How Many Shots Are in a Bottle of Liquor?

When you are browsing the shelves at the liquor store trying to decide what size bottle to buy, it helps to know how much you will need for your event. The amount needed will depend upon the size of your shots and the types of drinks you are making. Shot sizes can vary, and bottle sizes vary widely as well.

Definition

The amount of liquor in a shot varies depending upon the person pouring it or the restaurant serving it. A shot can be 1 oz. to 1 3/4 oz. of liquor. A 1 oz. shot is known as a pony shot and a 1 1/2 oz. shot is known as a jigger.

Deciding the Size of Shots

The number of 1 oz. shots in a liter bottle is more than the number in a fifth. A 1 3/4 oz. shot makes it harder to figure out the number available in a bottle. Most bartenders tend to use a shot glass that measures out 1 1/2 oz. To figure out how many ounces an unmarked shot glass holds, pour water in the glass and then pour it into a measuring glass with ounce markings.

Types of Drinks

Different drinks call for different amounts of liquor. While a recipe may call for a "shot," the actual amount of liquor in that shot can vary. Check a bartender's recipe book for recipes that call for ounces rather than shots.

Number of Shots

A 750 ml bottle--a fifth--holds a little more than 25 1 oz. shots, or 16 1 1/2 oz. shots. For a liter bottle, you can get 33 1 oz. or 22 1 1/2 oz. shots. Round down to account for any spillage.

Considerations

Most liquor is sold as a fifth (750 ml) or a liter (1,000 ml), but you can also buy larger or smaller bottles. To figure out the shots in a bottle, take the number of ounces in the bottle and divide it by the number of ounces in your shot. Odd-sized bottles should be easy to figure out in this manner.