Section Five ~ Say When

Part One: How To Earn Maximum Returns On Your Liquid Assets

Section Five ~ Say When

Have you ever wondered what a “jigger” is? Or how much a “nip” is exactly? Well, in this section, Mario lays all the measurements out for us. Not the most interesting of the chapters, but an important one to say the least.

It’s important to know how much your glasses hold, and how much is in your liquor bottles. That way, when your usual small gathering of two to four people turns into six or more, you can do some quick calculations and still serve a great drink with the right proportions.

Dash – For all of the recipes in this book, a dash is 1/8 of a teaspoon, thus two dashes is 1/4 of a teaspoon. In theory, those bottles with the dash stoppers are supposed to let out the right amount, but they vary…so if you want to be accurate, 1/8 of a teaspoon.

Teaspoon – Don’t use the long handled bar spoon for this, that is for mixing drinks. Use a measuring spoon.

Tablespoon – Also known as three teaspoons or 1/2 ounce.

Pony – 1 ounce, or the small end of a double-sided jigger.

Jigger – 1 1/2 ounces. Also known as a bar measuring glass.

Wineglass – As a measuring term, it means 4 ounces.  Wine glasses used to be smaller, so you could fill one to the brim and have 4 ounces. Nowadays, the glasses are much bigger, so it isn’t as accurate.

Split or Nip – 6 to 8 ounces. One refers to a split of champagne, but the same quantity of stout is a nip.

Pint – 16 ounces; 1/2 quart; 2 standard measuring cups.

Fifth – 25.6 ounces; 4/5 quart; 1/5 gallon

Quart – 32 ounces; 2 pints; 4 measuring cups; 1/4 gallon. Do not confuse with Canada and England’s imperial quart, which is 38.4 ounces…or in continental Europe with the liter (33.8 ounces).

Magnum – 52 ounces; the double size champagne bottle.

Half gallon – 64 ounces.

And for the conversation piece sizes…

Jeroboam – 104 ounces, a little more than 4 fifths.

Tappit-hen – About 77 ounces, or 3 fifths.

Rehoboam – About 160 ounces, or 1 1/5 gallons.

Methuselah – About 208 ounces; or 1 3/5 gallons. The largest size of champagne exported from France.

Salmanazar – About 312 ounces; or 2 1/2 gallons.

Balthazar – About 416 ounces; or 3 1/3 gallons.

                       

Nebuchadnezzar – About 520 ounces; or 4 gallons.

Demijohn – From 1 to 10 gallons.

These should help you figure out your drink recipes. As well as double for some interesting baby names.