Whisky glycemic index (GI)

by Victoria Mazmanyan | Last updated on September 01, 2023

Medically reviewed by Ani Harutyunyan

Whisky contains very few carbohydrates, only 0.1g in a 100g serving. Because of this, calculating the glycemic index of whisky is exceedingly challenging. All the same, whisky’s glycemic index is assumed to be very low.

The glycemic index of whisky alone may be low, but mixing it with other beverages is a different story. Drinks, such as whisky with apple juice and old fashioned, have moderate to high glycemic indices.

Moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with a reduced incidence of type 2 diabetes. Long-term alcohol is correlated with improved glycemic control due to improved insulin sensitivity. However, at the same time, binge drinking increases the risk of diabetes (1).

In contrast to the previous research, one study has questioned whether moderate alcohol consumption has any beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity (2).

Light, but not heavy drinking, has also been researched to have preventive effects on atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients (3).

In summary, whisky has a very low glycemic index, and its moderate but not heavy consumption may have beneficial effects for people with diabetes.

Please visit our glycemic index chart page for more GI values.