Noah Vinter
Alcohol bottles come in a variety of sizes, with the standard size being 750 ml, also known as a fifth (one-fifth of a gallon). A 1.5-liter bottle of alcohol, also known as a magnum, contains approximately 34 1.5-ounce shots or 22 1.5-ounce shots, depending on the type of alcohol. For example, a 1.5-liter bottle of Hennessy, a type of cognac, contains approximately 34 shots. On the other hand, a 1.5-liter bottle of alcohol that is 12% alcohol by volume contains approximately 6 ounces or 0.18 liters of alcohol.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of quarts in 1/5 of alcohol | 0.8 quarts or 4/5 quarts |
| 1/5 of alcohol in milliliters | 750 ml |
| 1/5 of alcohol in ounces | 25.36 ounces |
| Number of drinks in 1/5 of alcohol | 17 1.5-ounce drinks |
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What You'll Learn
A fifth of liquor is 0.8 quarts
The term "a fifth of liquor" refers to the volume of alcohol in a standard bottle of whiskey, vodka, gin, tequila, or scotch, among others. It is a unit of volume that was historically used for wine and distilled beverages in the United States. A fifth of liquor corresponds to one-fifth of a US liquid gallon or approximately 750 milliliters.
To be precise, a fifth of liquor is equivalent to 0.8 quarts or four-fifths of a quart. This measurement originated in the late 19th century when liquor in the US was often sold in bottles that appeared to hold one US quart (32 US fluid ounces or 950 milliliters) but actually contained less. These bottles were referred to as "short quarts" or "commercial quarts", and the term "fifth" stuck around even as the actual volume measurements transitioned to the metric system.
The modern "fifth" is now standardized at 750 milliliters, which is slightly smaller than the traditional fifth of a gallon. This change occurred in the late 1970s when liquor bottle sizes were converted to the metric system, aligning with international standards. The metric bottle size of 750 milliliters, also known as the "metric fifth", is now the standard capacity for wine and liquor bottles worldwide.
It's worth noting that the number of servings or shots in a fifth of liquor can vary depending on the type of alcohol and its alcohol by volume (ABV). A standard drink size for whiskey is typically considered one shot, and there are about 16-17 shots in a fifth of whiskey with an ABV of around 40% or 80 proof. However, whiskeys with a higher ABV may yield a different number of drinks or shots per bottle. Additionally, the number of cocktails that can be made from a fifth of liquor can range from 12 to 25, depending on the specific cocktail recipe.
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A fifth is 750ml, or 25.36 ounces
A "fifth" is a unit of volume that was formerly used for wine and distilled beverages in the United States. It is equal to one-fifth of a US liquid gallon, or 25 and 3/5 US fluid ounces, which is approximately 750 milliliters or 25.36 ounces.
The term "fifth" originated in the 19th century when liquor in the US was often sold in bottles that appeared to hold one US quart (32 US fl oz; 950 mL) but actually contained less. These bottles were known as "short quarts" or "commercial quarts," and the practice of selling liquor in fractional quantities became common.
Over time, the term "fifth" became associated with the standard bottle size for liquor, which was one-fifth of a gallon or 750 milliliters. This amount is also commonly found in standard wine bottles. However, it's important to note that the US no longer uses gallons as a measurement for alcohol, and bottle sizes can vary.
Today, a fifth of alcohol typically contains about 16 to 17 standard drinks or shots, depending on the alcohol by volume (ABV) and the type of drink. For example, a fifth of whiskey may provide 15 to 20 servings, while a fifth of liquor can offer 16 shots, 12.5 "whiskey neats," or enough for 12 to 25 cocktails.
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A fifth was the standard bottle size for distilled beverages in the US until 1980
A fifth, or one-fifth of a gallon, was the standard bottle size for distilled beverages in the US until 1980. It is equal to 25 and 3/5 US fluid ounces, or about 757 milliliters.
The term "fifth" originated in the 19th century when liquor in the US was often sold in bottles that appeared to hold one US quart (32 US fl oz; 950 mL) but actually contained less and were known as "short quarts" or "commercial quarts." These bottles became associated with the term "fifth" because they contained one-fifth of a gallon.
In the 1970s, there was a push for metrication of US government standards, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms proposed metric-standard bottle sizes for distilled spirits, which took effect in January 1979. The new metric bottle size for distilled beverages was set at 750 mL, slightly smaller than the previous fifth measurement.
Today, alcohol in the US is sold in various sizes, both larger and smaller than the former fifth standard, and measurements are typically given in milliliters and liters to align with the international metric system.
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A fifth is also called a short quart or commercial quart
A "fifth" is a unit of volume that typically refers to alcohol in the US. It is equal to one-fifth of a gallon or, in other words, approximately 750ml or 0.7570823568 liters.
The quart, on the other hand, is another unit of volume that is equal to a quarter of a gallon. This equates to approximately 1.136 liters in the British system and around 0.946 liters in the US system.
The short quart, also known as the commercial quart, is a unit of volume that is five-sixths the size of a standard quart. In other words, it is equal to two-thirds of an imperial quart or one-sixth of an imperial gallon. This is approximately 0.7576816 liters, which is only slightly larger than a US fifth.
Due to their similar volumes, the short quart and the fifth are sometimes used interchangeably, which is why a fifth is also called a short quart or commercial quart.
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A push for metrication in the 1970s led to the standardisation of bottle sizes
A fifth of liquor, which is equal to one-fifth of a US liquid gallon or 757 milliliters, was the standard bottle size for distilled beverages in the United States until 1980. The actual capacity of these bottles varied, with some appearing to hold one US quart (32 US fl oz; 950 mL) but in fact containing less, and being referred to as "commercial quarts" or "short quarts".
During the 1970s, there was a push for metrication of US government standards, including in the alcohol industry. In 1975, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, in cooperation with the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, proposed six metric-standard bottle sizes to take effect in January 1979. These sizes were 50, 100, 200, 375 (355 for cans), 500 (discontinued for distilled beverages in June 1989), 750, 1000, and 1750 mL. These standards were incorporated into Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations, with a one-year changeover period during which both the old and new sizes were legal.
The adoption of metric standards in the alcohol industry was part of a broader shift towards metrication in the United States. While the US has a national policy to adopt the metric system, the process has been gradual and voluntary, with some industries and products resisting change. For example, milk continues to be sold in binary divisions of the gallon, and beer is sold in fluid ounce denominations. However, many consumer products, particularly those with international manufacturing and distribution, have adopted round metric sizes.
The push for metrication in the 1970s led to the standardisation of bottle sizes in the alcohol industry, bringing the US in line with international standards and facilitating manufacturing, distribution, and sales. The metric system also provided greater consistency in the volume of alcohol sold, as the previous system of "commercial quarts" often resulted in bottles containing less than the advertised volume.
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Frequently asked questions
There are approximately 50.7 US fluid ounces in a 1.5-liter bottle, which is equivalent to about 34 1.5-ounce shots.
There are approximately 25.4 US fluid ounces in a 750 ml bottle, which is equivalent to about 16 1.5-ounce shots.
There are approximately 33.8 US fluid ounces in a liter, which is equivalent to about 22 1.5-ounce shots.
