# 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:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**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, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/61 "2018-05-26T15:04:32Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Yeah, but really old school also called for a 2:1 ratio of gin:vermouth, too. > > We’ve grown past such atrocities. Actually, as much as 1:1. Doesn’t matter to me, as I’m not much a fan of martinis. ---
**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, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/62 "2018-05-26T15:08:01Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I prefer my gin and tonic with cucumber and sometimes basil. > > ETA: the perfect summer drink is the Negroni. Nah, I need something more thirst quenching. Negronis are good, but too boozy for extended outdoor sweating-in-the-sun drinking for me. Micheladas are a close contender, too. Not boozy and replaces your electrolytes! ---
**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, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/63 "2018-05-26T15:14:09Z")
I’m assuming the Radler type and not the Red beer variation that is popular around here? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/64 "2018-05-26T15:34:59Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Yeah, but really old school also called for a 2:1 ratio of gin:vermouth, too. > > We’ve grown past such atrocities. The modern interpretation is “martini? What kind of vodka do you want?” We’ve changed, not always for the better. > [@](#): > > 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. With cocktail onion it becomes a Gibson. ---
**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, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/65 "2018-05-26T15:38:42Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I’m assuming the Radler type and not the Red beer variation that is popular around here? Both, but I love the red beer type. It’s a Bloody Mary, but doesn’t get you hammered as fast! I have to say, now that I think about it more, that’s my ideal summer drink. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2018, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/66 "2018-05-26T15:47:10Z")
Currently on the porch enjoying Beer and Clamato washing down shots of very good tequila. And an occasional bowl. Summertime, and the living is sleazy. ---
**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, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/67 "2018-05-26T17:08:53Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Nah, I need something more thirst quenching. Negronis are good, but too boozy for extended outdoor sweating-in-the-sun drinking for me. Micheladas are a close contender, too. Not boozy and replaces your electrolytes! That’s when I have an Americano. ---
**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, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/68 "2018-05-26T17:53:27Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Currently on the porch enjoying Beer and Clamato washing down shots of very good tequila. And an occasional bowl. Summertime, and the living is sleazy. I was with you until you pulled that crazy Canadian shit. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2018, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/69 "2018-05-30T04:20:16Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > 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. Actually… cocktails are defined more by the presence of bitters than anything else. Cocktails without bitters are typically slings. Other things such as margaritas are mixed drinks, but not cocktails. Martinis were originally composed of gin, dry vermouth and orange bitters, and often came (and still do) with a strip of lemon peel as garnish. The main variations have been in the ratio of gin to vermouth, and later, vodka vs. gin, although IIRC a vodka martini is more properly called a Kangaroo (pretty much any serious variation on ingredients gets dubbed with a new name in the world of cocktailiana) And FWIW, the “martini” glass is just a cocktail glass; they predate martinis by quite a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2018, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/70 "2018-05-30T04:40:16Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > A Bloody Mary is still a Bloody Mary without a garnish, but is a martini without an olive (or a twist)?. I’ve heard that called a “Dickens Martini.” No olive or twist. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2018, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688/71 "2018-05-30T04:50:00Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I was with you until you pulled that crazy Canadian shit. **Kayaker** is right…a cold Pilsener poured over a 3 oz shot of Clamato is a magnificent summer drink. Pour it over 3 oz of V8 juice and it’s a Missouri thing rather than a Canadian thing, but you don’t get that saline stink-of-the-clam-beds tang. Rather than tequila, I’d have one to chase a more flavorful shot…maybe Aquavit? And pass that bong this way, brother. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shot-glass-when-making-a-cocktail-at-home/814688.md?page=3)