Understand Cocktail Measurements

Being accurate when making cocktails is an absolute must. Too little of an ingredient can change the drink and too much of something can ruin a drink. While some cocktail drinks are actually made by personal judgment, for example a rum coke float, many others require precise measurement for it to taste like how it's supposed to be.

Steps

1. Become familiar with jiggers. Jiggers are the most basic bar tool for any beginner. The smaller end would vary from a "pony" or 1 oz (30 mL) to a typical "shot" or 1 1/2 oz (45 mL), while the larger end would hold up to 2 oz (60 mL). Be aware that a jigger measurement is the same as a shot.
   • British jiggers uses the metric system instead of imperial, so the standard measurement on a jigger is 25 mL and 50 mL on both ends.
2. Note the different sizes of shot glasses. A typical glass holds 1 1/2 oz; however, there are many bars that have 1 oz glasses. Double shot glasses holds 3 oz and are more beneficial to hold additional ingredients, such as whipped cream.
3. Understand the clear difference between dash and splash. Like food recipes, dashes pertain to ingredients that are used in very small amounts, just to give it taste, but not overpower the dish. Adding a splash of an ingredient is a little more of quantity than dashes, so it's a judgement call on how much to use.
   • Splashes are used with ingredients such as grenadine or blue curacao.
   • Dashes are used with ingredients with more "power" to them, for example Worcestershire or Tabasco sauce.
4. Use jiggers when layering drinks. Very small quantities of ingredients might be a challenge with measuring, however, if you need a splash of it, free-pouring can be done.
   
   

Convert Measurements into Parts

1. Note that a "part" doesn't have a specific measurement. Rather, it describes a ratio of ingredients that can be scaled up or down to any number of servings.
2. Get your favorite drink recipe. Remember that you're only changing the size of the measurement to make bigger quantities of it––the proportion of the ingredients doesn't change. The following example uses a typical kamikaze:
   
   
   • 2 oz (60 mL) vodka
   • 1 oz (30 mL) triple sec
   • 1 oz (30 mL) lime juice/sweet and sour mix.
3. Change the ounces (or other measurements) into parts. The 2 oz/60 mL would change into 2 parts, while the 1 oz/30 mL would be 1 part.
4. Revert the math to change parts back into measurements. If you have 1 part of an ingredient, make it easier on yourself and base it on a jigger measurement. Thereafter, 1/2 a part would be 1/2 jigger (3/4 oz or 22.5 mL) and 2 parts would be 3 oz/90 mL.
5. Use measuring cups with the same method. If you're wanting to use a pitcher, measure 2 cups instead of 2 parts.

Tips

• When making carbonated or frozen drinks, avoid converting ingredient measurements into parts. The longer the ingredients sit, the more they may get watered down or become flat in taste. The fresher the carbonated ingredient is, the better the taste. Use your judgment on the amount of people having the same drink.

Related Articles

• Make a Shaken Cocktail
• Make Frozen Cocktails
• Use a Martini Shaker
• Understand Basic Bartending Techniques

Sources and Citations

• http://www.drinknation.com/bartending/bar-measurements – research source
• http://www.onlineunitconversion.com/shot_to_jigger.html – research source
• http://www.bartendingbasics.com/bar-measurements.html – research source

See also

• Make Layered Shots
• Garnish a Cocktail
• Make Drinks
• Become a Bartender
• Layer Drinks
• Free Pour
• Make a Shaken Cocktail
• Set up a Bar for a Cocktail Party
• Use a Martini Shaker
• Throw a Cocktail Party

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