 | This article needs additional citations for verification .(February 2014) |
Alcohol measurements are units of measurement for determining amounts of beverage alcohol.
| | This article needs additional citations for verification .(February 2014) |
Alcohol measurements are units of measurement for determining amounts of beverage alcohol.
| Name | Metric units (approx.) | US customary units | Imperial units | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gill (Imp) | 142 mL | 4.8 US fl oz | 5 imp oz | 1⁄4 of an Imperial pint. Also called a Quartern or Noggin. [note 1] [1] [2] |
| Nip (UK) | 189.42 mL | 6.39 US fl oz | 6.66 imp oz | 1⁄3 of an Imperial pint. Short for Nipperkin. Strong ale and Barley wine were usually bottled in nips [3] Metric measurement glasses and containers usually round up to a metric half pint of 200 mL (7 imp oz). |
| small glass (US) | 236.59 mL | 8 US fl oz | 8.32 imp oz | 1⁄2 US pint. |
| small glass (EU) | 275 mL | 9.29 US fl oz | 9.67 imp oz | |
| Gill of Beer (UK) | 284 mL | 9.6 US fl oz | 10 imp oz | 1⁄2 Imperial pint. A gill of beer was a customary measure equal to half an imperial pint (10 imperial fluid ounces or 280 millilitres) used in rural parts of England. [4] It is a holdover from when spirits, wines and brandies, ale, and beer all had different standard measures of capacity. An Ale Gill (based on the Ale gallon) and a Beer Gill (based on the Beer gallon) were different sizes until standardized as Ale / Beer gallons in 1688, Beer gallons in 1803, and Imperial gallons in 1824. |
| Half (imp.) | 284 mL | 9.6 US fl oz | 10 imp oz | 1⁄2 Imperial pint. Also called a "glass" in the UK and Ireland. Metric-measure glasses usually round down to 280 mL or up to 285 mL. |
| bottle (EU) | 330 mL | 11.15 US fl oz | 11.61 imp oz | The Standard International Bottle. 1⁄3 Liter. Based on the long-necked 355 mL American standard bottle. |
| Stubby (imp.) | 341 mL | 11.53 US fl oz | 12 imp oz | 3⁄5 of an imperial pint. A short-necked, thick-walled beer bottle commonly found in Canada and South Africa. It was rounded down to 340 mL after metrication. It has been replaced by the EU standard long-necked 330 mL bottle. |
| bottle (US) | 355 mL | 12 US fl oz | 12.49 imp oz | 3⁄4 US pint. American breweries fluctuated between 11 and 13 ounces before gradually standardizing on a median 12 ounces after World War 2. The American Twelfth (10.66 US oz [315 mL], or 1⁄12 a US gallon), American Commercial Pint (12.8 US fl oz [378 mL], or 1⁄10 a US gallon) / British Reputed Pint (13.33 imp oz [378 mL], or 1⁄12 an Imperial gallon), and Canadian "stubby" bottle (12 imp oz [341 mL]) may have been factors. |
| Stubbie (AUS) | 375mL | 12.68 US fl oz | 13.2 imp oz | A beer bottle that is half the capacity of a 750 mL champagne bottle. Reused champagne punts were used in the 19th century to ship lager beer to Australia, establishing it as the beer "quart". When metrication was introduced in the 1970s, the Reputed Pint (13.33 imp oz [378 mL]) and Imperial Pint (20 imp oz [568 mL]) were replaced with the 375 mL half bottle. |
| Schooner (UK) | 378.84 mL | 12.8 US fl oz | 13.33 imp oz | 2⁄3 of an imperial pint. Metric measurement glasses usually round up to 380 mL (13.374 or ≈13.4 imp oz). |
| Schooner (AUS) | 425 mL | 14.37 US fl oz | 14.95 imp oz | 3⁄4 of an Imperial pint. It is an imperial half pint [285 mL] in South Australia. |
| pint (US) / large glass (US) | 473.18 mL | 16 US fl oz | 16.65 imp oz | 1 US pint |
| pint (imp.) | 568.26 mL | 19.2 US fl oz | 1 imp. pt = 20 imp oz | Beer sales in Britain and the Commonwealths are based on a full or fractional imperial pint. [note 2] Imperial-measure glasses were rounded down to 568 mL and metric-measure glasses usually round up to 570 mL. Beer bottles in the UK were rounded down to 550 mL after standard metrication was introduced in 1995, later to be manditorily changed to 500 mL by January 1, 2000. After December 31, 1999, the imperial pint was no longer considered a legal measure except for draught beer and milk in reusable pint and quart bottles. |
| Sixth (US) | 651 mL | 22 US fl oz | 1.14 imp pt | 1⁄6 US gallon, rounded up from 21.3 US fl oz Also called a "bomber" or a "double deuce" (from the two #2s, or "deuces", in its volume). Mostly replaced by the 40 US fl oz bottle by the late 1980s, but still used by some breweries for beer and malt liquor. Metric measure containers are rounded down to 650 mL. The US 23-ounce beer glass holds a sixth of beer, plus the head. |
| tallboy | 710 mL | 24 US fl oz | 1.249 imp pt | A beercan containing 3⁄4 of a US fluid quart. Also called a "7-10" in Canada. |
| flagon (US) | 946.35 mL | 32 US fl oz | 1.66 imp pt | 1 US quart. |
| small pitcher (US) | 0.946 L | 32 US fl oz | 1.66 imp pt | 2 US pints. The 32 oz pitcher is usually used with large 16 oz beer glasses (2 glasses per pitcher). |
| 40 (Imp.) | 1.13 liters (L) | 40 imp oz | 2 imperial pints, 1 imperial quart, or a quarter of an imperial gallon. Referred to as a "40" or “40-pounder” in Canada (as in 40 Imperial ounces; also used for spirits)) and a liter in the United States. | |
| 40 (US) | 1.18 L | 40 US fl oz | 2.08 imp pt | 2.5 US liquid pints. Might have been inspired by the Canadian 40 imp fl oz bottle. Malt liquor is often bottled in "40's" |
| Third (US) | 1.242 L | 42 US fl oz | - | 1⁄3 US gallon. Mostly replaced by the 40 US fl oz bottle by the late 1980s. |
| medium pitcher (US) | 1.41 L | 48 US fl oz | 3 US pints. The 48 oz pitcher is used with either medium 12 oz beer glasses (4 glasses per pitcher) or large 16 oz beer glasses (3 glasses per pitcher). | |
| Yard of Ale (UK) | 1.42 L | 48.03 US fl oz | 50 imp. oz | 2+1⁄2 imp. Pints. A long thin vessel with a conical rim and a bulb-shaped reservoir at the bottom. |
| large pitcher (US) | 1.77 L | 60 US fl oz | 3.75 US pints. The 60 oz pitcher is usually used with medium 12 oz beer glasses (5 glasses per pitcher). | |
| growler | 1.89 L | 64 US fl oz | 1⁄2 US gallon. | |
| Darwin stubby | 2.273 L | 80 imp fl oz | Standard Australian bottle size, equal to half of an Imperial gallon. Later rounded off to 2.25 L (79.18 imp fl oz) after metrication. It's rounded down further to 2 L (70.39 imp fl oz) in states with strict drinking laws. | |
| bucket (UK) | 18.18 L | 4 imp gal | Obsolete measure. | |
| pin | 20.46 L | 4.5 imp gal | ||
| Sixtel Keg | 19.53 L | 5.16 US gal. | - | Sixth of a US beer barrel |
| pony keg | 29.33 L | 7.75 US gal | - | 1⁄4 US beer barrel. |
| anker (US) | 37.85 L | 10 US gal | 8.33 imp gal | An obsolete Dutch measurement, originally used for a small cask of wine or brandy. It was brought to the New World by the former Dutch colony of Nieuw Amsterdam (renamed to New York City by the English in 1664). It was adopted by Colonial New York and New Jersey as a standard measure and was retained by America after independence. It was also used in Europe, where it varied in capacity from 9 to 11 US gallons. |
| firkin | 40.91 L | 9 imp gal | 2 pins | |
| keg | 58.67 L | 15.5 US gal | 1⁄2 US beer barrel. | |
| kilderkin | 81.83 L | 18 imp gal | 2 firkins | |
| US barrel | 117.35 L | 31 US gal [5] | 2 kegs | |
| UK barrel | 163.66 L | 36 imp gal | 2 kilderkins | |
| hogshead | 245.49 L | 54 imp gal | 6 firkins or 3 kilderkins | |
| puncheon | 327.32 L | 72 imp gal | 2 barrels | |
| butt | 490.98 L | 108 imp gal | 2 hogsheads or 3 barrels | |
| tun | 981.96 L | 216 imp gal | 2 butts or 3 puncheons. |
The following table lists common sizes for liquors and spirits. [6] [7]
| Name | US customary units | Imperial units | English units | Metric units (direct conversion) | Metric units (legal/convention) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bartender's Teaspoon (U.S.) or Splash [8] | 1⁄8 fl oz [9] | 3.696 ml | 3.7 ml | 1 dram | ||
| Count | 0.5 US fl oz | 14.8 mL | 15 mL | Using calibrated pour spouts that restrict flow to 0.5 fl oz/s | ||
| Bartender's Tablespoon (U.S.) | 3⁄8 US fl oz [9] | 11.09 ml | 11.1 ml | 3 drams | ||
| Mouthful (UK) | - | - | 1/2 Wine oz. | 14.78 mL | 15 mL | 1/32 of a Wine Pint. Obsolete with the introduction of Imperial measures in 1826. |
| 1⁄6 Gill (Imp.) | 5⁄6 imp fl oz | 23.7 mL | 25 mL | Legal serving of spirits (gin, rum, vodka and whisky) defined in the Weights and Measures Act of 1963 (1963-1984). Rounded up to 25 mL in 1985. Scotland and Northern Ireland (and British premises grandfathered in before the act was enforced) were allowed to keep their larger measures as long as the glassware was consistent and marked and advertised as such. | ||
| Shot (UK) | 25 mL | Legal serving of spirits (gin, rum, vodka and whisky) in the UK since 1985. [10] | ||||
| Roquille (France) | ~29.75 mL | A measure of spirits [11] in the Ancien Régime of France (before 1795), being 1⁄32 of a French pinte (~952.1 mL). | ||||
| 1⁄5 Gill (Scottish) | 1 imp fl oz | 28.4 mL | 30 mL | Traditional Scottish spirits measure | ||
| Peg (India) | 1 imp fl oz | - | 28.4 mL | 30 mL | Also called a "small peg"; a "large peg" is a double measure of 2 imperial ounces (60 mL). Traditional spirits measure on the Indian subcontinent. | |
| 1⁄4 Gill (Irish) | 1+1⁄4 imp fl oz | 35.5 mL | 35 mL | Traditional Irish spirits measure | ||
| Pony (U.S.) | 1.0 US fl oz | 30 mL | Defined as 1⁄2 of a jigger. [12] Was used to measure a cordial. | |||
| Pony (Eng.) | 0.749 US fl. oz. | 0.78 imp. fl. oz. | 3⁄4 Wine oz. | 22.18 mL | 25 mL | (6 drams) May be derived from holding a "pennyworth" of beer. |
| Jigger (U.S.) | 1.5 US fl oz | 44.36 mL | 45 mL | Typical size after U.S. Prohibition, but varies | ||
| Short shot (U.S.) | 1.5 US fl oz | 44.36 mL | 45 mL | [13] : 12 | ||
| Jigger (Imp.) | 1⁄8 gill | 35.52 mL | 35 mL | Legal U.K. spirits measure from 1826 to 1984, for Gin, rum, vodka and whisky. | ||
| Jigger (Eng.) | 1.5 imp fl oz | 42.61 mL | 42 mL | 3 Tablespoons or 2 Ponies. | ||
| Jigger (U.S.) | 2.0 US fl oz | 60 mL | Before U.S. Prohibition [13] | |||
| Hooker | 2.5 imp fl oz | 1+1⁄4 jigger [13] : 12 (5 tablespoons) | ||||
| Gill (Scottish) | 2.5 imp. oz. | 71 mL | 70 mL | 1⁄8 imperial pint. Used from 1826 to 1984. | ||
| Jack (UK) | 2.5 imp. oz. | 71 mL | 70 mL | Historically equivalent to two jiggers or handfuls, or half a gill. [14] [15] No longer in general use. | ||
| Snit | 3.0 US fl oz | 88.72 mL | 90 mL | Two jiggers. | ||
| Gill (U.S.) | 4.0 US fl oz | 118.294 mL | 120 mL | Pronounced /ˈdʒɪl/ JIL, historically equivalent to two jacks, half a cup, or a quarter pint. [14] [15] | ||
| Gill (Imp.) | 5.0 imp fl oz | 142.065 mL | 150 mL | Pronounced /ˈdʒɪl/ JIL, historically equivalent to two jacks, half a cup, or a quarter pint. [14] [15] | ||
| Tumbler (UK) | 6.39 US fl oz | 6.6 imp. oz. | 189 ml | 190 mL or 200 mL | A British tumbler was 1⁄3 of an Imperial pint. | |
| Tumbler (US) | 8 US fl oz | 8.33 imp. oz | 236.58 mL | 235 mL | An American tumbler is 1⁄2 of a US fluid pint, the same size as a cup. | |
| Whiskey Barrel | 53 US gallons | 44 Imp. gallons | 200 L | American Standard Barrel (ASB). An international standard measurement for whiskey. | ||
| Whiskey Hogshead | 66 US gallons | 55 Imp. gallons | - | - | 250 L | An international standard measurement for whiskey. |
| Whiskey Butt | 132 US gallons | 110 Imp. gallons | - | - | 500 L | An international standard measurement for whiskey. |
| Name | US customary units | Imperial units | Metric units | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miniature | 1.7 US fl oz | 1.8 imp fl oz | 50 mL | Replaced the 2 US fl oz (59 mL) US miniature-sized bottle after metrication. Typically served on airline flights. Also known as a "nip" or "shooter" in certain locales, or a “Mini” in Canada. |
| Half pint | 6.8 US fl oz | 7.0 imp fl oz | 200 mL | Called a media pinta in Spanish or naggin in Ireland. [16] Called a "junior mickey" or a “flat” in Canada. |
| Demi | 11.8 US fl oz | 12.3 imp fl oz | 350 mL | A half-sized EU T2L Standard Liquor Bottle, considered a European metric "pint". |
| Shoulder | 11.8 US fl oz | 12.3 imp fl oz | 350 mL | A flask-style bottle with rounded shoulders. Common in Ireland; also called a 'double naggin' or a "daddy naggin" [17] |
| Pinta | 12.34 US fl oz | 12.84 imp fl oz | 365 mL | "Pint". An intermediate between the US and European metric "pints" used for locally produced liquor in Central America. In Costa Rica it is called a Pacha ("baby bottle"). |
| Pint | 12.7 US fl oz | 13.2 imp fl oz | 375 mL [18] | A half-sized non-EU Standard Liquor Bottle, considered a US metric "pint". Called a mickey in Canada. |
| Half litre | 16.9 US fl. oz. | 17.6 Imp fl oz | 500 mL | Considered a standardized metric "pint". Common in Europe, but discontinued in the United States. |
| European spirit bottle | 23.7 US fl oz | 1 imp pt & 4.6 imp fl oz | 700 mL | A EU Standard Spirits Bottle used by T2L member nations to deter non-payment of duties and tariffs. [note 3] Considered a European metric "quart". Common worldwide outside of the Americas and Cuba. |
| Fifth | 25.4 US fl oz | 1 imp pt & 6.4 imp fl oz | 750 mL | A non-EU Standard Liquor Bottle, considered a US metric "quart". Called a "two-six" or "twenty-sixer" in Canada. Also known as a Botii [ Sheng slang (derived from Italian Bottiglia) > "Bottle"] or Mzinga [ Swahili > "Cannon"] in Kenya. |
| Litre | 33.8 US fl oz | 1 imp pt & 15.2 imp fl oz | 1 L | Considered a standardized metric "quart". |
| Half gallon | 59.2 US fl oz | 3 imp pt & 1.6 imp fl oz | 1.75 L | Also known as a "handle", due to most 1.75 L bottles having a handle. Called a "60" or "60-pounder" in Canada (as in 60 US fl oz). |
| Texas Mickey | 101.4 US fl oz | 5 imp pt & 5.5 imp fl oz | 3.0 L | Called a "101" in Canada. Often seen in Canada for celebratory purposes. Usually contains vodka, rum or whisky. Comes with a small pump to dispense the liquor, as it is too heavy and unwieldy to pour.[ citation needed ] |
| Name | US customary units | Imperial units | Metric units | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1⁄16 Pint (US) | 1 US fl oz | 1.04 imp fl oz | 29.57 mL | Former size for US brandy nip bottles before metrication. Replaced by the 50 mL "metric nip". |
| Miniature (US) | 1.5 US fl oz | - | 44.36 mL | Former size for US miniature bottles before metrication that were based on the post-Prohibition jigger. Replaced by the 50 mL "metric nip". |
| 1⁄10 Pint (US) | 1.6 US fl oz | 1.66 imp fl oz | 47.31 mL | Former size for US nip bottles before metrication. Replaced by the 50 mL "metric nip". |
| 1⁄8 Pint (US) | 2 US fl oz | 2.08 imp fl oz | 59.14 mL | Former size for US miniature bottles before metrication that were based on the pre-Prohibition jigger. Replaced by the 50 mL "metric nip". |
| Twelfth (US) | 11 US fl oz | - | 325 ml | A twelfth (1⁄12, or 0.083) of a US Gallon, rounded up from its actual volume of 10.66 US fl oz. Formerly used for beer until it was replaced by the 3⁄4 Pint (12 US oz.) bottle after World War 2. |
| Tenth (US) | 12.8 US fl oz | - | 378 mL | A tenth (1⁄10, or 0.1) of a US gallon. Called a "Commercial Pint" because it was equivalent to 0.8 US liquid pints. Replaced by the 375 mL "metric pint". |
| Reputed Pint (UK) | - | 13.3 imp oz. | 378 mL | The "Reputed Pint" (2⁄3 Imperial pint or 1⁄12 Imperial gallon) was devised to split a standard gallon into twelve small bottles. Originally it was based on the British Wine gallon, which was later adopted by the United States as their standard fluid gallon. This made a Wine Gallon "Reputed Pint" equivalent to 2⁄3 US liquid pint (10.66 US fluid oz.), 11.09 imp. oz, or 315 mL. Although the Imperial system was introduced in 1824, bottles of ale or beer were still sold in Reputed Pints (13.3 imperial oz) but were now based on the Imperial gallon (based on the British Ale Gallon). It was later replaced by the Imperial Pint (20 imp oz / 568 ml) in the 20th century. |
| Sixth (US) | 22 US fl oz | - | 651 ml | A sixth (1⁄6, or 0.166) of a US Gallon, rounded up from its actual volume of 21.33 US fl oz. Formerly used for cheap liquor like gin and vodka. It was supposed to be replaced by the 500 mL "half-liter", which was dropped in 1989, but is sometimes used for craft beer and malt liquor. |
| Fifth (US) | 25.6 US fl oz | 26.66 imp oz. | 757 mL | A fifth (1⁄5, or 0.2) of a US gallon. Called a "Commercial Quart" because it was equivalent to 0.8 US fluid quarts. Replaced by the 750 mL "metric quart". |
| Reputed Quart (UK) | 25.6 US fl oz | 26.66 imp oz. | 757 mL | The "Reputed Quart" (2⁄3 Imperial quart or 1⁄6 Imperial gallon) was devised to split a standard gallon into six large bottles and was usually used for wine and liquor. Originally it was based on the British Wine gallon, which was later adopted by the United States as their standard fluid gallon. When the Imperial system was introduced in 1824, measures of wine or liquor were still sold in either Reputed Quarts (26.6 imp oz.) or Imperial Quarts (40 imp oz.). It was later replaced by the Imperial Quart (40 imp oz / 1136 ml) in the 20th century. |
| Quart (Imp.) | 38.5 US fl oz | 40 Imp. oz. | 1.14 L | Usually replaced with liter bottles in Commonwealth countries after metrication. The Quart (Imp.) is still used as a standard container for liquor in Canada, known as a "forty", "forty-pounder" or "forty-ouncer". In Canada, liter size bottles are only found at Duty Free stores. |
| Third (US) | 42 US fl. oz. | 43.71 Imp oz. | 1.24 L | A third (1⁄3, or 0.333) of a US gallon, rounded down from 42.66 US fl. oz. It was used for cheap liquor like gin and malt liquor. Later rounded down to 40 US fl. oz. (41.63 imp. oz. [1.18 L]) in the 1960s. |
| Half gallon (US) | 64 US fl oz | 66.61 Imp oz. | 1.89 L | A half (1⁄2, or 0.5) of a US gallon. Replaced by the 1.75 L "metric half-gallon" in 1976. |
The British Reputed Pint and Reputed Quart were used in Great Britain and throughout the Empire from the late 17th century until the early 20th century. Originally there were different standard gallons depending on the type of alcohol. That meant that the Reputed measures varied depending on which standard gallon was used. A Reputed Pint of beer was equal to 285 mL (1/2 an Ale Pint, or equivalent to 10 imperial oz. or 9.63 US oz.) and a Reputed Quart of wine was equal to 730 mL (3/4 of a Wine Quart, or equivalent to 25.69 Imp. oz. or 24.68 US fluid oz.). When the Imperial system was adopted in 1824, the fluid gallon was standardized on the old Ale Gallon (which had 160 fluid ounces). However, Reputed pints and quarts were still used by breweries and merchants, but measurements were now based on the Imperial system. There was still confusion about whether Reputed or Imperial measures was being used by the merchant, so eventually Imperial pints and quarts were made standard in the early 20th century.
The United States adopted the British Wine Gallon (which had 128 fluid ounces) as standard. The laws concerning the production and sale of alcohol stated that it had to be sold in portions of a gallon for tax purposes. A standard case of bottled beer, wine or liquor had to be equal to two gallons and bottles came in half-dozens and dozens rather than fourths (quarts) and eighths (pints). There would be 24 small bottles (Twelfths of a US gallon) or 12 large bottles (Sixths of a US gallon) per case. The bottles were later increased in size (Tenths and Fifths of a US gallon) to be equivalent to British Reputed Pints and Quarts, allowing them to be interchangeable for export. The American liquor industry later referred to these measures as "Commercial Pints" (Tenths) and "Commercial Quarts" (Fifths).
The following table contains various measurements that are commonly applied to wine. [19]
| Name | US fluid ounces (approx.) | Metric units | No. of 750 mL bottles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter bottle | 6.3 | 187.5 mL | 1⁄4 | Also known as a piccolo, [20] pony, [21] snipe [22] or split. [23] They are commonly served in packs of 4 bottles. |
| Chopine | 8.5 | 250 mL | 1⁄3 | Bordeaux region. A metric half-pint. |
| Half bottle | 12.7 | 375 mL | 1⁄2 | Also known as a demi. [24] |
| Half Litre | 16.9 | 500 mL | 2⁄3 | Used for sweet wines like Tokays and Sauternes. |
| Bottle | 25.4 | 750 mL | 1 | Standard Bottle for wine and spirits. |
| Litre | 33.8 | 1 L | 1+1⁄3 | Popular size for wines introduced by Austrian Grüner Veltliner wine producers in the late 1990s. [25] Also used by German, Chilean and American producers since the late 2000s. |
| Magnum | 50.7 | 1.5 L | 2 | |
| Marie Jeanne | 76 | 2.25 L | 3 | Bordeaux region. Usually used for a Claret wine bottle. |
| Tregnum | 76 | 2.25 L | 3 | Port wine bottle. Also called "Tappit hen", [26] from a Scottish breed of chicken from the Shetland Isles with a tuft of feathers on the top of its head. The red sealing wax over the cork stopper resembles a red tuft of feathers. |
| Double Magnum | 101.4 | 3 L | 4 | Bordeaux region |
| Jeroboam (Champagne) | 101.4 | 3 L | 4 | Champagne region |
| Four Litre (US) | 135.3 | 4 L | 5+1⁄3 | American still wines. |
| Jeroboam | 152.2 | 4.5 L | 6 | |
| Rehoboam | 152.2 | 4.5 L | 6 | Champagne and Burgundy regions |
| Jeroboam (Bordeaux) or MacKenzie | 169 | 5 L | 6+2⁄3 | Bordeaux region. |
| Five Litre (US) | 169 | 5 L | 6+2⁄3 | American still wines. |
| Imperial | 202.9 | 6 L | 8 | Bordeaux region |
| Methuselah | 202.9 | 6 L | 8 | Champagne and Burgundy regions |
| Seven Litre (US) | 236.7 | 7 L | 9+1⁄3 | American still wines. |
| Eight Litre (US) | 270.5 | 8 L | 10+2⁄3 | American still wines. |
| Salmanazar | 304.3 | 9 L | 12 | Champagne region. |
| Ten Litre (US) | 338.1 | 10 L | 13+1⁄3 | American still wines. |
| Balthazar | 405.8 | 12 L | 16 | One of the Three Wise Men who presented gifts to the infant Jesus. |
| Nebuchadnezzar | 507.2 | 15 L | 20 | Champagne region. |
| Melchior | 608.7 | 18 L | 24 | Champagne region. |
| Solomon | 676 | 20 L | 26 | Champagne region. |
| Primat or Goliath | 912 | 27 L | 36 | Champagne region. |
| Melchizedek | 1014 | 30 L | 40 | Champagne region. |
The 750 mL Standard wine bottle was chosen because it was the standard French wine bottle once moulded glass bottles were available in the 19th century. Previously there was a roughly 730 mL limit to glass-blown bottles because that was the limit of a glassblower's lungs. The volume was rounded up to 750 mL and then was used as the base size for French wine containers, with all subdivisions and multiples figured from it. The rest of the world followed suit with equivalent customary measurement versions of their own (like the British Reputed Quart).
Following metrication in 1980, American still wines can also be sold in large multi-liter containers, but only in full liters. They are typically sold in glass demijohns or foil bag-in-box containers holding 4, 5, 7, 8, or 10 Liters.
| Name | US fluid ounces (approx.) | Metric units | No. of 750 mL bottles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half Bottle (US) | 12 | 354.8 mL | ≈1⁄2 Bottle | Used for domestically produced sparkling white wine in the place of the French metric 375 mL champagne punt. Rounded-down from 12.68 US fl oz (375 mL). Still wines (Red, White, and Rosé) came in US pint (16 US fl. oz., or 473 mL) and Tenth (12.8 US fl.oz., or 378 mL) bottles. Replaced in 1980 with the metric 375 mL Demi Bottle for both still and sparkling wines. |
| Half Liter (US) | 16.9 | 500 mL | 2⁄3 Bottle | Was one of the eight standardized US metric bottle sizes listed on January 1, 1980, but was withdrawn on June 30, 1989. Still used in countries that sell wine in half-liters and liters. |
| Bottle (US) | 25 | 739.3 mL | ≈1 Bottle | Used for domestically produced sparkling white wine in the place of the French metric 750 mL champagne punt. Rounded down from 25.36 US fl oz (750 mL). Still wines (Red, White, and Rose) came in US quart (32 US fl oz / 946 mL) or Fifth (25.6 US fl oz / 757 mL) bottles. Replaced in 1980 with the metric 750 mL Standard Bottle for both still and sparkling wines. |
| Sovereign | 887 (6.92 US gallons) | 26.25 L | 35 Bottles | Champagne bottle created specially by Taittinger's in 1988 for the launch of Sovereign of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship at the time. Only five bottles were made and the firm has not made others since. |
The gallon is a unit of volume in British imperial units and United States customary units. Three different versions are in current use:
United States customary units form a system of measurement units commonly used in the United States and most U.S. territories, since being standardized and adopted in 1832. The United States customary system developed from English units that were in use in the British Empire before the U.S. became an independent country. The United Kingdom's system of measures evolved by 1824 to create the imperial system, which was officially adopted in 1826, changing the definitions of some of its units. Consequently, while many U.S. units are essentially similar to their imperial counterparts, there are noticeable differences between the systems.
In recipes, quantities of ingredients may be specified by mass, by volume, or by count.
The pint is a unit of volume or capacity in both the imperial and United States customary measurement systems. In both of those systems it is traditionally one eighth of a gallon. The British imperial pint is about 20% larger than the American pint because the two systems are defined differently. Almost all other countries have standardized on the metric system, so although some of them still also have traditional units called pints, the volume varies by regional custom.
The quart is a unit of volume equal to a quarter of a gallon. Three kinds of quarts are currently used: the liquid quart and dry quart of the US customary system and the imperial quart of the British imperial system. All are roughly equal to one liter. It is divided into two pints or four cups. Historically, the exact size of the quart has varied with the different values of gallons over time and in reference to different commodities.
A fluid ounce is a unit of volume typically used for measuring liquids. The British Imperial, the United States customary, and the United States food labeling fluid ounce are the three that are still in common use, although various definitions have been used throughout history.
A wine bottle is a bottle, generally a glass bottle, that is used for holding wine. Some wines are fermented in the bottle while others are bottled only after fermentation. Recently the bottle has become a standard unit of volume to describe sales in the wine industry, measuring 750 millilitres. Wine bottles are produced, however, in a variety of volumes and shapes.
A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container with a bulging center, longer than it is wide. They are traditionally made of wooden staves and bound by wooden or metal hoops. The word vat is often used for large containers for liquids, usually alcoholic beverages; a small barrel or cask is known as a keg.
Malt liquor is a type of mass market beer with high alcohol content, most closely associated with North America. Legally, it often includes any alcoholic beverage with 5% or more alcohol by volume made with malted barley. In common usage, it refers to beers of high alcohol content, generally above 6%, which are made with ingredients and processes resembling those for American-style lagers.
A standard drink or unit of alcohol is a measure of alcohol consumption representing a fixed amount of pure alcohol. The notion is used in relation to recommendations about alcohol consumption and its relative risks to health. It helps to educate alcohol users. A hypothetical alcoholic beverage sized to one standard drink varies in volume depending on the alcohol concentration of the beverage, but it always contains the same amount of alcohol and therefore produces the same amount of drunkenness. Many government health guidelines specify low to high risk amounts in units of grams of pure alcohol per day, week, or single occasion. These government guidelines often illustrate these amounts as standard drinks of various beverages, with their serving sizes indicated. Although used for the same purpose, the definition of a standard drink varies from country to country.
A beer bottle is a bottle designed as a container for beer. Such designs vary greatly in size and shape, but the glass commonly is brown or green to reduce spoilage from light, especially ultraviolet.
A keg is a small cask used for storing liquids. Wooden kegs made by a cooper were used to transport nails, gunpowder, and a variety of liquids. Nowadays a keg is normally constructed of stainless steel, although aluminium can be used if it is coated with plastic on the inside. It is commonly used to store, transport, and serve beer. Other alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks, carbonated or non-carbonated, may be housed in a keg as well. Carbonated drinks are generally kept under pressure in order to maintain carbon dioxide in solution, preventing the beverage from becoming flat.
Beer arrived in Australia at the beginning of British colonisation. In 2004 Australia was ranked fourth internationally in per capita beer consumption, at around 110 litres per year; although, the nation ranked considerably lower in a World Health Organization report of alcohol consumption per capita of 12.2 litres. Lager is by far the most popular type of beer consumed in Australia.
English units were the units of measurement used in England up to 1826, which evolved as a combination of the Anglo-Saxon and Roman systems of units. Various standards have applied to English units at different times, in different places, and for different applications.
Various unique terms are used in bartending.
Both the British imperial measurement system and United States customary systems of measurement derive from earlier English unit systems used prior to 1824 that were the result of a combination of the local Anglo-Saxon units inherited from Germanic tribes and Roman units.
Capacities of brewery casks were formerly measured and standardised according to a specific system of English units. The system was originally based on the ale gallon of 282 cubic inches. In United Kingdom and its colonies, with the adoption of the imperial system in 1824, the units were redefined in terms of the slightly smaller imperial gallon. The older units continued in use in the United States.
A fifth is a unit of volume formerly used for wine and distilled beverages in the United States, equal to one fifth of a US liquid gallon, or 25+3⁄5 U.S. fluid ounces ; it has been superseded by the metric bottle size of 750 mL, sometimes called a metric fifth, which is the standard capacity of wine bottles worldwide and is approximately 1% smaller.
A number of units of measurement were used in South Africa to measure quantities like length, mass, capacity, etc. The Imperial system of measurements was made standard in 1922 and the metric system was adopted in 1961.
