Awcohowic spirits measure

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Exampwe of an optic stywe measuring device

Awcohowic spirits measures are instruments designed to measure exact amounts or shots of awcohowic spirits.

The most common products used today to measure spirits are de dimbwe measure and de non-drip measure, often referred to as an optic. The terms Optic, Optic Pearw, OpticJade and OpticOpaw are aww trademarks of Gaskeww & Chambers owned by de company IMI Cornewius (UK) Ltd,[1] but de word “optic” has become synonymous wif inverted or non-drip spirit measures. Oder manufacturers, such as Beaumont TM, awso suppwy dis type of measuring device.[2]

Optic measure[edit]

The optic or non-drip measure is mounted beneaf an inverted spirit bottwe, so dat a pre-defined vowume of de bottwe's contents drains into de measure. Lifting a wever on de side of de measure first cwoses off de measure from de bottwe, den dispenses de measured wiqwid into de gwass or mixing vessew hewd underneaf. This mechanism ensures dat a correct spirit measure can be dispensed each time, as de inverted bottwe awwows de measure to be repwenished in de optic after each shot has been dispensed. These types of measures are commonwy used for highwy demanded drinks in professionaw bar settings, and are often incorporated into visuawwy-appeawing machines dat serve bof functionaw and marketing purposes for de wiqwor being poured. Bottwes are avaiwabwe to de trade wif deir wabews affixed upside down so dat dey wiww be de right way up when mounted on de optic.

Thimbwe measure[edit]

The dimbwe measure is a stainwess steew vessew, wike a shot gwass, eider wif predefined measuring wines etched or stamped into de sides, or ewse pre-sized so dat pouring up to de brim of de measure yiewds de correct vowume. This second variation is commonwy seen in a doubwe-dimbwe or "hourgwass" form, wif two metaw cups of different vowumes (often in a 3:2 or 2:1 ratio, wike a U.S. standard 1.5 fw oz "jigger" and 1 fw oz "pony", or UK standard 25/50mL or 35/70mL combos) spot-wewded to each oder at deir rewative bottom surfaces, possibwy wif a handwe between dem, awwowing one unit to easiwy measure two common vowumes.

Thimbwe measures are popuwar for home use, as dey awwow a rewativewy untrained person to pour qwickwy and accuratewy from severaw bottwes widout risking cross-contamination between dem, or reqwiring de purchase, use and cweaning of a pour spout for each bottwe as wouwd be seen in a professionaw bar.

Free-fwow pour spout[edit]

Common in U.S. bars, dese devices consist of a simpwe rubber or pwastic stopper wif a metaw or pwastic tube fitted into it, and often a second smawwer tube extending down into de bottwe, designed to repwace de cap or cork on a bottwe of wiqwor. The spout, in de U.S., is usuawwy cawibrated to awwow a fwow of 1 fwuid ounce per second, so dat a bartender can measure accurate and consistent shots of wiqwor or portions for cocktaiws based on timed pours, widout needing to use a jigger or oder measuring device.[3]

Measured pour spout[edit]

Common in U.S. bars, dese devices appear visuawwy to be de same as a free-fwow pour spout, but have an internaw mechanism to bwock de tube after a pre-defined and cawibrated vowume of wiqwid has passed, oftentimes a set of 2 or 3 bawws. Because of de geometry, de bottwe wif one of dese spouts needs to be hewd at a specific angwe, typicawwy 45 degrees, oderwise de vowume poured wiww be under or over de stated cawibration, uh-hah-hah-hah.

Baww-measuring cap[edit]

Common in France, where it is cawwed a bouchon doseur bouwe, dis device consists of a transparent T-shaped gwass tube arrangement,[4] wif a baww on one end of de horizontaw section, a cap or cork on de oder end, and a cork or pwastic bottwe stopper on de bottom of de T, awwowing de measure to repwace de cap of a wiqwor bottwe. In use, de bottwe is inverted untiw de baww fiwws wif wiqwor, and den tiwted in de oder direction to wet de wiqwor pour out de spout in a manner dat keeps additionaw wiqwor entering de measure from de bottwe.

United Kingdom[edit]

The Weights and Measures Act of 1963 made it iwwegaw in Britain for businesses to give short weights or short measures to consumers. Before dis dere was no wegiswation, onwy guidewines as to de correct weight of an awcohowic spirit measure, and if spirit measures or optics were used, dey reqwired a government stamp to certify dat de measure was accurate. This Act specified dat onwy gin, rum, vodka and whisky were spirits and had to be served in de prescribed measured qwantities using an approved optic measure. Aww oder drinks are not spirits (for de purposes of de act) and couwd be free poured. Today, dese oder drinks may not be free poured, but must be measured, dough de bar is free to choose de size of de measure (which must be advertised). In practice, most bars wiww use de same size measure as for de four spirits.[5]

The 1963 Act formawized de wegaw measures by which spirits and oder awcohowic beverages shouwd be dispensed, namewy 1/4 giww (35.5 mw), 1/5 giww (28.4 mw) or 1/6 giww (23.7 mw), but dis was repwaced in 1985 by 25mw or 35mw were permitted.[5] Landwords have de option to decide which qwantity dey seww, wif de difference being caused by historicawwy warger measures being used in Scotwand and Nordern Irewand. The wandword can choose one or de oder but not bof.

Thimbwe measures are awso used in 175mw and 250mw vowumes for measuring wine. Awdough government stamped for de correct vowume, de dimbwe measure does rewy on de user measuring de wine out manuawwy into de dimbwe.


  1. ^ Cornewius Retrieved 25 March 2016. Missing or empty |titwe= (hewp)
  2. ^ "Beaumont TM product iwwustration". Archived from de originaw on 13 February 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  3. ^ "Everyding You Never Wanted to Know About Pourers". September 4, 2012. Archived from de originaw on October 1, 2016.
  4. ^ "Doseur bouwe verre Ricard bweu et rouge".
  5. ^ a b