
In the United States, a nip is a miniature bottle of an alcoholic beverage, typically containing 50 ml or 1.7 fl oz of alcohol. This is equivalent to approximately 1.5 US fluid ounces or 44 ml of a 40% ABV spirit. Nips are often referred to as shooters and originated as tasters during the 1800s. The term nip is derived from the Low German term nipperkin, which was first used in the 1700s and gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, nips are commonly used for single servings, sample packs, or airplane travel.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Miniature bottles of an alcoholic beverage or whiskey |
| Synonyms | Nips, shooters, miniature |
| Origin | The term "nip" originated from the Low German term "nipperkin" |
| Standard volume | 50 ml or 1.7 fl oz |
| Smaller volume | 37.5 ml or 1.25 fl oz |
| US standard drink | 0.6 US fluid ounces or 18 ml |
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What You'll Learn

A nip is 50ml or 1.7 fl oz
A nip is a miniature bottle of an alcoholic beverage, typically containing 50ml or 1.7 fl oz. They are also sometimes referred to as shooters, and originated as tasters during the 1800s. The term "nip" comes from the Low German word "nipperkin", which was probably used until 1776 when it started to spread to other parts of the world. Nips rose in popularity during the 1960s and 1970s, with hotels and airlines adopting them for their minibars and duty-free offerings.
In the United States, the standard drink contains 0.6 US fluid ounces (18 ml) of alcohol. This is roughly the amount of alcohol in a 12 US fluid ounce (350 ml) glass of beer, a 5 US fluid ounce (150 ml) glass of wine, or a 1.5 US fluid ounce (44 ml) glass of a 40% ABV spirit. The US adopted the British Wine Gallon, which contains 128 fluid ounces, as its standard.
In the United Kingdom, a single unit of alcohol is defined as 10 ml, and the number of units present in a drink is sometimes printed on bottles. This is intended as a guideline for people regulating their alcohol consumption.
The liquor industry has established a set of standard bottle sizes, typically denoted in milliliters (ml) or fluid ounces (fl oz). A nip, or miniature, bottle is 50 ml or 1.7 fl oz, making it perfect for single servings, sample packs, or airplane travel. A third nip is smaller at 37.5 ml or 1.25 fl oz, and is often used for micro-cocktails or samplers. Larger bottle sizes include the split (200 ml), pint (375 ml), fifth (750 ml), litre (1,000 ml), and half-gallon (1,750 ml).
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A US standard drink contains 0.6 fl oz of alcohol
In the United States, a standard drink contains 0.6 US fluid ounces (18 ml) of alcohol. This is the standard unit of measurement for alcoholic beverages in the country.
A "nip" or "shooter" is a miniature bottle of an alcoholic beverage, typically containing about 50 ml or 1.7 fl oz of liquor. These small bottles are often used for single servings, sample packs, or airplane travel. They are also referred to as "third nips" when they contain 37.5 ml or 1.25 fl oz, which is perfect for micro-cocktails or samplers.
The amount of alcohol in a standard drink in the US can vary depending on the type of beverage. For example, a 12-US-fluid-ounce (350 ml) glass of beer typically contains 0.6 fluid ounces of alcohol, as does a 5-US-fluid-ounce (150 ml) glass of wine. A 1.5-US-fluid-ounce (44 ml) glass of a 40% ABV (80 US proof) spirit, on the other hand, would contain the same amount of alcohol as a standard drink.
It's important to note that the perception of volume can be influenced by the shape of the glass. A Cornell University study found that both students and bartenders poured more into short, wide glasses than into tall, slender ones. This is attributed to two perceptual biases: overestimating the volume of short, wide glasses and focusing too much on the height of the liquid in tall, slender glasses.
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A UK unit of alcohol is 10ml
In the UK, a unit of alcohol is defined as 10ml. This definition is used as a guideline for alcohol consumption. The number of units present in a drink is sometimes printed on bottles, helping people regulate their alcohol intake. It is not, however, used to determine serving sizes.
In the United States, the standard drink contains 0.6 US fluid ounces (18ml) of alcohol. This is roughly the amount of alcohol in a 12 US fluid ounce (350ml) glass of beer, a 5 US fluid ounce (150ml) glass of wine, or a 1.5 US fluid ounce (44ml) glass of a 40% ABV spirit.
The term 'nip' is often used to refer to miniature bottles of alcoholic beverages, particularly in Scotland and the northeastern US. These bottles typically contain 50ml of alcohol, though smaller third nip bottles are also available, containing 37.5ml. Nips originated in the 1800s as tasters, and the term is derived from the Low German word 'nipperkin'. They rose in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, with the introduction of hotel minibars and their inclusion on commercial flights.
The shape of a glass can significantly impact the amount poured, with both bartenders and students pouring more into short, wide glasses than tall, slender ones. This effect has been attributed to perceptual biases, including overestimating the volume of short glasses and focusing on the height of the liquid in tall glasses rather than their width.
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A third nip is 37.5ml
A nip is a miniature bottle of an alcoholic beverage, usually containing around 50ml of liquid. This equates to around 1.7 US fluid ounces. Nips are often used for single servings, sample packs or on aeroplanes.
However, there is a smaller size of nip available, known as a third nip. These bottles contain 37.5ml of liquid, or around 1.25 US fluid ounces. This is 25% smaller than a standard nip, and they are often used for micro-cocktails or as samplers.
The term 'nip' originated in the 1800s as a taster, with the name coming from the Low German term 'nipperkin'. Nips became popular in the 1960s and 1970s, with hotels and airlines using them in minibars and duty-free.
In the United States, a standard drink contains 0.6 US fluid ounces (18ml) of alcohol. This is the equivalent of around 1.5 US fluid ounces (44ml) of a 40% ABV spirit. Therefore, a third nip of alcohol is equivalent to around a quarter of a standard US drink.
In the United Kingdom, a single unit of alcohol is defined as 10ml. This is a guideline to help people regulate their alcohol consumption. As a third nip contains 37.5ml, this is equivalent to around 3.75 UK units of alcohol.
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A pint is 375ml or 12.7 fl oz
A nip of alcohol is typically served in a miniature bottle containing 50ml or 1.7 fl oz. In Scotland and the northeastern US, these bottles are often referred to as nips or shooters. In the US, a standard drink contains 0.6 fluid ounces (18ml) of alcohol. This is roughly the amount of alcohol in a 12-fluid-ounce (350ml) glass of beer, a 5-fluid-ounce (150ml) glass of wine, or a 1.5-fluid-ounce (44ml) glass of a 40% ABV spirit.
Now, let's talk about pints. A pint is typically understood to be 375ml or 12.7 fl oz. This is a good middle-ground option for those who are budget-conscious or who want a smaller quantity of a spirit they use less frequently.
To put this into context, a pint is equivalent to three standard drinks in the US, each containing 0.6 fluid ounces (18ml) of alcohol. This equates to roughly 5.4 fluid ounces (162ml) of alcohol in a pint. This is significantly more than the amount of alcohol typically consumed in a single nip, which is around 1.7 fluid ounces (50ml).
When it comes to shape, tall and slender glasses tend to result in more accurate pouring, with less tendency to over-pour compared to short, wide glasses. This is due to two perceptual biases: first, the tendency to estimate that tall, slender glasses have more volume than shorter, wider glasses; and second, the tendency to over-focus on the height of the liquid and disregard the width.
In conclusion, while a nip is typically 50ml or 1.7 fl oz, a pint is considerably larger at 375ml or 12.7 fl oz. This makes a pint a good option for those seeking better value per ounce or a smaller quantity of a less frequently used spirit.
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Frequently asked questions
A nip of alcohol, also known as a miniature bottle, contains 1.7 US fluid ounces or 50 ml.
Nips are miniature bottles of alcoholic beverages, often whiskey, and are perfect for single servings.
The term "nip" originated from the Low German term "nipperkin". It became popular during the 1960s and 1970s, with hotels and airlines commercialising the nip bottle.
Yes, there is also a third nip which is smaller than a standard nip, containing 1.25 US fluid ounces or 37.5 ml.
A Cornell University study found that both students and bartenders poured more into short, wide glasses than into tall, slender glasses. This is due to perceptual biases, such as overestimating the volume of short, wide glasses and focusing on the height of the liquid in tall, slender glasses.
































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