Vodka
Tested serving
- About 1 shot (30mL)
Vodka is Low FODMAP at about 1 shot (30mL), a distilled spirit with no FODMAP group elevated at that amount.
- At about 1 shot (30mL), vodka is low, since distillation leaves it essentially free of fermentable carbohydrate.
- Mixers such as certain fruit juices or sodas are what tend to carry FODMAPs, so the base spirit is usually the gentle part of the glass.
Pair your shot with soda water and a squeeze of lime, and go easy, since alcohol itself can stir up the gut.
Why vodka is rated low
At about 1 shot (30mL), vodka comes in low, and no single FODMAP group stands out in it. That reading applies to the plain spirit rather than to the drink it ends up in. Vodka is almost always mixed, so the glass in your hand is usually a question about the juice, the soda or the premade mix, not the spirit. Volume matters too: a double, a highball built on two measures and an evening of rounds all pass about 1 shot (30mL), and each extra measure adds to the overall FODMAP load.
What changes your risk
- Measure the shot The low verdict is tied to about 1 shot (30mL). Free pouring at home and ordering doubles are the two easiest ways to drift past it without noticing.
- The mixer is the drink Vodka takes on whatever it is poured into. Orange juice, pineapple and lime are workable, while apple, pear and mango juices are not, and any juice packs several pieces of fruit into one glass with the fibre removed.
- Premade cocktail mixes hide onion and garlic Bloody Mary mixes and savoury cocktail bases commonly list onion powder, garlic powder or both. Building the drink from plain tomato juice, lemon and pepper is the way to see what is in it.
- Sugar-free and diet mixers The sugar free shelf is where sugar alcohols turn up. Check for xylitol, maltitol and isomalt before topping a shot with a tall one.
- Flavoured bottles are their own product Vanilla, caramel, whipped cream and fruit vodkas are sweetened and flavoured, so the reading for plain vodka does not extend to them.
What else works
About 1 shot (30mL) with soda water, ice and lime or a slice of orange stays closest to the low serve, and plain sugar-sweetened tonic or lemonade is a workable long mixer since table sugar is fine here. Gin and whiskey are also low at a single shot on their own pages, and a plain lager or ale is low at a single can, so there is room to vary. The lookalikes to leave alone: flavoured and cream vodkas, premixed vodka cans built on fruit purée, apple and pear juice mixers, cocktails sweetened with honey or agave syrup, and bottled savoury mixes carrying onion or garlic powder.
How to keep it low
Use a jigger at home and pour long with soda water and plenty of ice, so a single shot of about 1 shot (30mL) fills a glass that lasts. When ordering, ask for a single with soda and fresh citrus rather than choosing from the cocktail menu, where the number of measures is rarely stated. Premixed cans and bottled cocktails list a volume that is normally well past one shot, which makes them a different serving altogether. If you like a savoury drink, build it yourself from plain tomato juice, lemon, pepper and a dash of hot sauce so no onion or garlic powder rides in on a bottled mix.
Common questions
how much vodka is low fodmap
About 1 shot (30mL) reads low. Doubles and cocktails built on more than one measure add to the overall FODMAP load.
is flavoured vodka low fodmap
Flavoured vodkas are sweetened, flavoured products, so the low reading for plain vodka does not cover them. The ingredients list on the bottle is the place to look.
is a bloody mary low fodmap
The vodka is low at about 1 shot (30mL), but bottled Bloody Mary mixes very often contain onion and garlic powder. Building it from plain tomato juice, lemon and pepper avoids that.
what is the best mixer for vodka on a low fodmap diet
Soda water with lime or orange is the simplest, and plain sugar-sweetened lemonade or tonic works as a long option. Avoid apple, pear and mango juices and check sugar-free mixers for sugar alcohol sweeteners.
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Where this rating comes from
Vodka is rated from published lab measurements of its FODMAP content, using the low, moderate and high cutoffs of Varney et al. (2017).
Feedback sent through the FODMAP Foods app has led to changes in this list.
Sources
- Fructan and free fructose content of common Australian vegetables and fruit. Muir et al. (2007), J. Agricultural and Food Chemistry 55(16):6619-6627.
- Measurement of short-chain carbohydrates in common Australian vegetables and fruits by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Muir et al. (2009), J. Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57(2):554-565.
- Quantification of fructans, galacto-oligosaccharides and other short-chain carbohydrates in processed grains and cereals. Biesiekierski et al. (2011), J. Human Nutrition and Dietetics 24(2):154-176.
- Dietary sorbitol and mannitol: food content and distinct absorption patterns between healthy individuals and patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Yao et al. (2014), J. Human Nutrition and Dietetics 27(Suppl 2):263-275.
- FODMAPs: food composition, defining cutoff values and international application. Varney et al. (2017), J. Gastroenterology and Hepatology 32(Suppl 1):53-61. Supplies the low, moderate and high cutoffs used on this page.
Informational only, not medical advice. Individual tolerance varies. Talk to a healthcare professional or a dietitian for personal guidance.