Tequila: Calories, Nutrition and Health Benefits

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A 1.5 fl oz shot of tequila (80 proof, 40% ABV) has 97 calories, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fat and 0g protein. All of the calories come from about 14g of alcohol, so plain tequila adds no carbohydrate. Margaritas and other mixed drinks are where sugar and calories pile up.

Quick Nutrition Facts

Per 1 shot (1.5 fl oz, 44 mL)

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	97 kcal
Protein	0g
Carbohydrates	0g
Fiber	0g
Sugars	0g
Fat	0g
Sodium	0 mg

Macronutrient Breakdown

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NUTRITIONIST'S INSIGHT

Plain tequila has a clean label: 97 calories per shot and nothing else. That makes it easy to fit into a low-carb or keto day, but the calories are not free. Alcohol supplies 7 calories per gram, and the body burns it ahead of fat and carbs. Most of the damage comes from the pour and the mixer. A bar shot is often 2 oz or more, and a restaurant margarita can run several hundred calories. Choose tequila with soda and lime, drink it with food, and count each shot as one standard drink. If you take insulin or a sulfonylurea, alcohol can lower blood sugar for hours, so food and glucose checks matter more than the shot's carb count.

Myth Busters

MYTH #1: Tequila has no calories because it has no sugar

TRUTH: A 1.5 fl oz shot has 97 calories. They come from alcohol, which provides 7 calories per gram, not from sugar or carbs. The label can show 0g sugar and still deliver a full standard drink's worth of energy. Alcoholic beverage, distilled, all (gin, rum, vodka, whiskey) 80 proof; What Is A Standard Drink?

MYTH #2: Tequila is lower in calories than vodka, gin or whiskey

TRUTH: At the same 80 proof, all distilled spirits land at about 97 calories per 1.5 fl oz, because calories track alcohol content. Only a higher or lower proof changes the number. Alcoholic beverage, distilled, all (gin, rum, vodka, whiskey) 80 proof; About Standard Drink Sizes

MYTH #3: 100% agave tequila is sugar-free and additive-free

TRUTH: 100% agave means all fermentable sugars came from blue Weber agave. The distilled spirit itself has no carbohydrate, but the label does not guarantee the absence of flavoring or coloring additives, which vary by brand. Check for flavored or liqueur-style bottles, which can add sugar. About Tequila: categories and classes; Alcoholic beverage, distilled, all (gin, rum, vodka, whiskey) 80 proof

MYTH #4: A tequila shot is safe for blood sugar because it has no carbs

TRUTH: Alcohol can lower blood sugar shortly after drinking and for hours afterward, because the liver processes alcohol instead of releasing glucose. The risk is highest on an empty stomach and with insulin or sulfonylureas. Alcohol and Diabetes; Diabetes management: How lifestyle, daily routine affect blood sugar

MYTH #5: Reposado and añejo tequilas have more calories because they are aged

TRUTH: Aging in oak changes flavor and color, but calories follow alcohol content. A 40% ABV añejo has about the same 97 calories per 1.5 fl oz shot as a blanco, unless the bottle is a higher proof or has added sweeteners. About Tequila: categories and classes; Alcoholic beverage, distilled, all (gin, rum, vodka, whiskey) 80 proof

NutriScore by Health Goals

Health Goal	NutriScore	Why This Score?
Weight Loss		97 calories per shot with no protein, fiber or fullness. Alcohol also lowers inhibition around food, and the body burns it ahead of fat. Fine occasionally with soda and lime, but it does not help a calorie deficit. Alcoholic beverage, distilled, all (gin, rum, vodka, whiskey) 80 proof
High Protein		0g protein per shot. It contributes nothing toward a protein target. Alcoholic beverage, distilled, all (gin, rum, vodka, whiskey) 80 proof
Low Carb / Keto		0g carbs and 0g sugar per shot, so plain tequila fits a keto carb limit. Margarita mix, juice and flavored versions break that, so the grade applies to plain tequila only. Alcoholic beverage, distilled, all (gin, rum, vodka, whiskey) 80 proof
Heart Health		No sodium, fat or cholesterol, but the alcohol itself is the issue. Public health guidance defines a standard drink at 1.5 fl oz of spirits and advises limiting how many you have. About Standard Drink Sizes; What Is A Standard Drink?
Diabetes Management		No carbs means no direct glucose load, but alcohol can cause low blood sugar for hours after drinking, especially with insulin or sulfonylureas or on an empty stomach. It needs food and monitoring. Alcohol and Diabetes; Hypoglycemia - Symptoms and causes
Nutrient Density		No vitamins, minerals, fiber or protein. The shot supplies only alcohol calories. Alcoholic beverage, distilled, all (gin, rum, vodka, whiskey) 80 proof

PERSONALIZED NUTRITION

Track your meals with NutriScan for personalized NutriScores based on your specific health goals!

Blood Sugar Response - Tequila (1 shot / 44 mL)

Plain tequila has 0g carbohydrate, so it does not push blood sugar up. In a healthy adult, glucose stays near baseline in the first hour. With heavier drinking, or on an empty stomach, the liver prioritizes clearing alcohol over releasing glucose, so blood sugar can drift lower over the following hours. Alcohol and Diabetes; Diabetes management: How lifestyle, daily routine affect blood sugar; Hypoglycemia - Symptoms and causes

Estimated Blood Glucose Response (mg/dL)

Illustrative curve for a healthy adult having one shot with no food. Drinking more, medications such as insulin or sulfonylureas, and individual liver response change the real curve. Mixers with sugar add a spike on top of this.

How to flatten the spike

Eat a meal with protein and fiber before or while you drink, since alcohol on an empty stomach raises the risk of low blood sugar.
Pick soda water and lime over margarita mix, juice or soda; mixers are the main source of sugar.
Stick to one standard drink (1.5 fl oz) per round and alternate with water.
If you use insulin or a sulfonylurea, check glucose before bed and keep fast-acting carbs nearby, because lows can appear hours later.

Cultural Significance

Tequila is a protected designation of origin spirit made from blue Weber agave, produced mainly in Jalisco and a few other Mexican states under the Consejo Regulador del Tequila. It is sold as blanco, reposado (aged at least 2 months), añejo (at least 1 year) and extra añejo (at least 3 years). It is the base of the margarita and the Paloma, and the shot with salt and lime is the best-known way it is served in the US, where it is among the most searched spirits for calorie counts.

Compare & Substitute

Tequila vs Similar Foods

Nutrient	Vodka, 80 proof (1.5 fl oz)	Light beer (12 fl oz)	Dry red wine (5 fl oz)	Sparkling water with lime (12 fl oz)
Calories	97 kcal	103 kcal	125 kcal	0 kcal
Protein	0g	0.9g	0.1g	0g
Carbohydrates	0g	5.8g	3.8g	0g
Fat	0g	0g	0g	0g

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories are in a shot of tequila?

A 1.5 fl oz shot of 80-proof tequila has about 97 calories, nearly all from 14g of alcohol. A 1 fl oz pour is about 64 calories.

Does tequila have carbs or sugar?

Plain tequila has 0g carbs and 0g sugar per shot, because distillation removes the agave sugars. Flavored tequilas, liqueurs and mixers can add sugar, so read the label.

Is tequila keto-friendly?

Plain tequila has 0g net carbs, so it fits a keto carb limit. Skip margarita mix, juice and sweetened mixers, and remember alcohol still adds calories.

How much is one standard drink of tequila?

One standard US drink is 1.5 fl oz of 80-proof (40% ABV) spirits, which contains about 14g of pure alcohol. Many bar pours are larger than this.

Can I drink tequila with diabetes?

Plain tequila has no carbs, but alcohol can cause low blood sugar for hours after drinking, especially with insulin or sulfonylureas. Eat before or with it and ask your care team what is safe for you.

Do blanco, reposado and añejo tequila have different calories?

At the same 40% ABV they have about the same 97 calories per 1.5 fl oz shot. Aging changes flavor, not alcohol content. Check the proof if the bottle is above 40% ABV.