What is a 6 count pour?
6 count = 1.5 oz. 40 count = 10 oz... you get the idea. In my experience, this has made counting more simple and precise, and easier to train. Just have the new bartender download a free metronome app, set it to 168, and start pouring away.
| Time | Volume |
|---|---|
| .5 Second | 5 mL or ⅙ Oz |
| 1 Seconds | 10 mL or ⅓ Oz |
| 2 Seconds | 20 mL or ⅔ Oz |
| 3 Seconds | 30 mL or 1 Oz |
FREE POURING COUNTS
Bubble, 2, 3 = 3/4 oz or 20 ml. Bubble, 2, 3, 4 = 1 oz or 30 ml.
Each “count” should equal about ½ ounce of alcohol. With a bit of practice, what ends up in your glass should fill the 2-ounce side of a jigger. A perfect standard pour.
The number of ounces in a shot glass depends on the size of the glass. Most shot glasses hold around 1.25 oz. to 1.5 oz., but there is no official standard size for a shot. Some shot glasses can be less than an ounce and others can be over 3 ounces, with the most common size being 1.5 oz.
How many ounces are in a shot? In the U.S., a standard shot is 1.5 ounces. There are no federal laws mandating what a shot should be, although Utah has made it the legal maximum. Still, it's up to the bars to decide how many ounces are in a shot, and this can range from 1.25 ounces to 2 ounces depending on the state.
An official jigger measures 1.5 ounces on one side and 1 ounce on the other. The 1.5-ounce side is referred to as a “jigger shot.” The 1-ounce side is often called a “pony shot.” Of course, just like the shot glass, these double-barrelled measuring vessels are available today in different sizes and shapes.
Most bartenders use a standard “four count” to free-pour — a count of . . . 1 – 2 – 3 – 4. The “four count” is preferred because it breaks down so easily — “1” equals a quarter shot, “2” equals a half shot, on up to a full “4” count — which is the house pour, or one full shot.
Recently, with a nod to bar history, there has been an effort to standardize the "finger pour" to 3/4 of an inch per finger in an standard old fashioned glass, which equals about one ounce per finger. This would result in two fingers equaling two ounces and so on.
Whiskey is often measured in “fingers”. Simply hold your finger next to the glass and pour yourself a finger's width. For instance, if you were to order two fingers of whiskey, you'd end up with roughly two adult-sized finger widths of whiskey in your glass. Simple enough?
How do bartenders count ounces?
The general rule of thumb is that every one count is equivalent to one-quarter of an ounce. Most drinks take 1.25 to 2 ounces. That means that to make a vodka soda with 1.25 ounces of liquor, the bartender should count to 5 before cutting off the alcohol.
A 3-count liquor pour equals one shot. Each count delivers 1/2 a fl. oz., so it takes 3 counts to create the standard 1 1/2 fl. oz.
While there is no federally-mandated shot-glass size, many U.S. bartenders consider a standard volume to be 1.5 ounces, or 44 milliliters.
Single Shot: A single shot contains 1.5 ounces or 44 milliliters of liquor. This is the standard shot size in the United States and most other countries.
How Much Liquor Is in a Double? The standard pour for a double is 3 ounces, which is two standard 1.5-ounce liquor pours.
There is no official size for a single shot, except in Utah, where a shot is defined as 1.5 US fl oz (44.4 ml). Elsewhere in the U.S., the standard size is generally considered to be 1.25–1.5 US fl oz (37–44 ml). A double shot in the U.S. may be 2 fluid ounces or more.
Since most shot glasses hold 1.5 to 2oz of alcohol, a double shot is generally considered to be somewhere between 3 and 4 ounces.
How Many Ounces in a Shot? Most bartenders and co*cktail recipes use 1.5 ounces of liquor per shot. That said, there is no standard shot size in the U.S., except for in Utah where they define a shot as 1 fluid ounce. But for all intents and purposes, a shot in the U.S. is 1.5 ounces.
In Ireland, it was believed that liquor contained spirits that might be harmful if consumed, and tapping the glass dispelled those spirits.
So three fingers means roughly 3 ounces, or two shots. . .that's a pretty good slug of whiskey!
Why dip your finger in whiskey?
Put your finger in the glass to get a few drops of whiskey on it, then rub the drops between your finger and back of your other hand, vigorously. This will rub the alcohol off – deconstructing the whiskey – leaving in its place many of the flavor compounds hidden beneath the alcohol fumes, like a cologne.
The 50 rule in bartending is a very simple one. It refers to 50% of a drink that is still in a customer's glass. Once the glass is halfway empty from consumption, you can serve another drink. This is very important to consider and it will be essential in a bartender's career.
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3. Measuring for a “Jigger”
A double shot is 3 ounces of liquor, which is 6 counts using a free pour spout.
Most bartenders use a standard “four count” to free-pour — a count of . . . 1 – 2 – 3 – 4. The “four count” is preferred because it breaks down so easily — “1” equals a quarter shot, “2” equals a half shot, on up to a full “4” count — which is the house pour, or one full shot.
Jigger - A jigger is often used in bars to measure 1 to 2 oz. of liquor or syrup for mixed drinks. Spoon - You can use a simple spoon from your flatware drawer to measure out the shot serving. Most flatware spoons hold approximately .
1. If you can count, you can be taught to free pour with great accuracy. The general rule of thumb is that every one count is equivalent to one-quarter of an ounce. Most drinks take 1.25 to 2 ounces.
