# Scotch question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 6, 2012, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotch-question/608601 "2012-01-06T05:20:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotch-question/608601/1 "2012-01-06T05:20:51Z")
What’s that little plastic thing in the neck of my bottle of (Buchanan’s) scotch? Now I shall sip while others ponder. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotch-question/608601/2 "2012-01-06T08:08:44Z")
It moderates the flow so that you can pour as a measured pace to accurately gauge the amount and in most cases it improves your aim. It’s been many years since I’ve been a bartender but my recollection was that three “glugs” equaled an ounce of liquor. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotch-question/608601/3 "2012-01-07T13:20:41Z")
I see. So it replaces that spout thing that barkeeps insert into a bottle when they open it. This is my first bottle since back in the day before, I guess, they began using this thing. I wonder what it’s called. I don’t mix anything with the scotch except a little water, but it works pretty good. Anyway, thanks **Nunzio**. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotch-question/608601/4 "2012-01-08T16:27:35Z")
To be clear, it’s not a scotch-specific thing. It’s usually found in larger bottles of booze. You rarely find them in bottles of good scotch. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotch-question/608601/5 "2012-01-08T18:12:33Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > To be clear, it’s not a scotch-specific thing. It’s usually found in larger bottles of booze. You rarely find them in bottles of good scotch. Like with wine, and cork vs plastic. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotch-question/608601/6 "2012-01-08T18:25:18Z")
**Munch’s** post aroused my curiosity, so I checked [here](http://www.tastings.com/scout_spirits.lasso?id=195208). I got it at CVS pharmacy in a gift box with two nice glasses for $28. I am _not_ an expert. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotch-question/608601/7 "2012-01-08T23:28:23Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > Like with wine, and cork vs plastic. Not as much anymore. Lots of very good wine is being bottled with twist off caps these days. ---
**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:** [January 9, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotch-question/608601/8 "2012-01-09T00:03:17Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > **Munch’s** post aroused my curiosity, so I checked [here](http://www.tastings.com/scout_spirits.lasso?id=195208). … Though it makes sense to be on bigger bottles as, we gather, it is there as a barkeep’s tool of convenience. Three glugs saves time compared to measuring it out each time and are probably a bit more precise than counting the seconds on a free pour. (Although I’d guess an _experienced_ barkeep would do just as well with a free pour.) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotch-question/608601/9 "2012-01-09T00:32:36Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Not as much anymore. Lots of very good wine is being bottled with twist off caps these days. Yeah, twist caps. That’s what I meant. I prefer a cork if I have a guest, twist otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotch-question/608601/10 "2012-01-09T00:36:36Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Though it makes sense to be on bigger bottles as, we gather, it is there as a barkeep’s tool of convenience. Three glugs saves time compared to measuring it out each time and are probably a bit more precise than counting the seconds on a free pour. (Although I’d guess an _experienced_ barkeep would do just as well with a free pour.) There is, I think, a pour spout that stops at a shot. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotch-question/608601/11 "2012-01-09T00:47:06Z")
I’ve often wondered why [optics](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Optic_Pearl.jpg) aren’t used much in the US. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotch-question/608601/12 "2012-01-09T03:31:48Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > There is, I think, a pour spout that stops at a shot. Here’s [one](http://alcoholcontrols.com/posliqporspo.html) that I found. The only bar owner that I’ve known used these and he was known for strong drinks. He often worked the bar with the barkeeps. They poured great Irish Coffes, clean warm glass with every drink. No well booze allowed with this one drink. 😛 He’s Vietnamese.