# Do you use a shot glass when making a cocktail at home? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 23, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688 "2018-05-23T17:52:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/41 "2018-05-24T16:30:36Z")
Quick and easy way to manage ratios, so I grab a shot glass for things such as Bloody Marys, Martinis, Gin & tonic, Vodka and… oh you get the point. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/42 "2018-05-24T16:49:56Z")
If I’m serving a concoction snob, I’ll measure the ingredients. Otherwise, it’s a splash of this, a splash of that, and a pinch of something over ice. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/43 "2018-05-24T16:57:05Z")
I don’t drink much at home but, when I do, I drink 18-year old single malt scotch straight or, if I have a gin martini, I fill the glass 2/3 and put exactly one cap full of vermouth in it and 3 olives. No measuring tools needed. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/44 "2018-05-24T22:31:19Z")
I don’t use a “shot glass”, but I do use a small measuring glass like [this](https://www.crateandbarrel.com/glass-5-ounce-mini-measuring-cup/s107879) (for the first two or so, anyway…) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/45 "2018-05-25T02:31:12Z")
I remember Mary Tyler Moore on her tv show, pouring a drink for Mr. Grant. Carefully pouring a bit into a shot glass. Holding it up and squinting at it. And he grabbed the bottle of scotch and said, ‘THIS IS HOW you pour a drink’ and glugged it into a glass. 😛 Finicky little wimmen measure out booze in a shot glass. Everyone else, just pours a finger or so into a glass. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/46 "2018-05-25T17:18:34Z")
My go-to cocktail is a martini, and I’ve made myself enough of them that I can eyeball the right amount of vodka into the shaker cup every time, so that once I strain it into the glass and drop the twist of lemon on top, it forms a meniscus. Perfect. And I don’t understand why it would bother the OP when people don’t measure. Does 1/2 oz of alcohol one way or the other really matter all that much? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/47 "2018-05-25T17:35:39Z")
I generally drink gin or vodka neat. Just pour it into a glass. Nothing to measure. On those rare occasions when I use a shaker and a bit of vermouth, I eyeball it and the results are generally acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/48 "2018-05-25T17:59:24Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > True of many cocktails (short drinks, usually served straight up)…as opposed to highballs (tall drinks with ice). > > What I meant was that I gave them martinis with 3-5 ounces of gin, which is the way I take them. Deadly, if your usual drink is a glass of white wine. They may have also called for seconds, I can’t remember. Actually, a cocktail is a mixture of at least three things and at least one has alcohol. So a Manhatten, Old Fashion, Margarita, and Martini are all cocktails. A highball is a distilled liquor and a juice or soda. Baybreeze, Cape Codder, Madras Plaid, jack and coke, tangueray and tonic: all highballs. I tended bar and I count. I can’t help it. Hell, I count when other people are pouring. But I don’t make many cocktails these days. I don’t care for “fussy” drinks. they tend to be to sugary for my tastes. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/49 "2018-05-25T18:22:10Z")
By that definition, how is a Martini a cocktail? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/50 "2018-05-25T18:28:56Z")
Funny - this thread had me thinking that in my 30+ years of imbibing (pretty consistently and heavily), I don’t think I ever ordered a drink that was anything other than 1 booze + 1 mixer. Usually a glass of gin, or shots of vodka or other liquers. But the occasional rum and coke, 7&7, screwdriver, bloody mary, gin or vodka + whatever you’ve got… When I was young, my mom and dad drank scotch and gin. The only measure I knew was “2 fingers.” And, depending on the day, that could express a desire that the fingers be placed horizontally or vertically! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/51 "2018-05-25T18:52:32Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > By that definition, how is a Martini a cocktail? You left out the bitters. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/52 "2018-05-25T18:57:45Z")
> [@BeeGee](#): > > You left out the bitters. :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/53 "2018-05-25T19:26:13Z")
I like a dash of grapefruit bitters in my martinis. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/54 "2018-05-25T19:38:21Z")
I use a keen eye, and an unsteady hand. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/55 "2018-05-25T21:11:27Z")
> [@BeeGee](#): > > Actually, a cocktail is a mixture of at least three things and at least one has alcohol. So a Manhatten, Old Fashion, Margarita, and Martini are all cocktails. A highball is a distilled liquor and a juice or soda. Baybreeze, Cape Codder, Madras Plaid, jack and coke, tangueray and tonic: all highballs. > > I tended bar and I count. I can’t help it. Hell, I count when other people are pouring. > > But I don’t make many cocktails these days. I don’t care for “fussy” drinks. they tend to be to sugary for my tastes. 😕 Bay Breeze is at least three things. And this is the first I’ve heard of Madras Plaid, but it sounds like it would be 3 ingredients too. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2018, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/56 "2018-05-26T08:34:02Z")
I’d be curious too. I’ve had a Madras only in Fort Lauderdale. Basically a Cape Cod with a splash of orange juice. It’s quite excellent on warm nights. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/57 "2018-05-26T13:47:09Z")
This is sort of like cooking, or maybe baking a better comparison.\* There are those who measure carefully using cups and teaspoons, and two groups of those who do not: Those who don’t really care if it is off a bit, don’t need exact consistency drink to drink, and those who are experienced enough that they can eyeball the correct measurement fairly consistently. I use a shot glass when making for my wife who likes her drink a specific way and am more forgiving of dink to drink variations for my own sake. \*The issue being how much you can correct by taste as you go. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2018, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/58 "2018-05-26T13:54:10Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: Well, if you’re going really old school, the early martini recipes did often call for bitters, usually orange bitters, IIRC. Does the garnish count in terms of ingredients? Like, for me, a gin and tonic is three ingredients: gin, tonic, and some form of lime (it could be a twist; it could be a slice, but it _must_ have lime, otherwise it is not complete and a sad simulacrum of the perfect summer drink.) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2018, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/59 "2018-05-26T14:42:18Z")
Yeah, but really old school also called for a 2:1 ratio of gin:vermouth, too. We’ve grown past such atrocities. Good question. At what point does a garnish turn into an ingredient? A Bloody Mary is still a Bloody Mary without a garnish, but is a martini without an olive (or a twist)? I totally agree on the gin & tonic, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2018, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/60 "2018-05-26T14:49:39Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Well, if you’re going really old school, the early martini recipes did often call for bitters, usually orange bitters, IIRC. > > Does the garnish count in terms of ingredients? Like, for me, a gin and tonic is three ingredients: gin, tonic, and some form of lime (it could be a twist; it could be a slice, but it _must_ have lime, otherwise it is not complete and a sad simulacrum of the perfect summer drink.) I prefer my gin and tonic with cucumber and sometimes basil. ETA: the perfect summer drink is the Negroni. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688.md?page=4)