Jigger
A double-ended measure, one cone at each end, for pouring spirits accurately. It is the cheapest piece of equipment that will visibly improve your drinks, because almost every bad home cocktail is a balance problem rather than a technique one.
Essential Equipment
Recommended for every home bar
Alternatives
Budget Alternative
Shot glasses marked with volume measurements (£2–4) can be used in home settings, though they are slower and less accurate than a dedicated jigger.
Premium Option
Japanese-style stainless steel jiggers (£20–25) offer slimmer profiles, improved control, and clearer sightlines, making them ideal for precision-focused professional service.
Care & Maintenance
Care Instructions
- Rinse immediately after use to remove sugar and alcohol residue.
- Wash by hand or in a dishwasher-safe basket if permitted.
- Dry thoroughly to prevent spotting.
- Periodically check internal markings for wear.
Expected Lifespan
- •Premium stainless steel: 15+ years in professional use, effectively permanent at home
- •Standard stainless steel: 5–10 years before markings fade or edges wear
- •Budget or plated models: 1–3 years before accuracy or finish degrades
Usage
Measuring every liquid ingredient in a built or shaken drink. UK jiggers are usually 25ml and 50ml, which suits British measures; Japanese ones run 30ml and 45ml, which suits most modern recipes. Internal graduations for smaller amounts matter more than the headline sizes.
Why Measure At All
Free pouring is a professional skill built on thousands of repetitions with one bottle, one spout and one drink. It does not transfer to a home cupboard.
The reason to measure is that cocktail recipes are ratios, and a ratio only survives if both numbers are right. A Daiquiri at 60:25:15 is a balanced drink; the same pour by eye at 70:20:20 is sweet and flabby, and the person drinking it concludes they do not like Daiquiris. Almost every disappointing home cocktail is a balance failure rather than a technique failure.
It is also the fastest thing to fix. A jigger costs less than a bottle of decent gin.
UK Sizes and the Awkward Ones
A British jigger is typically 25ml and 50ml, matching the legal spirit measures used in UK pubs. A Japanese one is usually 30ml and 45ml, which matches the way most modern recipes are written.
Either works, and the difference matters less than people expect: a recipe scaled consistently to 25/50 is still balanced. What causes trouble is the measures in between. Recipes routinely call for 15ml, 20ml and 22.5ml, and none of those is a jigger end.
That is what internal graduations are for, and it is the single feature worth paying for. A jigger with lines at a half and a quarter covers almost everything a recipe will ask.
Using One Accurately
Fill to the brim, not to a guess, and read it from the side at eye level rather than looking down into it.
Looking down foreshortens the cone and consistently under-fills, which is a genuine source of drift for people who think they are measuring carefully. Held at eye level the meniscus is obvious.
Pour decisively into the tin. A slow, hesitant pour leaves a film behind in the cone, and across five ingredients that adds up to a noticeably short drink. And rinse when moving from something viscous to something thin: syrup clinging to the walls will short the next measure and sweeten it at the same time.
Choosing One
Japanese-style is the pattern worth buying: tall, narrow cones, a defined lip and internal graduations. The narrowness is functional, since a tall cone makes a given error in height a smaller error in volume.
Avoid the squat, wide-mouthed jiggers sold in most starter kits. They are hard to read, easy to spill, and their proportions make small measures imprecise exactly where precision matters.
Stainless steel, no coating. A non-stick or painted finish wears, and a jigger is a thing you will still own in twenty years.
Pro Tip
If a drink only tastes right when guessed, the recipe isn’t finished yet.
What to Look For
- Clearly defined capacities that match your house pour standard.
- Thin walls for accurate visual reading at the rim.
- Internal markings for half and quarter measures.
- Balanced weight that feels stable when pouring quickly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Free-pouring before learning proper measurement discipline.
- Using novelty or oversized jiggers with unclear volumes.
- Relying on external markings that wear away over time.
- Switching between jigger styles without recalibrating muscle memory.
Professional Tips
- Fill to the brim and look at it from the side, not from above.
- Pour decisively. A hesitant pour leaves a measure behind in the cone.
- Buy one with internal lines: most recipes need 15ml and 22.5ml too.
- Rinse between a syrup and a spirit or the next measure runs short.
Specifications
Material
Stainless steel
Capacity
Common measures: 25ml / 50ml (UK standard) or 30ml / 45ml (international), depending on design
Details
Double-ended measuring tool with a bell shaped form. May include internal measurement markings for fractional pours.
History & Context
The jigger became standardised in the late 19th century as cocktails grew more complex and balance became critical. Originally informal in size, it evolved into a precise measuring tool as professional bartending prioritised consistency over guesswork. Today, the jigger remains the clearest marker of a disciplined bar.
Common Questions
What sizes do jiggers come in the UK?
Most UK jiggers are 25ml and 50ml, matching the legal pub measures. Japanese ones are 30ml and 45ml, closer to how modern recipes are written. Either works if you scale consistently; internal graduations for 15ml and 22.5ml matter more than the headline sizes.
Why not just free pour?
Free pouring is a professional skill built on thousands of repetitions with one bottle and one spout, and it does not transfer to a home cupboard. Cocktails are ratios, and a ratio only works if both numbers are right. Most disappointing home drinks are balance failures.
How do you use a jigger accurately?
Fill it to the brim and read it from the side at eye level. Looking down into the cone foreshortens it and consistently under-fills. Pour decisively rather than slowly, or a film stays behind, and rinse between syrups and spirits.
Can a shot glass replace a jigger?
Poorly. Most shot glasses are wide, unmarked and not calibrated to any particular volume, so small measures become guesses. If it is all you have, mark a 25ml line with tape. A jigger costs very little and removes the problem entirely.