#cocktail math

SHOT SIZES AND HOW MANY SHOTS ARE IN A BOTTLE If you are planning a party, knowing shot sizes and how many shots in a bottle makes liquor shopping much easier. In the U.S., a standard shot is usually 1.5 ounces. That means a 750ml bottle holds about 16 shots when poured at standard strength. A 1 liter bottle gives you about 22 to 23 shots, and a 1.75 liter handle comes out to about 39 shots. QUICK PLANNING TIPS - Mini bottles: about 1 shot - Pint bottle: about 8 to 9 shots - 750ml bottle: about 16 shots - 1.75 liter bottle: about 39 shots The real answer can change based on pour size. A 1-ounce pour stretches a bottle further. A 2-ounce cocktail uses it faster. That is why recipes matter as much as bottle size. One useful rule: match the bottle to the drink style. Straight pours, mixed drinks, and batch cocktails all use liquor differently. If you are hosting, a simple liquor size chart can save time and help you buy the right amount the first time. Understanding bottle sizes is not complicated. Once you know the standard shot, the rest is basic math.

QUICK LOOK AT VODKA MATH A standard 750 ml “fifth” pours about twenty-five 1 oz shots. A liter bumps that to thirty-three, while the 1.75 L handle breaks the fifty-shot line. If a recipe calls for 1.5 oz per drink, divide those numbers by 1.5 to see how many cocktails a bottle really covers. WHY SIZE MATTERS • Consistency: using the same format each order keeps proof and flavor stable. • Budget: handles usually shave cents off the ounce, but only make sense if you will finish them before air steals freshness. • Storage: magnums look dramatic, yet they hog fridge and speed-rail space. FAST REFERENCE - 50 ml nip = 1.7 oz • perfect tasting flight - 200 ml “half-pint” = 6.8 oz • travel weekend - 375 ml pint = 12.7 oz • small household - 750 ml fifth = 25 oz • home bar staple - 1 L = 33 oz • brunch batches - 1.75 L handle = 59 oz • large gathering - 3 L jeroboam = 101 oz • showcase piece PRO TIP FROM LONG ISLAND SHOP SHELVES Keep one fifth of your favorite brand for neat pours, plus a handle of an all-purpose mixer vodka. Rotate stock every two months to avoid muted aromatics, and store upright, away from sunlight. Knowing the numbers turns guessing games into clean, confident pours every time.