Hops are also a sedative. It might be you are very sensitive to hops.

in the same time period? I have a hard time believing this honestly. It just does not work that way.

Are you sure you don’t just “think” you’re more functional. Hard booze gives me a much “brighter” drunkenness . You still get drunk but have more energy without all the heavy carbs and sugars

Not sure, all alcohol is equivalent. It doesn't matter if you have whisky, beer, tequila, wine, etc. It's all the same alcohol. It's possible that it's related to a routine, are you usually in a more active mindset when drinking whiskey? Do you usually have a beer or two right before bed?

The whiskey puts alcohol relatively fast into your body, making that you don't feel drunk yet even though motor skills are probably lacking. With beer, the delivery is slower, making your mind slow before the motor skills give in. At least, that's how it works for me.

Thinking outside the box, you might be having a carb crash. Beer is carb-heavy, while whiskey is carb-free.

Gluten allergy?

Allergy.

How fast are you drinking the shots? There is also differential absorption between the stomach and the lower intestine.

For science try drinking your normal shots then two pints of water. This is not medical advice.

Can you buy alcohol free beer? Try drinking two and see what happens.

Wait......is 6-8 shots a lot?

Damn. Maybe I was an alcoholic in my drinking days. I'd also be just fine with 6-8 shots.

But I wouldn't be ok with beer. Not because the beer is too potent. It's more that beer is very carbinated, and filling. I'd drink a few beers and just not have room until I pee. Whereas with shots, you could do like 60-80 shots throughout the day, and maybe pee twice. Although you won't remember it.

Bubbles...

It's the caffeine in the coke propping you up, I think. You are essentially making a speedball.

Having said that - I like a cocktail in the weekend (one double so two of yours not 7, holy shit that is binge drinking and definitely not good if you are prediabetic! I'd be under the table before the last one) and my husband does prefer a couple beers and he is snoring on the couch by the evening, I don't feel so tired. So maybe you are on to something.

How is whiskey and diet coke? That doesn't sound very good, though I like each of those separately. Like I think I'd prefer tonic or just fizzy water and lime with whiskey. When you are willing to have fewer come on over to !cocktails@lemmy.world and make something fancy, I'm sure less carbs in one nice drink than 7 shots!