Why Are Whiskey Hangovers The Worst

Alright, it’s happened again. You went out on the town with your pals and you awakened to the infamous splitting headache. Coffee won’t stay down, and the bathroom floor is your best friend. Will you make it to brunch? The jury is still out.

As you reflect on your evening and what could have possibly brought on such a massive hangover, you remember the whiskey shots. Yes, drinking large amounts of any liquor will give you a hangover, but there’s something special about whiskey.

It’s not all in your head, whiskey does in fact give you worse hangovers. There are several factors that can contribute to a hangover such as the amount you drink, whether you ate dinner, and the type of liquor. It’s not a guessing game, either. There is science behind it! So, let’s look at why whiskey hangovers are the worst.

Are Whiskey Hangovers Actually Worse?

To start, the short answer to this question is yes, they are. The culprits you should be cursing the next morning are the congeners lurking in that Old Fashioned. Congeners are a biological compound that are the byproduct of the fermentation process. They react with the cells in your body which causes inflammation and all of the unpleasant hangover symptoms.

All liquor contains congeners, but whiskey has a much higher concentration. This is due to how it’s made. Whiskey is typically distilled in oak barrels which is how it gets the darker color,

Research shows that whiskey may have about 37 times more congeners than vodka, resulting in a horrible hangover.

Will “Top Shelf” Whiskey Save You the Hangover?

You’ve surely heard that the more expensive the liquor, the less likely you are to get a hangover. Have you ever been reading a liquor label that says it’s triple distilled? The distilling process is what removes congeners from alcohol and could possibly mean your hangover won’t be as bad.

While this is true for liquors like vodka, it’s not possible with whiskey. No matter the price point of whiskey, it’s going to have a high concentration of congeners.

A good rule of thumb when determining if an alcohol is high in congeners is the color. The darker the liquor, the higher the congener concentration. So, that means that technically more expensive whiskeys could give you an even worse hangover than the cheap stuff.

Will Drinking Less Whiskey Help Me Avoid a Hangover?

As we already know, a hangover is what happens when you drink too much alcohol. Your liver goes into overdrive, and you feel like total garbage the next day. There’s no simple answer to this question because, well, everyone is different.

You probably have a friend who can throw back whiskey shooters all night and be up and ready for brunch the next morning. While at the same time, you’re hugging the toilet. As a general rule for whiskey, remember the congeners. A couple of whiskey drinks may give you just as bad of a hangover as an entire night drinking vodka.

Preventing a Whiskey Hangover

The only way to truly avoid a hangover is to abstain from alcohol, but we know that’s not always possible. Choosing to drink means you know the potential consequences, so please do so responsibly. There are several things you can do during a night out that may make your hangover not as bad.

Drink Less 

With a higher concentration of congeners, whiskey may cause a worse hangover with less liquor. So, one thing you can do is drink less of it. You know your body better than anyone else, and it may take some trial and error to find the perfect amount. If you experience worse hangovers regardless, it may be time to try a different liquor.

Switch to a Lighter Colored Liquor

If you’re a whiskey fan but the hangovers have become unbearable, try switching it up. Start your night off with a whiskey drink, but then swap it out for a lighter liquor such as vodka. Keep in mind, lighter liquors will still cause a hangover so they also shouldn’t be drunk in excess.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Another cause of hangovers is dehydration. Make sure to drink plenty of water before you go out, as well as during the night. Alternate between a glass of water and cocktails to hopefully lessen your hangover the next day.

Recovery supplements

There are lots of products on the market that contain natural ingredients which supposedly reduce hangover symptoms. They aren’t magic cures, but they provide your body with an antioxidant boost which could help. The best hangover pills are all-natrual without any artificial colors and preservatives.

Final Thoughts

The bottom line is that yes, whiskey hangovers can be worse than others. If you find yourself struggling after a night of whiskey shots, maybe switch to a clear liquor like vodka. As always, please drink responsibly and have fun!