Why does a standard shot of liquor have so many calories for its relatively small size?

Question

Why does a standard shot of liquor have so many calories for its relatively small size?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

Because it has less water and more ethanol. And ethanol has calories in it.

Even if you are talking about something with a lot of sugar, like a can of soda, most of that is still water. You are talking about maybe 20% dissolve sugar at most. But with a shot of hard liquor you could easily be talking about 50% ethanol, which you digest in a very similar way to sugar.