Shot glass

Glassware

A shot glass is a small glass, usually 1 to 2 oz (30 to 60 ml), used to serve a straight spirit or a short mixed shot.

US standard shot: 1.5 oz (44 ml)
Common shot glass sizes: 1 to 2 oz (30 to 60 ml)
Pony shot: 1 oz (30 ml)
Double: 2 to 3 oz (60 to 90 ml)
UK single measure: 0.85 or 1.2 oz (25 or 35 ml)
1.5 oz in tablespoons: 3 tablespoons
Capacity: 1 to 2 oz (30 to 60 ml)
Used for: Straight shots of spirits and short mixed shots, including layered shooters

What shot glass means

Bars use the shot glass to serve a straight spirit or a short mixed shot, so the glass decides how much you get. You meet it at almost any bar that pours spirits straight, and shooters are served in it.

A common belief is that every shot glass holds the same amount. They do not. The US has no federal shot size, and Utah is one of the few places that sets one by law, at 1.5 oz (44 ml). For a measured pour, use a jigger instead of guessing.

A standard shot in the US is 1.5 oz (44 ml), or about 3 tablespoons, which is a handy check when you have no jigger. A double runs 2 to 3 oz (60 to 90 ml), so it is not always 2 oz (60 ml). A double is a bigger pour, not a second shot stacked in the same glass.

How to serve a drink in a shot glass

Start by checking how much the glass holds, since that sets how much you pour.

1.Measure 1.5 oz (44 ml) with a jigger first if the glass holds more than one shot.
2.Pour the spirit in, then check the level, since many glasses hold up to 2 oz (60 ml) to the brim.
3.Serve a straight shot at room temperature or chilled, with no ice in the glass.
4.Use a tall, narrow shot glass when you make a layered shot.

Shot glass compared

ShotA shot is the amount you pour. A shot glass is the glass that holds it, and many hold more than one 1.5 oz (44 ml) shot.
JiggerA jigger measures a pour exactly. A shot glass is for serving, and its size varies too much to trust as a measure.
ShooterA shooter is a mixed drink served in a shot glass, not a straight spirit.

Related terms

Put it to use in your next drink

Garçon explains every step as you make the drink.