Is Whiskey Healthy? 6 Purported Health Benefits of Your Favorite Spirit

In October, Evelyn Hickman, a woman who lived through World War II, turned 100 years old. What was her secret to longevity? Junk food and whiskey, she claimed.

According to some, whiskey has surprising health benefits that have been touted throughout the ages. The Irish have used the words “uisce beatha” to describe whiskey, which translates to “water of life.”

On the other hand, more recent studies have made claims such as “no amount of alcohol is safe for consumption.” It appears that the narratives surrounding drinking are constantly changing. We’re not going to go so far as to label whiskey a health food, nor are we going to encourage you to drink a bunch of whiskey, but there are some alleged surprising benefits to drinking the occasional dram every now and then.

6 Surprising Whiskey Health Benefits

Whiskey Contains Chemicals That Might Fight Off Cardiovascular and Other Diseases

WebMD reports that whiskey was touted as a tonic meant to “slow aging, cure congestion and relieve joint pain,” in Scotland during the 16th century, and perhaps apothecaries of the day were onto something. The University of Virginia cites that chronic inflammation is what drives aging and age-related diseases.

Whiskey contains significant polyphenols, like ellagic acid. Polyphenols are antioxidants typically found in fruit that fight inflammation. Polyphenals can help reduce inflammation and have been cited to have anticancer properties. Polyphenols also may fight diabetes and cardiovascular diseases by lowering the amount of bad cholesterol in your body.

Furthermore, ellagic acid has been shown to counteract obesity and protect brain function from neurodegenerative diseases.

Neat Whiskey is a Diet-Friendly Drink

If you’re watching your weight, whiskey might be a solid drink of choice. The spirit is naturally carb-free, sugar-free and gluten-free. A shot of whiskey typically contains 97 calories according to Medline Plus.

As far as alcoholic drinks go, a shot of neat whiskey is fairly low in calories, considering the same data reports that regular beer typically clocks in at as much as 350 calories. And don’t even get us started on those tropical drinks like the piña colada, which hosts a whopping 526 calories.

If you’re looking to shed some extra weight, Healthline reports whiskey is completely carb-free if you drink it neat or with a low-carb mixer, making it a great tipple for the ketogenic diet.

Whiskey Can Help With Congestion

If you’ve ever had a cold, perhaps you’ve been offered a hot toddy.

This beverage is typically a mixture of tea, lemon and whiskey. Other ingredients like ginger, peppermint and apple cider vinegar can be added to hot toddies to give them an extra bit of flavor.

As far as home remedies go, the hot toddy is often given to ease unpleasant cold and flu symptoms. Healthline reports that whiskey temporarily widens blood vessels, which can act as a cough suppressant and help relieve congestion. Not to mention, the boozy punch of alcohol might aid in relaxation and lead to a good night’s rest.

If you’re coughing and sneezing, consider making yourself a hot toddy to stave off those unpleasant feelings.

Whiskey Could Reduce Risks of Dementia

Per the National Institute, a study done in 2003 suggested that adults who drank moderately experienced a lowered risk of dementia. The experts defined “moderate drinking” as approximately one to six beverages a week.

The key word here is “moderate,” as any amount of alcohol over that could significantly increase one’s risks of dementia, according to a 2023 South Korean study reported on by NPR.

It’s no secret that too much alcohol can impact the brain and cause depression, anxiety, intellectual impairment and a litany of negative effects. Scientists continue to make new findings supporting alcohol’s effects on the brain and whether or not it reduces dementia. Either way, it’s an interesting conversation starter.

Whiskey Could Reduce Risks of Heart Failure

Multiple studies have been conducted on whiskey’s ability to reduce heart disease due to antioxidants present in the spirit.

In a study from the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, scientists were attempted to choose which alcohol had the highest antioxidant levels for heart disease prevention. The scientists gave a group of nine men 100 milliliters of red wine, whiskey or a new make spirit.

Despite red wine’s reputation for preventing heart disease, the aged single malt whisky held the highest levels of antioxidants, thus making whisky appear to be the superior choice for those looking to fend off heart disease.

Whiskey Could Contribute to Longevity

At Bottle Raiders, we’ve reported on multiple people who have lived long, attributing the occasional tipple of whiskey, rum, or gin to their advanced age. Though there is no hard data to support this conclusion, the media continues to report on multiple centenarians touting alcohol as the secret to a long life.

According to The Daily Mail, Grace Jones, a woman who died at 113 years old, attributed her long life to whisky and was known to have a glass of Famous Grouse single malt every evening for 62 years.

“I started having a nightly tot of it when I turned 50 so I’ve been having it every night for the last 60 years and I certainly have no intention of stopping now,” Jones informed The Daily Mail.

Apparently, doctors supported Jones’ nightly whisky imbibing, and said “Keep up the whisky Grace, it’s good for your heart.”

Check out the following YouTube video to hear more about these benefits!

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