What is a "shot" measurement?

So, what exactly is a "shot"? How do we measure a "shot" and — is it even a valid measurement?

You'll find the range of a "shot" is anywhere from 25ml or 30ml all the way up to 44ml or maybe even 60ml. While it seems silly to fixate on the total milliliters of a standard "shot", it will make a difference on your expectations if you order a shot of whiskey at a bar.

Here in the United States that might be a 1.5 oz pour, but in the UK that's going to be slightly less than 1 oz. Where "shots" as measures really break down is when you are not measuring by ratio. Sure, it's quite easy to measure a shot if your cocktail recipe is 2:1:1, but it gets much more difficult if you need a 3/4 oz measure with a 2 oz measure in the same cocktail. This is where jiggers really come into the picture, because they have more accurate measures.

The jigger takes out all the guess work of trying to use an equal-volume shot glass and estimating partial "shot" measurements. Remember, if you have a 2 ounce shot glass that starts thin and widens as it gets taller, a 1 ounce measure will take up a good portion of the glass — but the second ounce will take up far less space at the top because the wide top gives more surface area.

You'll be able to create a quick and easy cocktail with the 2:1:1 golden ratio using a shot glass, as long as you have a shot glass that measures "1" part — then you can add your sour "shot", a sweet "shot" and 2 "shots" of spirit. But for anything more precise, reach for the jigger.