A jigger is a bartending measurement used to measure out alcoholic beverages. The exact amount of liquid in a jigger can vary, but it is generally accepted that a standard jigger contains 1.5 fluid ounces or 44 ml.
What is a Jigger?
A jigger is a small hourglass-shaped measuring device used by bartenders to ensure they pour accurate and consistent measures of liquor into cocktails and mixed drinks. Jiggers allow for precision pouring, which is important for balancing the flavors and alcohol content in a craft cocktail.
Jiggers are usually made of stainless steel or plastic and consist of two opposing cones or cups with different sized openings connected in the middle. The two cups are meant to be used in tandem – the smaller opening measures a “jigger” of liquid (usually 1.5 oz) while the larger opposing cup measures a “pony” (usually 1 oz).
Using jiggers helps take the guesswork out of free pouring and ensures each cocktail has the correct proportions. This allows bartenders to maintain consistency and quality drink after drink.
Standard Jigger Sizes
The most common jigger sizes used in bars are:
- 1.5 oz (44 ml) – Also referred to as a “jigger”
- 1 oz (30 ml) – Also referred to as a “pony”
- 0.75 oz (22 ml)
- 0.5 oz (15 ml)
So a standard, unmodified jigger with one 1.5 oz cup and one 1 oz cup is used to measure:
- 1.5 oz = a jigger
- 1 oz = a pony
Using the two cups in combination allows a bartender to measure out anywhere from 0.5 oz to 2.5 oz using a single jigger.
Jigger Sizes Around the World
While 1.5 oz and 1 oz are considered standard jigger sizes in the United States, jigger sizes can vary around the world:
| Country | Large Jigger | Small Jigger |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 1.5 oz | 1 oz |
| United Kingdom | 1.5 oz | 0.75 oz |
| Australia | 30 ml | 15 ml |
| Japan | 30 ml | 20 ml |
As you can see, the larger “jigger” cup is fairly standard at 1.5 oz or 30 ml worldwide. However, the smaller “pony” cup can range from 0.75 oz to 1 oz depending on the country.
Specialty Jiggers
In addition to standard two-sided jiggers, there are also specialty jiggers designed to measure smaller or larger amounts:
- Mini jiggers – Have smaller cups like 0.25 oz and 0.33 oz for measuring dashes of bitters or syrups.
- Cocktail jiggers – Have three stacked cups for measuring 0.75 oz, 1 oz, 1.5 oz.
- Long pour jiggers – Have larger cups like 2 oz or 3 oz for pouring long cocktails.
Bartender kit sets will sometimes include a few different sized jiggers like mini, standard, and long pour so the bartender is prepared to measure out ingredients for any cocktail recipe.
Why Accuracy Is Important
Using a jigger may seem trivial, but ensuring accuracy in measurement is critically important for several reasons:
- Balanced flavors – Cocktails rely on specific proportions of sweeteners, citrus, liquors, etc. Too much of one ingredient can make a drink unbalanced.
- Consistent pours – Customers expect a drink to taste the same each time they order it. Jiggers remove variation.
- Inventory management – Precise pouring reduces over-pouring and therefore liquor costs for the bar.
- Responsible service – Ensures customers aren’t overserved alcohol leading to safety and liability issues.
A standard jigger allows a bartender to stay precise, profitable, responsible, and maintain their reputation for quality cocktails.
Do All Bartenders Use Jiggers?
While jiggers are an essential tool, not all bartenders use them for every cocktail they make. There are some exceptions where bartenders may free pour:
- High volume clubs – Speed is prioritized over precision.
- Experienced bartenders – They can eyeball pours and estimate accurately.
- Simple drinks – A rum and coke has room for approximation.
- Draft beers – Using taps instead of jiggers to pour.
However, for craft cocktails, most bartenders will opt to use a jigger when first making a new recipe. They want to learn the correct proportions. Once they become very familiar with the recipe, they may free pour to pick up speed.
Overall, the jigger remains an essential tool for any bar and many bartenders use them for the majority of their pours.
Tips for Using a Jigger
To get the most accurate pours from a jigger, keep these tips in mind:
- Hold it straight up and down when pouring – tilting can alter the amount.
- Peer down into the jigger – don’t just fill to the brim.
- Give it a quick tap or shake – to release drops clinging to the sides.
- Keep it clean and dry – liquids can stick to sticky surfaces.
- Replace if bent or damaged – warped jiggers alter the volumes.
- Confirm it’s level when measuring – place on a flat surface.
How Many ml is 1.5 oz?
Since 1.5 oz is the standard large jigger size, you may be wondering how many ml that equates to. Here is the conversion:
- 1.5 oz = 44 ml
To convert between ounces and milliliters:
- 1 oz = 29.57 ml
So to calculate:
- 1.5 oz x 29.57 ml/oz = 44.36 ml
Rounding to the nearest whole number gives us 44 ml. So the standard 1.5 oz jigger size is equivalent to 44 ml.
Converting Other Common Jigger Sizes
Using the same conversion, we can calculate other common jigger sizes in ml:
| Jigger Size (oz) | Jigger Size (ml) |
|---|---|
| 0.25 oz | 7 ml |
| 0.33 oz | 10 ml |
| 0.5 oz | 15 ml |
| 1 oz (pony) | 30 ml |
| 1.5 oz | 44 ml |
| 2 oz | 59 ml |
When to Use ml vs oz
In the United States, jigger sizes are nearly always listed in ounces. However, in some countries like Australia, jiggers and cocktail recipes will be labeled in milliliters. As a bartender, it’s helpful to memorize common jigger conversions between ounces and ml.
When writing a cocktail recipe or measuring ingredients, it’s best to stick to one unit – either ounces or milliliters. Don’t mix the two. Pick whichever one you and your audience are most familiar with.
Cocktail Recipe Example
Here is an example cocktail recipe using standard jigger sizes:
Whiskey Sour
- 2 oz (59 ml) bourbon
- 1 oz (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
- 0.75 oz (22 ml) simple syrup
- Lemon slice garnish
- Cocktail cherry garnish
As you can see, the ounce measurements are listed first with the milliliter conversions in parentheses. This allows readers to reference either measurement system.
Conclusion
So in summary, one standard jigger is equal to 1.5 oz or 44 ml. This is the most common jigger size used in bars around the world. While other jigger capacities exist, knowing that a jigger = 44 ml is a good rule of thumb.
Jiggers are important tools that help bartenders stay accurate, profitable, and provide a quality experience for customers. Understanding jigger sizes and how to convert between ounces and milliliters allows you to precisely follow or write cocktail recipes.
