Everything you need to know about shot glasses
What:
Shot glasses are designed to measure liquor. Their use varies as one can drink straight from the glass itself (“take a shot”), or the contents of the glass can be poured into a cocktail. What makes a shot glass unique from other glasses is it doesn’t have a stem (like wine glasses) or handle (like mugs). Though there are thousands of different types, shapes and sizes, their basic design usually tapers outwards, with a greater diameter at the top of the glass. They are made of pewter, glass, plastic, porcelain, gummy, ice, meat, salt, and/or clay, and commonly decorated with toasts, advertisements, or humorous pictures as souvenirs and collectibles. Various types of hard liquor are sold in shot glass, ranging between $5–$15 a “shot.”
History:
The first recorded design and use of glass begins in 1496 B.C. Over 3,500 years ago, ancient Egyptians made glass into drinking vessels for wealthy patrons. The first time ordinary citizens had access to glass vessels was around 50 B.C., when Romans invented glass blowing. They even added surface decorations, including pictures and names. By 700 A.D., Islamic glass artisans developed a “cameo-cut-glass” skill, basically the carving of glass, which was a unique process completed only by the wealthy few. The process of enameling glasses, however, was available to commoners. In 1100 A.D., Europe mixed glass with silica, creating intense vibrant colors, resulting in stained-glass. Venice perfected the art of colored glass by 1450 A.D., making it more durable. In the mid-1600’s, English glass makers created dark green glass. Bottles of this type of glass, which actually appeared to be black in color, were even more durable and rarely broke in shipping. In 1676 A.D., an Englishman created lead glass, which allowed for more intricate designs.
In 1690, a law was passed that lifted taxes on drinks. Gin became popular in middle and lower classes and more glassware was needed. While wealthy upper-class drank large amounts of liquor out of giant wine goblets, a smaller glass was needed for the tiny amounts the low class could afford. Dram glasses used for chugging rum, whisky, gin, and brandy were thin and broke easily. Thick “firing glasses” were created to withstand being pounded on the table, and were so heavy that they sounded like gun shot when done so.
Origin Theories:
1. Firing glass
Fraternities have a custom of drinking toasts from a glass called a “cannon/firing glass.” After a toast, the glass is slammed on table to make a loud sound, like a gunshot. Hence, the firing glass becamse a ‘shot’ glass.
2. Old west
Some believe the shot glass originated in western saloons where cowboys would trade a cartridge (for their guns) for a small amount of alcohol.
3. Birdshot
The glass used at the dinner table to place any lead bullet shot found left in the meat during a meal may also have been known as a ‘shot glass.’
4. Quill-pen holder
Before mechanical pens were invented, a small, thick-walled glass filled with small ball bullets/lead was placed on one’s writing desk. The feather writing quill was placed in the glass when not in use. The lead shot held the quill upright, and became known as a ‘shot glass.’
5. Friedrich Otto Schott
Shot was originally spelled Schott, the name of a man who owned a glassworks factory in Jena, Germany in 1884. The ‘Jena glass’ was the first Schott glass in the U.S., later referred to as a ‘shot glass.’
Origin:
In the 1800s, a ‘jigger’ of whiskey or rum was giving to workers digging canals. Before the 1900s, thin-sided whiskey glasses were commonly used to do so. Eventually, these small sized glasses were given out by American distilleries to advertise brands. After the 1900s, and the prohibition in the U.S., small glasses were produced with thick bases and thick sides. The name “shot glass” began in 1930s. The word “shot” is equivalent to ‘dosage’ or ‘small amount,’ therefore the small glass was called a shot glass because it holds a small amount. The name first appeared in print in The New York Times in the 1940s in an article about ways to regulate the size of a ‘shot’ of liquor in NYC. However, it didn’t become a common name that people used until much later in time.
Sizes:
Every country has their own standard single or double shot size. Strict definitions and measurements are enforced accordingly if required. Roughly, a shot is typically no shorter than 1–3/4in. and no taller than 3 inches.
In Canada, for example, a shot refers to one regular sized drink, under the guidelines of containing 1.5oz of pure alcohol. In Finland, the maximum amount of strong alcohol allowed to be served is regulated by law to one 40mL portion, making double shots illegal. In Israel, a small shot is known as a “chaser.” According to the Weights and Measurements Act of 1985, shots in the UK must be 25mL or 35mL of whiskey, gin, rum, or vodka. The U.S., however, has no standard size for a single shot (except in Utah where a shot must equal 1.5 oz.) Shot glasses in Germany are much smaller than other country. In general, around the world, a shot size is between 1.25–1.5oz. Shots are measured using a jigger, a bartending tool used to measure hard liquor.
Types:
A Standard shot glass is a little over 2 inches tall, with a 1 ½ inches diameter at the base, and holds 1.5oz of alcohol. A Pony is smaller and shorter, holding 1oz of liquor. A Cheater appears to be the same size as normal, but it’s glass is thicker so it fits less liquid. Fluted shot glasses are the same size as regular ones but have designs, such as small ridges that run along bottom of glass and leave crystal rings on table when set down. A shot glass that is molded has a bottom that consists of a design crafted into it, while the upper half has a name engraved into it. Shooters contain alcohol as well as a mixer taken in long cylindrical shot glasses. These are narrow and look like test tubes. A flared shot glass is 3 inches in height and it’s mouth is wider than the base. A Tonic is a mini version of a tonic glass with a wide mouth that grows narrower.
