Bartender's Guide: Cocktail Measurements from ML to Ounces
You found the perfect margarita recipe online. It calls for "45ml tequila, 30ml lime juice, 15ml triple sec." You stare at your jigger marked in ounces. What now? Let's decode bartending measurements so you can nail any cocktail recipe, metric or imperial.
Why Bartending Measurements Actually Matter
Unlike cooking, where you can "eyeball it," cocktails are all about balance. Too much lime juice and your margarita is sour. Too little simple syrup and your mojito is bitter. Professional bartenders use precise measurements—not because they're perfectionists, but because cocktails taste better that way.
Plus, there's the economic angle: over-pouring costs bars thousands annually. Under-pouring creates disappointed customers. The sweet spot is consistency, which comes from accurate measuring.
Standard Bar Measurements: The Foundation
The Standard Shot
This is the most important conversion in bartending. Memorize it.
US Standard Pours
Metric Equivalents
Understanding Your Jigger: The Bartender's Best Friend
A jigger is the double-sided measuring tool you see behind every bar. It's not just for show—it's the key to consistent cocktails. Here's how to read one:
Standard US Jigger
Japanese-Style Jigger
Popular in craft cocktail bars, these tall, narrow jiggers are marked in milliliters for precision:
Pro Tip: Buy Both Systems
Keep both an ounce-marked jigger and a metric-marked jigger in your home bar. American recipes use ounces; European and modern craft recipes use milliliters. Having both saves constant mental math.
Cocktail Recipe Conversions You'll Actually Use
Common for simple syrup, bitters, liqueurs
Standard pour for modifiers (vermouth, liqueurs)
Standard shot—base spirit in most cocktails
Double shot, or for spirit-forward cocktails
Large pour, common in tiki drinks
Converting Real Cocktail Recipes
Classic Margarita (Metric Recipe)
- • 50 ml tequila
- • 25 ml triple sec
- • 25 ml fresh lime juice
- • 10 ml simple syrup
- • 1.75 oz tequila (≈ 2 oz)
- • 0.75 oz triple sec
- • 0.75 oz fresh lime juice
- • 0.33 oz simple syrup (⅓ oz)
Old Fashioned (Imperial Recipe)
- • 2 oz bourbon
- • 0.25 oz simple syrup
- • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- • 60 ml bourbon
- • 7.5 ml simple syrup
- • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
Note: Dashes aren't measured in ml/oz—they're a unit of their own (≈ 1ml per dash)
Bar Measurement Terminology Every Home Bartender Should Know
Dash
≈ 1 ml. A quick shake from a bitters bottle or 6-8 drops. Not precise, but that's okay for bitters.
Splash
≈ 5-10 ml (0.25-0.33 oz). Quick pour, not measured. Used for soda water, tonic, etc.
Barspoon
≈ 5 ml (≈ 1 teaspoon). The long spoon's bowl holds about 5ml. Good for tiny measurements.
Float
≈ 15 ml (0.5 oz). Gently poured on top of a drink without mixing. Measurement varies by drink.
Rinse
≈ 5-7 ml. Swirl in glass to coat, then discard excess. Used for absinthe, vermouth, etc.
Should You Learn to Free Pour?
"Free pouring" is when bartenders pour directly from the bottle without measuring. It looks cool in movies, but here's the truth:
Pros of Free Pouring
- ✓ Faster service in busy bars
- ✓ Looks professional
- ✓ No extra tools to wash
- ✓ Good for high-volume operations
Cons of Free Pouring
- ✗ Takes months to master
- ✗ Less accurate than jiggers
- ✗ Easy to over/under pour
- ✗ Inconsistent cocktails
Verdict: Use a Jigger at Home
Even professional craft bartenders use jiggers for accuracy. Free pouring is for speed, not precision. If you're making cocktails at home, measure. Your drinks will be better and more consistent. Save free pouring for impressing friends—after you've measured everything properly first.
Pour with Confidence
Now you speak both metric and imperial bar language. That fancy cocktail book from London? You got this. That vintage American cocktail guide? No problem. The key conversions—30ml = 1oz, 45ml = 1.5oz—will handle 90% of your needs.
Remember: cocktails are about precision, but they're also about enjoyment. Measure accurately, but don't stress if you're off by a few milliliters. Taste, adjust, and make it your own.