Crafted with care, poured with precision: Scotch whisky is made to be measured
World Whisky Day is a great opportunity to explore the wonderful world of Scotch: visiting a distillery, trying a new dram, or going back to old favourites and fixing yourself a springtime cocktail.
But ensuring you drink responsibly is always important, and measuring with a jigger can become part of your Scotch Whisky ritual just as much as nosing and tasting.
You may have heard different stories as to how you can measure your dram – whether it’s by eye, with a “three count” pour, or with “a finger of whisky”. But have you ever sat down and measured how big these pours are?
Guidelines from the UK Chief Medical Officer recommend that you don’t regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week. Whatever your drink of choice, without measuring your pours accurately, it can be difficult to accurately count how many units you’ve consumed.
There are a few different misconceptions about the strength of different alcoholic drinks, and what this equates to in terms of units. For most standard pours, higher ABV doesn’t always mean more units. A 440ml can of 4% alcohol by volume (ABV) beer comes in at 1.8 units, a 175ml glass of 12% ABV wine is 2.1 units, and a 25ml dram of 40% ABV Scotch Whisky (or other spirits) is equal to one unit of alcohol.
When it comes to spirits, pouring in 25ml measures is the best way to know for sure how many units you’re consuming with each drink. If you’re estimating your pour, differently shaped glasses can affect your perception, and ice can throw you off by displacing liquid. The most accurate way to measure each drink is by grabbing a jigger and measuring your Scotch Whisky.
These handy little tools are not just for bartenders and make a fine addition to your at-home whisky shelf. Found online, in kitchenware shops and large home goods stores, most jiggers are commonly made of stainless steel. A jigger is often double sided, with a single measure and a double measure on either side – 25ml and 50ml respectively - giving you flexibility whether you’re pouring a dram or opting for a longer drink.
For those cask-strength whiskies, which may have a higher ABV, you may need to use an online unit calculator or the below formula to understand how much you’re consuming.
strength (ABV) x volume (ml) ÷ 1,000 = units
For example, if you’re enjoying a dram (25ml) of cask strength Scotch at 60% ABV, the calculation would be 60 x 25 ÷ 1000, which would equal 1.5 units. Knowing how much alcohol you’re consuming is important to understanding whether your drinking is in line with CMO guidelines.
Measuring your whisky with a jigger gives you the chance to savour your dram. Creating a ritual around preparing your drink gives you a moment to recognise the time, effort and expertise that's gone into making each bottle of Scotch Whisky. Each whisky has been skilfully crafted, and matured for at least three years, by a dedicated team. By ritualising your pour, you’re appreciating the heritage, the provenance, and the people who make Scotland’s national drink.
Whether you’re enjoying your Scotch whisky neat, with ice, with a mixer or in a cocktail, it’s Made to be Measured.
Learn more about how to savour your Scotch at scotch-whisky.co/MTBM