The short answer: mostly yes. Clear liquors like vodka and gin contain fewer congeners than dark ones like whiskey and bourbon, and research links higher-congener drinks to worse hangovers. But how much and how fast you drink still matters more than color.
What congeners have to do with it
Congeners are byproducts of fermentation and aging, and darker spirits accumulate more of them. A well-known study comparing bourbon and vodka found bourbon produced measurably worse hangovers at the same dose. See the full ranking of drinks.
Vodka vs. whiskey, head to head
Vodka is among the lowest-congener spirits; whiskey and bourbon are among the highest. If two nights are otherwise identical, the clear-spirit night usually feels better the next morning.
But color isn't everything
A night of fast vodka sodas on an empty stomach will beat you up worse than a couple of slow whiskeys with dinner. Volume, speed, food, and hydration drive most of the outcome. Here's everything that actually causes a hangover.
Drink smarter either way
Whatever you pour, eat first, hydrate, pace yourself, and sip a Gush before you start. The full prevention guide.
Always drink responsibly. This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.