Alcohol measurements


Alcohol measurements are units of measurement for determining amounts of beverage alcohol.

Beer measures

NameUS customary unitsImperial unitsMetric units Notes
nip6.66 imp oz189.42 mL of an Imperial pint. Strong ale and Barley wine were usually bottled in nips Metric measurement glasses and containers usually round up to 190 ml or 200 ml.
small 8 US fl oz236.59 mL US pint.
small 9.29 US fl oz9.67 imp fl oz275 mL
half 10 imp oz284.13 mL Imperial pint. Also called a "glass" in the UK and Ireland. Metric-measure glasses usually round down to 280 mL.
bottle 11.15 US fl oz11.61 imp oz330 mLThe Standard International Bottle. Liter. Based on the long-necked 355 mL American standard bottle.
stubby 11.53 US fl oz12 imp fl oz341 mL of an imperial pint. A short-necked, thick-walled beer bottle commonly found in Canada, Australia, and South Africa. It was rounded down to 340 ml after metrification. It has been replaced by the EU standard long-necked 330 mL bottle.
bottle 12 US fl oz-355 mL US pint.
large 16 US fl oz473.18 mL1 US pint
pint 1 imp pt568.26 mLBeer sales in Britain and the Commonwealths were based on the imperial pint. Metric-measure glasses usually round up to 570 mL. Beer bottles in the UK rounded down to 550 mL after standard metrification in 1995. This was later changed to 500 ml.
Sixth 22 US fl oz1.14 imp pt651 mL US gallon, rounded up from 21.3 US fl oz. Also called a "bomber" or a "double deuce". Mostly replaced by the 40 US fl oz bottle by the late 1980s, but still used by some breweries for beer and malt liquor.
tallboy24 US fl oz1.249 imp pt710 mLA can containing US fluid quarts. Also called a "7-10" in Canada.
flagon32 US fl oz1.66 imp pt946.35 mL1 US quart.
40 40 imp fl oz1.13 liters 2 imp pints, 1 imp quart, or a quarter of an imperial gallon.
40 40 US fl oz2.08 imp pt1.18 L2.5 US liquid pints. Might have been inspired by the Canadian 40 imp oz bottle. Malt liquor is often bottled in "40's"
Third 42 US fl oz-1.242 L US gallon. Mostly replaced by the 40 US fl oz bottle by the late 1980s.
pitcher 60 US fl oz1.77 L3.75 US pints. Can also be 2 US pints or 3 US pints, depending on location. The 60 oz pitcher is usually used with medium beers of 12 US fl oz. The smaller pitchers are based on large US pint glasses.
growler64 US fl oz1.89 LHalf of a US gallon.
Darwin stubby80 imp fl oz2.273 LStandard Australian bottle size, equal to half of an Imperial gallon. Later rounded off to 2.25 L or 2 L after metrification.
pin4.5 imp gal20.46 L
pony keg7.75 imp gal29.33 LQuarter US beer barrel
anker 10 US gal8.33 imp gal37.85 LAn obsolete Dutch measurement, originally used for a small cask of wine or brandy. It was brought to the New World by the former Dutch colony of Nieuw Amsterdam. It was adopted by Colonial New York and New Jersey as a standard measure and was retained by America after independence. It was also used in Europe, where it varied in capacity from 9 to 11 US gallons.
firkin9 imp gal40.91 L2 pins
keg15.5 US gal58.67 LHalf US beer barrel
kilderkin18 imp gal81.83 L2 firkins
US barrel31 US gal2 kegs
UK barrel36 imp gal163.66 L2 kilderkins
hogshead54 imp gal245.49 L6 firkins or 3 kilderkins
puncheon72 imp gal327.32 L2 barrels
butt108 imp gal490.98 L2 hogshead
tun216 imp gal981.96 L3 puncheons or 2 butts

Liquor measurements

The following table lists common sizes for liquors and spirits.
NameUS customary unitsImperial unitsEnglish unitsMetric units Metric units Notes
Hint tsp
Drop tsp
Dash tsp
Bartender's Teaspoon or Splash fl oz
Count0.5 US fl oz14.8 mL15 mLUsing calibrated pour spouts that restrict flow to 0.5 fl oz/s
Bartender's Tablespoon US fl oz
Gill imp fl oz23.7 mL25 mLLegal serving of spirits defined in 1963 Weights and Measures Act
Shot 25 mL or 35 mLLegal serving of spirits in the UK since 1985.
Roquille ~29.75 mlA measure of spirits in the Ancien Régime of France, being of a French pinte.
Gill 1 imp fl oz28.4 mLTraditional Scottish spirits measure
Peg 1 imp fl oz-28.4 mL30 mLAlso called a "small peg"; a "large peg" is a double measure of 2 imperial ounces. Traditional spirits measure on the Indian subcontinent.
Gill imp fl oz35.5 mL35 mlTraditional Irish spirits measure
Pony 1.0 US fl oz30 mLDefined as of a jigger. Was used to measure a cordial.
Pony imp fl oz May be derived from holding a "pennyworth" of beer.
Jigger 1.5 US fl oz45 mLTypical size after U.S. Prohibition, but varies
Short shot 1.5 US fl oz45 mL
Jigger gill35.52 mL35 mLLegal U.K. spirits measure from 1826 to 1984, for Gin, rum, vodka and whisky.
Jigger 1.5 imp fl oz
Jigger 2.0 US fl oz60 mLBefore U.S. Prohibition
Hooker2.5 imp fl oz jigger
Snit3.0 US fl oz88.72 mL90 mLTwo jiggers.
Gill 4.0 US fl oz118.294 mL120 mLPronounced , historically equivalent to two jacks, half a cup, or a quarter pint.
Gill 5.0 imp fl oz142.065 mL150 mLPronounced , historically equivalent to two jacks, half a cup, or a quarter pint. May also be an eighth of a pint in Scotland.
Gill of Beer 10 imp fl oz284 mL280 mLA gill of beer is equal to half an imperial pint in parts of England. It is a holdover from when spirits, wines and brandies, ale, and beer all had different standard measures of capacity.
JackHistorically equivalent to two jiggers or handfuls, or half a gill. No longer in general use.
Whiskey Barrel53 US gallons44 Imp. gallons200 LAn international standard measurement for whiskey.
Whiskey Hogshead66 US gallons55 Imp. gallons--250 LAn international standard measurement for whiskey.
Whiskey Butt132 US gallons110 Imp. gallons--500 LAn international standard measurement for whiskey.

Liquor bottles

NameUS customary unitsImperial unitsMetric unitsNotes
Miniature 1.5 US oz-44 mLFormer size for US miniature bottles before metrification that were based on the post-Prohibition jigger. Replaced by the 50 mL "metric nip".
Pint 1.6 US fl oz1.66 imp fl oz47 mLFormer size for US nip bottles before metrification. Replaced by the 50 mL "metric nip".
Pint 2 US fl oz2.08 imp fl oz59 mLFormer size for US miniature bottles before metrification that were based on the pre-Prohibition jigger. Replaced by the 50 mL "metric nip".
Tenth 12.8 US fl oz-378 mLA tenth of a US gallon. Called a "Commercial Pint" because it was equivalent to 0.8 US fluid pints. Replaced by the 375 mL "metric pint".
Reputed Pint -13.3 imp oz.378 mLThe "Reputed Pint" was devised to split a standard gallon into twelve small bottles. Originally it was based on the British Wine gallon, which was later adopted by the United States as their standard fluid gallon. This made a Wine Gallon "Reputed Pint" equivalent to US fluid pint, 11.09 imp. oz, or 315 mL. Although the Imperial system was introduced in 1824, bottles of ale or beer were still sold in Reputed Pints but were now based on the Imperial gallon. It was later replaced by the Imperial Pint in the 20th century.
Sixth 22 US fl oz-651 mlA sixth of a US Gallon, rounded up from its actual volume of 21.33 US fl oz. Replaced by the 500 mL "half-liter", which was dropped in 1989.
Fifth 25.6 US fl oz1 imp pt, 6.6 imp fl oz757 mLA fifth of a US gallon. Called a "Commercial Quart" because it was equivalent to 0.8 US fluid quarts. Replaced by the 750 mL "metric quart".
Reputed Quart -26.6 imp oz.756 mLThe "Reputed Quart" was devised to split a standard gallon into six large bottles and was usually used for wine and liquor. Originally it was based on the British Wine gallon, which was later adopted by the United States as their standard fluid gallon. When the Imperial system was introduced in 1824, measures of wine or liquor were still sold in either Reputed Quarts or Imperial Quarts. It was later replaced by the Imperial Quart in the 20th century.
Quart 38.5 US fl oz1 quart1.14 LReferred to as a "40" in Canada and a liter in the United States.
Half gallon 64 US fl oz1.89 L US gallon. Replaced by the 1.75 L "metric half-gallon" in 1976.

The British Reputed Pint and Reputed Quart were used in Great Britain and throughout the Empire from the late 17th century until the early 20th century. Originally there were different standard gallons depending on the type of alcohol. That meant that the Reputed measures varied depending on which standard gallon was used. A Reputed Pint of beer was equal to 285 mL and a Reputed Quart of wine was equal to 730 mL. When the Imperial system was adopted in 1824, the fluid gallon was standardized on the old Ale Gallon. However, Reputed pints and quarts were still used by breweries and merchants, but measurements were now based on the Imperial system. There was still confusion about whether Reputed or Imperial measures was being used by the merchant, so eventually Imperial pints and quarts were made standard.
The United States adopted the British Wine Gallon as standard. The laws concerning the production and sale of alcohol stated that it had to be sold in portions of a gallon for tax purposes. A standard case of bottled beer, wine or liquor had to be equal to two gallons and bottles came in half-dozens and dozens rather than fourths and eighths. There would be 24 small bottles or 12 large bottles per case. The bottles were later increased in size to be equivalent to British Reputed Pints and Quarts, allowing them to be interchangeable for export. The American liquor industry later referred to these measures as "Commercial Pints" and "Commercial Quarts".

Wine measurements

The following table contains various measurements that are commonly applied to wine.
NameUS fluid ounces Metric unitsNo. of 750 mL bottlesNotes
Quarter bottle6.3187.5 mLAlso known as a piccolo, pony, snipe or split. They are commonly served in packs of 4 bottles.
Chopine8.5250 mLBordeaux region. A metric half-pint.
Half bottle12.7375 mLAlso known as a demi.
Half Litre16.9500 mLUsed for sweet wines like Tokays and Sauternes.
Bottle25.4750 mL1European Standard Bottle for wine and spirits.
Litre33.81 LPopular size for Austrian wines
Magnum50.71.5 L2
Double Magnum101.43 L4Bordeaux region
Jeroboam101.43 L4Champagne region
Jeroboam152.24.5 L6Bordeaux region
Rehoboam152.24.5 L6Champagne and Burgundy regions
Imperial202.96 L8Bordeaux region
Methuselah202.96 L8Champagne and Burgundy regions
Salmanazar304.39 L12
Balthazar405.812 L16
Nebuchadnezzar507.215 L20
Melchior608.718 L24

NameUS fluid ounces Metric unitsNotes
Half Bottle 12354 mLUsed for domestically-produced sparkling white wine in the place of the French metric 375 mL champagne punt. Rounded-down from. Still wines came in US pint and Tenth bottles. Replaced in 1980 with the metric 375 mL Demi Bottle for both still and sparkling wines.
Half Liter 16.9500 mL Bottle. Was one of the eight standardized US metric bottle sizes listed in 1980, but was withdrawn in June 30, 1989. Still used in countries that sell wine in half-liters and liters.
Bottle 25739 mLUsed for domestically-produced sparkling white wine in the place of the French metric 750 mL champagne punt. Rounded down from.
Still wines came in US quart or Fifth bottles. Replaced in 1980 with the metric 750 mL Standard Bottle for both still and sparkling wines.