Jigger
A "jigger" can either be a measuring device used by bartenders, or a unit of measure (typically 1.5 ounces).
As a measuring device, the typical jigger is a metal, hour-glass shaped receptacle, which can measure two different amounts. The larger end would measure a "jigger" (1.5 ounces) and the smaller end would measure a "pony" (1 ounce).
Ounces versus Milliliter
For cocktail recipes measured in "ounces" it is common to use 1/4 ounce increments, which is how virtually all jiggers are designed. Outside of the US, where metric measurements (instead of "Imperial") are more common and most recipes are listed in milliliters (ml). Recipes listed in ml will usually use measures in increments of 5ml, which doesn't quite match up to 1/4 ounce increments, so simply doing a conversion from one to the other doesn't always produce appropriate results. One of these days, the US will join the rest of the world and switch to metric.
Here is a comparison of 1/4 ounce increments to their milliliter equivalent versus 5ml increments to their ounce equivalent.
| oz | ml | versus | ml | oz |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 tsp | 5 | 5 | 1 tsp | |
| 1/4 | 7.5 | 10 | 1/3 | |
| 1/2 | 15 | 15 | 1/2 | |
| 3/4 | 22.5 | 20 | 2/3 | |
| 1 | 30 | 25 | 5/6 | |
| 1 1/4 | 37.5 | 30 | 1 | |
| 1 1/2 | 45 | 35 | 1 1/6 | |
| 1 3/4 | 52.5 | 40 | 1 1/3 | |
| 2 | 60 | 45 | 1 1/2 | |
| 50 | 1 2/3 | |||
| 55 | 1 5/6 | |||
| 60 | 2 |
Selecting A Proper Jigger
Types of Jiggers
There are jiggers which are designed to measure different amounts of liquid, similar to how a large glass measure might have lines indicating different measures. On the face of it, this might seem like a great option, and for the beginner it might be (just from a tool-reduction standpoint). In practice however, especially by professional bartenders, this can often be problematic. A "single measure" jigger will allow you to quickly measure out the desired amount of liquid, while with a graduated jigger you have to carefully look to make sure you've poured to the desired level. It can often be quicker to simply pick up a different jigger instead of needing to pause to check levels, especially in a dark bar.
So while for the beginner, perhaps something like the "Oxo Mini-Angled Measure" jigger might be a good choice, for the experienced cocktail maker, a more traditional double ended jigger is probably better.
Size Matters
When selecting a double ended jigger the first decision is to pick which sizes to get, and in what combination. As noted above, in the US, virtually all cocktail recipes have standardized on measures in 1/4 ounce increments. While you could collect a set of measures that allow you to measure individually anything from 1/2 to 3 ounces, the shear number of jiggers you would have in front of you, and the difficulty in quickly seeing which is which, would defeat the purpose. If you think about the combinations needed to allow you to easily measure any recipe, the fewest measures you need would be 1/2, 3/4, 1, and 2 ounces (1/4 ounce is difficult, since it is so small, jiggers are rarely made to measure this out). With this setup, virtually any measure you might need would require at most two "measures" (eg 1-1/4 would be a 1/2 and 3/4 measure). The best combination of measures to use are one jigger measuring 1/2 and 3/4, and the other measuring 1 and 2 ounces.
Surface Tension
When using a jigger to obtain the most accurate measure, it is important to understand "surface tension", this is true when measuring any type of liquid in a properly designed liquid measuring device. If your measure is intended to be filled to the top for an accurate measure (like a jigger), then you don't want the liquid to be perfectly level at the top, but instead to bulge just slightly, this is the surface tension of the liquid coming into play. If on the other hand, you are using a graduated measure, and trying to measure to one of the lines along the side, then it is just the opposite. If you look at the liquid level in a graduated measure, you will notice that it "climbs up the side" just a little bit, forming a very slight "bowl" of liquid. For this type of measurement, it is accurately measured by looking at where the bottom of the "bowl" match the measurement lines.
External Links
- Design For A Jigger (C. P. Dungan, 1893) (Google Patents)
- How To Use a Jigger for Good Measure (KegWorks.com)
