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Beverage

Whiskey and soda

How whiskey and soda scores for gout, what moved that score, and the nutrition and portions behind it.

Food Index score

Whiskey and sodaCaution

33/ 100
0100
Based on a well-supported purine estimate
What moved this score
Starting score100
Alcohol-32.2
Category: Spirits-25
Nutrient Gaps-10
Sodium-0.4
Magnesium+0.1
Final score33
Flare risk (acute)43
Long-term (chronic)90

Whiskey and soda scores 33 out of 100 and sits in the caution band. Ranks toward the higher-risk end. Many people choose to keep portions smaller and less frequent.

Penalties took 67.6 points off a starting score of 100, and protective factors added 0.1 back. Every factor is listed in full below.

Scores run 0–100, where higher means more gout-friendly on average. They reflect relative ranking across foods, not a personal risk level. The same food can suit one person and not another, so use the score as a starting point for a conversation with your clinician.

The underlying data

Nutrition and portions

Nutrition Facts

Amounts per 100 g
Typical serving225 g
Calories59
  • Total Fat0 g
  • Saturated Fat0 g
  • Sodium16 mg
  • Dietary Fiber0 g
  • Total Sugars0 g
  • Protein0 g
  • Calcium4 mg
  • Iron0.02 mg
  • Magnesium1 mg
  • Vitamin C0 mg
  • Folate0 ug
  • Water91.5 g
  • Alcohol8.5 g
  • Omega-3 EPA0 g
  • Omega-3 DHA0 g

Common portions

  • 1 fl oz30 g
  • 1 drinktypical225 g
  • Quantity not specified225 g

Where the purine figure comes from

No direct purine measurement has been published for this food, so the score uses the measured median for its category (liquor and cocktails).

We rate this a good confidence estimate.

How purines affect the score →

Nutrition values from the USDA FoodData Central database.

Scoring rationale

Every factor, in full

Each row shows the points a factor moved, what drove it, and the studies behind its weight.

PointsFactor
  • -32.2

    AlcoholFlare risk

    8.5 g of alcohol per 100 g, scaled 2.3x for the typical portion. Alcohol slows the kidneys' clearance of urate.

    Evidence: FitzGerald JD 2020, Arthritis Care Res · Zhang Y 2006, Am J Med

  • -25

    Category: SpiritsFlare risk

    High alcohol concentration per serving; impairs renal urate excretion.

    Evidence: Choi HK 2004, N Engl J Med · Choi HK 2008, BMJ · Zhang Y 2006, Am J Med

  • -10

    Nutrient GapsLong-term

    Provides meaningful amounts of only 0 of the 5 protective nutrient groups (vitamin C, fiber, omega-3, magnesium and folate).

    Evidence: Choi HK 2009, Arch Intern Med · Juraschek SP 2016, Arthritis Rheumatol · Zhang M 2019, Arthritis Rheumatol

  • -0.4

    SodiumLong-term

    16 mg of sodium per 100 g, scaled 2.3x for the typical portion.

    Evidence: FitzGerald JD 2020, Arthritis Care Res

  • +0.1

    MagnesiumLong-term

    1 mg of magnesium per 100 g, scaled 2.3x for the typical portion.

    Evidence: Li X 2015, BMJ

Common questions

About whiskey and soda

Look up any food's Food Index score

Each score lists the factors that moved it, the portion it assumes, and the studies behind each factor's weight.

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