How to Understand Cocktail Measurements

Cocktails are a fun way to mix alcohol and other ingredients to create delicious tasting drinks. Some cocktail recipes call for strange-sounding measurements that can be hard to convert into ounces or milliliters. If you want to impress your friends and family by making great cocktails, understand how much alcohol is in a shot, use measuring tools, and use your judgement to determine when a drink tastes good.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Learning Measurement Names

1. Measure parts based on the volume of your serving glass. When a drink calls for “parts,” it is referring to the ratio of ingredients within the cocktail. You can take some liberties with how much of a certain drink you would like to make. This is great for drinks where you may want to make a pitcher for a large gathering.^[1]
   
   • For example, if a recipe calls for 1 part vodka and 2 parts tonic water, you can either pour 1 shot of vodka and 2 shots of tonic water, or 2 shots of vodka and 4 shots of tonic water, etc.
2. Pour of alcohol for a standard shot. Shot glasses can come in different shapes and sizes. If a recipe is calling for a shot of alcohol, pour into your drink. A double shot refers to 2 shots, which is .^[2]
   
   • Many recipes don’t require their alcohol measurements to be exact.
3. Use of alcohol if your cocktail calls for a jigger. A jigger is a measuring tool that holds a little over 1 shot of alcohol. If you don’t have a jigger, you can measure out of alcohol to mix into your drink. Some jiggers hold different amounts of liquid, but a standard one is .^[3]
   
   • Only classic cocktails, like Old Fashioneds and Cosmopolitans, will use this measurement.
4. Pour of alcohol if your drink calls for a pony. A pony gets its name from the classic American shot glass. This amount of alcohol is slightly less than the standard shot glass used now. Use slightly less than a full shot of alcohol if your recipe calls for this measurement.^[4]
   
   • Cocktails that call for a pony will usually say it in their name, like Pimm’s Pony Cocktail or the Pony Express Cocktail.
5. Count to 1 while you pour for a splash of something. A splash is a measurement that is fairly subjective. You can standardize it slightly by counting to 1 while you pour your splash of whatever ingredient the recipe calls for. You can add more or less if you choose to do so.^[5]
   
   • If you are uncertain, pour a small amount of your ingredient and taste it. Add more if you think it needs it.
   • Cocktails often call for splashes of citrus juices, simple syrups, and berry juices.
6. Use 3 to 6 drops of bitters for a dash. When a recipe calls for a dash, it is most often referring to bitters in a cocktail. A dash is another measurement that is very subjective. Add 3 to 6 drops of bitters to your drink depending on how you like your drink. Start with less and add more if you would like to.^[6]
   

[Edit]Using Measurement Tools

1. Attach a bottle spout on liquor bottles for control during a free pour. Free pours are when you pour alcohol straight from the bottle without using a measuring tool. To give you better control, attach a meal bottle spout on the mouth of a liquor bottle before you pour. These spouts help slow down the flow of liquor.^[7], 2 counts is , 3 counts is , and 4 counts is .}}
   
2. Use a double jigger for shots and double shots of alcohol. Double jiggers have openings on both ends instead of just 1. The smaller opening holds about a shot of alcohol, and the larger opening holds about 2 shots of alcohol. Pour your alcohol into 1 side of the jigger up until the fill line. Then, pour your liquid into a cocktail glass.^[8]
   
   • Some jiggers are slightly bigger or smaller than a shot or double shot.
3. Pour ingredients into a cocktail beaker to measure as you pour. Cocktail beakers hold between and . Cocktail beakers are helpful tools to make most drinks. If you only have a few ingredients, pour them 1 at a time into a cocktail beaker. Add up the amounts of all the ingredients that you have, and subtract them from the total as you pour them into the beaker.^[9]
   
   • For example, if your recipe calls for of vodka, of triple sec, and of lime juice, add those up to get . Use the measurements on the side of the beaker to measure each ingredient until you get to .
4. Measure your ingredients in a measuring cup for an easy conversion. If you don’t have any bartending specific tools, use a clear measuring cup that you already have. Ones that don’t hold much volume are the best because they will have smaller measurements on the side. Pour your ingredients in the measuring cup 1 at a time and add them up as you go.^[10]
   
   • For example, if your recipe calls for of Campari, of orange juice, and of sparkling water, use your measuring cup to pour each ingredient one at a time until you reach .

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Warnings

• Always drink responsibly.

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Make a Shaken Cocktail
• Make Frozen Cocktails
• Use a Martini Shaker

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/guide-cocktail-measuring-tools-tricks-terms/
2. ↑ https://www.diffordsguide.com/encyclopedia/322/cocktails/measuring-cocktail-ingredients
3. ↑ http://www.onlineunitconversion.com/shot_to_jigger.html
4. ↑ https://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/guide-cocktail-measuring-tools-tricks-terms/
5. ↑ https://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/guide-cocktail-measuring-tools-tricks-terms/
6. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/when-it-comes-to-cocktails-whats-in-a-dash-behind-the-bar-218109
7. ↑ https://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/guide-cocktail-measuring-tools-tricks-terms/
8. ↑ https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2010/07/measure-like-a-mixologist-a-guide-to-jiggers/60688/
9. ↑ https://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/guide-cocktail-measuring-tools-tricks-terms/
10. ↑ https://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/guide-cocktail-measuring-tools-tricks-terms/