In the second of our looks at whiskey traditions, we examine the backstories behind the words we use to order or pour our whiskey. Drams, shots, and ... fingers ?

You walk into a bar and order a ‘dram.’ You go to a friend's home and take a ‘shot.’ At home, you may just pour a couple of ‘fingers.’ All these ‘words’ are used to determine the size of a pour of whiskey. Drams and shots tend to be used more in a bar or restaurant and have a specific measure attached to them, whereas ‘fingers’ tend to be used in a more relaxed setting, where the amount of whiskey or bourbon poured is not subject to being costed.

So, what liquid measure is used in a 'dram' or a 'shot'? In the United Kingdom, a dram is 25ml or 35ml (the latter is more used in Scotland, though bars in England may also use it, so always check if you need clarification). Of course, the UK now uses the metric system, hence 'ml.’ The United States still uses the imperial measurement system, so a ‘shot’ of bourbon/whiskey will be around 1.5oz(around 44.36ml).

But here is where the technicality stops. These measurements tend to purely allow bar owners to count, manage stock, and report to licensing/tax authorities, and the consumer knows how much they will receive in a pour. Its standardization.

If we take a step back and investigate the word ‘dram,’ we initially find that it means “a small amount of whisky.” Now, your idea of small may be different from somebody else's, hence the standardization for commercial purposes.

The word ‘dram’ is believed to originate from the mid-15^th century and is rooted in the words 'dragma' (Anglo-latin), 'drachma' (Latin), and 'drakhma'(Greek), which means a "measure of weight", "silver coin" and "handful". Primarily related to apothecaries, it also became associated with “a small drink of liquor” (1713). (Source:  dram | Etymology of dram by etymonline).

You may hear people ordering a “wee dram.” If you do, you are likely to be in the presence of someone or somewhere Scottish. A ‘wee’ dram just means a small measure.

Next, we look at the word “shot.” How many times have you watched a movie and seen a character 'take a shot' or 'line up a shot'? Historically, you would have ordered a "jigger" of whiskey. We now recognize the double ended measure as a "jigger,” and the ‘shot’ has taken its place in whiskey vocabulary.

Whereas the history of a ‘dram’ is quite solid, the ‘shot’ is far shakier.

Theory one: Named after a German scientist, Friedrich Otto Schott. A chemist and glass technologist. He set up a glassworks and developed glasses that were a little tougher and better for use in a public house/bar. They became known as ‘shot’ glasses.

Theory two: The old bartender and cowboy theory. Stories tell us that cowboys would trade a bullet for whiskey/liquor when visiting an old 'Wild West' saloon. Those lovely people at Snopes.com have done a great job of de-bunking this story, which you can read here: Did the Phrase 'a Shot of Whiskey' Originate in the Old West? | Snopes.com

Theory three: It developed from old English. The word ‘sceot’ around 1600’s onwards is also related to the German word ‘Geschoss’. A ‘shot’ (in a bar context) meant ‘a charge to be paid', similar to today’s idea of a tab.

It is likely that wherever you go, someone will have a version of the history of 'shots' that is an amalgamation of all the above.

Lastly, we’ll go back to ‘fingers.’ As noted, this is a very relaxed pour and more open to interpretation, especially when at home or a friend's house. However, there is a link to the pour terminology used in India. The ‘Peg’ can be small (Chhota) or large (bud-da). In fact, the Patiala peg is approx. 120ml (approx.4oz). Where do fingers come in? A Patiala peg is the distance between the top of the index finger and the base of the little finger when held parallel to a standard 750ml bottle. Again, this measurement will depend on the size of the bartender's hand!

So next time you order your whiskey or bourbon, remember that all these words—dram, shot, and fingers—have a fun history and originally had no exact measurement.

Sources used in this blog:

Shot glass - Wikipedia

Why Do We Call Drinks 'Shots'? | VinePair

Did the Phrase 'a Shot of Whiskey' Originate in the Old West? | Snopes.com

Why is a Glass of Whisky called a Dram? - The Glenlivet UK

Why a Shot of Whiskey Is Called a “Shot” - Thrillist

And, of course, whatever size measure you decide on, please remember to drink responsibly.

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