Jigger

Improvising when you’re missing the proper tools to make a cocktail is okay. However, the act of preparing a cocktail is also part of the experience. So if you use proper equipment, this will work on an emotional level: it will feel more right. Even though the result might be exactly the same, the experience as a whole is enhanced.

When making the Martini, you might have had to use some improvisation. This was on purpose, to show that a) it can be done and b) it could be done more properly.

 That’s why I’m first going to add two mixing tools to the bar, before we continue with the liquor.

The first tool will be the jigger or measure. It is used to measure the exact amount of liquids used while mixing. Specifically, it is used to make sure the proportions of the ingredients are right.

There are a lot of different jiggers around. Most are double-sided (like the left one), others are one-sided (to the right). One-sided jiggers will usually have lines for smaller measures. If you ever buy one of these, please make sure that these lines are clearly visible (by being engraved or having ‘levels’). If it’s just a print on the inside, it won’t be very visible to begin with and will probably fade over time.

There are American jiggers which use fluid ounces (fl oz or shorter: oz) and there are European jiggers which use the metric system (cl – centilitres or ml - millilitres). Both are fine, of course.

The term jigger comes from an alternative to the term shot. A shot is the standard amount which would be served in a shot glass. For the USA, that’s 1,5 oz (or 44 ml). A small shot, short shot or pony shot would be 1,0 oz.

Originally, a double-sided jigger used to have a shot volume on the larger side and a pony shot volume on the smaller side. However, there have been made all kinds of variations. But you still call the large cup the jigger and the small cup the pony (independently of actual volume).

Some people might say that using a jigger isn’t cool. They might think that free pouring is the way to go if you want to mix a drink with bravado. It’s also about the presentation, right?

However, getting a drink that hasn’t got the right proportions is definitely not cool, because it won’t taste how it should. So just use a jigger. Some of the best professionals use one. There’s absolutely no shame in measuring, it will only show that you’re taking the art of mixing drinks seriously.

Having said that, it’s also okay to make a safe guess now and then. Sometimes you will have to, because the recipe calls for a ‘dash’. Experience will teach you how much that means for that particular cocktail.

Sometimes your jigger just doesn’t have the right volume to work with. In these cases, it’s okay to eyeball the amount.

I like to use only the jigger-side of my double-sided jigger. That’s not because I hate ponies, but it’s because turning the jigger around will cause some leftover liquor to spill. Especially when you are using liqueurs (which tend to be sweet and sticky) this can amount to quite a mess after some time. I have found that just using one side will make for cleaner mixing.

To make sure this will not adversely influence my measurements, I know to which height I have to fill the jigger to make it ‘half-full’.

This is done easily by properly measuring this once and making a clear mental note of the height you should aim for.

One last note on using the jigger: hold the jigger close to your glass, mixing glass or shaker. That way, you can easily tip it over and make sure the liquid gets where it should, even when filling the jigger to the brim. Working at a distance will cost time and will lead to possible spillage, while it’s just as easy to work close to your vessel.