically where the calorie, carb, and sugar count start to rise. For instance, flavored vodka has around 96 calories, and so does flavored whiskey.

How Are They Made

At the heart of what makes each spirit unique is the way it is made. In fact, it is what often sets different brands of the same spirit apart, too.

In the same way, there are infinite recipes to make a chocolate chip cookie. Each time you change one small thing in the production process of a spirit, a new variation with different qualities is made.

Let’s look at the differences between the general process of how vodka and whiskey are made.

Vodka

Vodka is most often made with either potatoes or cereal grains, though these days, it can be made from simple sugar plant matter, grapes, corn, or any variety of grains or fruits.

First, the choice of starter ingredients gets fermented with sugar and yeast to create the alcohol. Then, the vodka gets distilled to remove impurities. Distillation uses heat, evaporation, and condensation. The smoothest vodka is distilled upwards of 3 times or more.

Once the fermented mixture is distilled, water gets added to get it to the correct alcohol concentration– usually 40% for vodka.

This process can be remixed in several different ways, including the number of times it is distilled, the type of water and how much water is added, any additional ingredients, the starter ingredients that are used, and much more.

Unlike some spirits like whiskey, for instance, there are no legal regulations for what constitutes vodka.

Whiskey

Unlike vodka, when it comes to whiskey, there are regulations about what constitutes some whiskies. For instance, Tennessee Whiskey must have a starter grain ratio of at least 51% corn. Otherwise, common grains for whiskey include barley malt, wheat, and rye.

There are two extra steps when it comes to making whiskey as well. Before fermenting and distilling, the starter grains for whiskey get mashed to release their sugars. Then the mash gets fermented.

The fermented mash goes through the distillation process, similar to vodka, before reaching the final step, the aging process. Whiskey gets aged in wooden barrels, often in oak barrels, though every brand chooses different types of barrels and ages it for different amounts of time for a unique taste.

Is Vodka or Whiskey More Popular?

Vodka is by far more popular than whiskey, but you might find different answers to that depending on what circles you ask. If you were to ask a bartender whether people order more vodka or whiskey, they would likely tell you that vodka is ordered much more. However, whiskey fanatics tend to be the reason for a lot of the popularity that whiskey does have.

Essentially, those who like whiskey tend to really love it and become connoisseurs, while vodka is ordered by the masses as it tends to be more pleasing to a wider crowd.

Which Gives the Worst Hangover?

To tell you which gives you the worst hangover between whiskey and vodka, we first need to talk about what causes a hangover in the first place.

What Causes Hangovers

Hangovers are mostly thought to be caused by the presence of hangovers. Hangovers are a by-product of the fermentation process, and in the body, they cause inflammation and the release of stress hormones.

The inflammation and stress hormones, in addition to dehydration, are what end up causing brain fog, fatigue, nausea, and other hangover symptoms.

Worse Hangover: Vodka vs Whiskey

Now that you know what causes hangovers, which spirit gives you the worst hangover? Well, dark spirits such as whiskey tend to have more hangovers than light spirits like vodka, which have fewer hangovers.

This means if you drink the same amount of vodka or whiskey, drinking whiskey is more likely to give you a hangover than drinking vodka.

Of course, again, which will give you the worst hangover can depend on the brand, alcohol content, and your alcohol consumption. Certain individuals also have better reactions to alcohol than others.

Mixer Differences with Vodka vs. Whiskey

Another primary difference between vodka and whiskey is the mixers that taste best with them. Of course, you can drink both vodka and whiskey straight, but if you want a mixed drink, here are the best ingredients for mixed drinks for vodka and whiskey.

Common Mixers for Vodka Cocktails

Vodka is quite versatile for making alcoholic drinks, as you can mix vodka with almost anything. Tomato juice with a few spices? A bloody Mary. Ginger beer? A Moscow Mule. An alcoholic beverage for any taste can be made with vodka.

Some other common mixers used in an alcoholic drink with vodka include cream, which makes a White Russian, tonic, club soda, lemon-lime soda, lemonade or sweet and sour mix, and fruit juices.

Common Mixers for Whiskey Cocktails

If you are looking for the most flexible drink, you would probably prefer vodka. However, you can still create a tasty alcoholic beverage with whiskey.

Try a Whiskey Sour by mixing whiskey with sweet and sour, a simple mixed drink with Coke or Ginger Ale, or coffee for Irish Coffee. You can also mix whiskey with soda water, dark sodas, iced tea, and apple cider.

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