How to Measure Drinks Without a Jigger

Good drinks depend on proportions, and proportions depend on measuring. A jigger is the usual tool, but every kitchen already has things that measure just as well if you know their volumes. Tablespoons, measuring cups, medicine cups and a kitchen scale can all stand in.

This guide lists the common household substitutes, the conversions that matter for cocktails, and the habits that keep measurements consistent from drink to drink. It also explains why free-pouring tends to make drinks stronger and less balanced than intended.

Common conversions

Most cocktail recipes in the United States use ounces, and the easiest kitchen translation is through tablespoons. One fluid ounce equals 2 tablespoons, or about 30 ml. Half an ounce is 1 tablespoon, a quarter ounce is 1½ teaspoons, and three-quarters of an ounce is 1½ tablespoons.

Metric measuring spoons are close enough for drink making: a 15 ml spoon matches a U.S. tablespoon within a few percent. If a recipe uses parts, any consistent tool will do, so long as you use the same one for each part.

• 2 oz = 60 ml = 4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup
• 1½ oz = 45 ml = 3 tablespoons
• 1 oz = 30 ml = 2 tablespoons
• 3/4 oz = 22 ml = 1½ tablespoons
• 1/2 oz = 15 ml = 1 tablespoon
• 1/4 oz = 7.5 ml = 1½ teaspoons

Using measuring spoons and cups

Measuring spoons are the most precise household option for small amounts. Fill them to the brim over a small bowl so spills do not end up in the drink. For larger measures, a liquid measuring cup with milliliter markings works, but small cups are more accurate than large ones because the scale is easier to read.

Medicine cups that come with liquid pain relievers or cough syrups are usually marked in milliliters and tablespoons, which makes them surprisingly good stand-in jiggers. Wash them well first.

Using a kitchen scale

A digital scale that reads in grams is extremely accurate. Place the mixing glass or shaker on the scale, tare it to zero, and pour each ingredient in turn, taring between pours. Water and fresh citrus juice weigh about 1 gram per milliliter. Spirits at 40 percent ABV weigh slightly less, about 0.95 g per ml. Rich syrups weigh more, around 1.3 g per ml.

For most drinks, treating 1 ml as 1 g gives results that are close enough. If you make the same drink often, weigh your pours once and note them for faster, repeatable mixing.

Shot glasses and marked glasses

Shot glasses vary widely in size. Fill yours with tablespoons of water to find its true volume and whether it has a fill line. Once you know it holds, for example, 45 ml (1½ oz), it becomes a reliable measure for a single spirit.

Another approach is to mark a clear glass. Pour in 15 ml at a time and draw a line with a food-safe marker or a strip of tape at each level. This is handy for batching drinks for a crowd.

Why free-pouring goes wrong

Without a measure, most people over-pour spirits and under-pour citrus and syrup, which makes drinks hotter, less balanced and stronger than intended. Professional bartenders who free-pour train with a measured pour spout and count, and they check themselves regularly.

For alcoholic drinks, measuring also helps you track how much you are serving. One U.S. standard drink is about 45 ml (1.5 oz) of 40 percent spirit; a heavy pour can easily turn one drink into nearly two.

Common questions

How many tablespoons are in a shot?

A standard 1.5 oz shot is 3 tablespoons, or about 45 ml. Smaller 1 oz pours are 2 tablespoons. Check your own shot glass, since sizes vary.

Can I use a regular spoon from the drawer?

Not reliably. Eating spoons vary from about 5 to more than 15 ml. Use measuring spoons, or measure your drawer spoon once with water to learn its volume.

Does measuring really matter for mocktails?

Yes. Balance between sweet, sour and bitter still depends on ratios, and zero-proof spirits can be expensive. Measuring helps you repeat a drink you like.