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Alright, there are many many many
ways to count ounces when it comes to bartending. Some people will argue that thier way is better or more percise, honestly
it comes down to the bartender, but we will go over quite of few ways you can find out how much alcohol your pouring in your
drinks.
#1 - I'm sure some people don't know
this but 1 Tablespoon equals half a oz, 2 Tablespoons equal 1 whole oz. Now you can measure this way, but you may get some
funny looks...
#2 Jiggers!, yes jiggers are a traditional bartenders tool that measures ounces. They come in all differn't
sizes but the most common one is 1 oz and 1/2 a oz. Theres two sides to a jigger with 2 differnt ounce sizes. Some even have
handles on them. You can never go wrong when measuring with a jigger.
#3 Shot glass measuring cups, yes there are actually shot glasses
that look like your normal measuring cup, only they measure up to 1 oz alot of times at the most, you could use this instead
of a jigger, here is what they look like.
#4 The two finger count, Fill your glass up with ice.pour a oz of liquor or liqueur
in the glass with ice. Put your two fingers around the glass and the fluid should come up to your two fingers. Some glasses
it may not come up to two fingers so, measure by pouring in the liquor first then see how many fingers it takes to reach the
amount. Hold the while you pour until you reach your finger mark so the customer doesn't know you were unsure of your measurement.
#5 The most popular and cool method of counting ounces called... "The Free Pour" Now most people just count to 1 2 3 4
and it usually measures out to 1 oz. But it depends on how slow or fast you count, you need to find a count method that works
best for you, below is a article explining it much better and takes you step by step, so enjoy.
You can read the article
Here
Or scroll down and read on this page.
How to Free Pour
Professional bartenders free pour measured amounts of liquor when
making mixed drinks and dispensing shots. It is entertaining to watch people free pour liquor. Plus, it's faster and more
efficient than (though not always as accurate as) other methods. Anyone with decent coordination can learn to free pour with
a little practice. So if you want to impress your friends and be the life of the party, read on.
Things You'll Need
Jigger cups of various sizes
Liquor bottle
Pour spout
(pourer)
Beverage glass
Obtain some measured jiggers of different common sizes
and a liquor bottle with a pour spout. The pour spout must fit very snugly in the liquor bottle and form an airtight seal.
The jiggers won't be needed soon, but are needed to learn how to pour the right quantities. The liquor bottle should be filled
with water unless you are practicing during a party!
Grasp the liquor bottle firmly by the the neck with your
index finger over the base of the pour spout. It is very important to hold the liquor bottle properly, otherwise you will
not be able to control the pour!
Deftly lift the bottle up and, in one fluid motion, tilt the bottle over and pour
into a cup, then tilt the bottle back to vertical and place it back on the table. While the exact technique will vary, this
lets you understand how to pour in a controlled manner. You want to begin pouring all at once directly into the cup, then
stop pouring all at once, in one fluid motion. The pour should start readily and flow evenly. If the liquid being poured sputters
excessively or does not pour readily or evenly, the pour spout may not fit properly in the bottle. Be sure to angle the spout
properly while pouring so that the liquor is poured as evenly as possible and downward.
Count while pouring into an
empty jigger until it is full. This is the secret that enables you to know exactly how much you are pouring into the glass.
Therefore, as soon as you begin pouring, keep an even count, then as soon as the jigger is full, and you stop pouring, stop
counting. People may count to three or four for a one ounce jigger, but be sure to establish a specific count for a specific
amount. Practice this repeatedly with the one ounce jigger, then with the 3/4 ounce jigger, 1 1/2 ounce jigger, and so forth.
You will end up counting less for the smaller jiggers and more for the larger jiggers.
Free pour into a glass using
the counts established in the previous step, then measure how much you poured using the jiggers. This will enable you to see
how close you can get to the desired amount while free pouring. Many people can be essentially exact.
Tips
If
you are not able to free pour the right amount, continue to practice using the above steps. Be sure to establish specific
counts for specific amounts so that you can free pour specific amounts.
To add only one or two drops of an ingredient
(such as vermouth to a martini), hold your finger or thumb tightly over the main outlet of the pour spout and let the ingredient
drip through the air vent of the pour spout. Plastic pour spouts generally work well for this function.
Different
pour spouts can pour differently, so either use only one kind of spout, or practice with different kinds.
Better pour
spouts make pouring smoother and therefore easier. Long metal pour spouts generally pour very well, although plastic pour
spouts are economical and may fit better in some bottles.
Most pour spouts are made for fifth size (750 ml) glass
alcohol bottles and may not fit properly or at all in larger or smaller bottles. Larger and smaller pour spouts are available.
Plastic inserts may exist in larger liquor bottles that prevent the use of pour spouts, although it may be possible
to remove the inserts. Bartenders almost never free pour from bottles larger than quart size.
If no proper empty liquor
bottle is available that fits the available pour spout, it should not be necessary to use liquor in order to practice pouring.
Try using any glass bottle that is available.
Different liquors and liqueurs have different weights and viscosities.
Some may pour more quickly than others. Experiment with your bottles to find the correct pour time for the desired number
of ounces.
Until you get familiar with the technique, it is best to count to four to fill a 2oz jigger. This enables
you to halve the amount by counting to two, or increase the amount in 1oz increments by adding an additional 'two-count' which
is useful for martinis of different sizes.
When fitting the pour spout in the neck of the bottle, the pour spout will
most likely need to be forcefully pressed into the neck of the bottle. While this is an indication that a good seal has been
formed, it may be safest to use a plastic pour spout instead of a metal pour spout, as metal pour spouts may be sharp and
cause injury. Regardless of the type of pour spout that is used, practice caution when fitting the pour spout in the bottle.
If you do practice with alcohol, don't get carried away and drink it all! Beverages with a high percentage of alcohol
can take up to an hour to "kick in". You might end up in a coma if you drink too much, too fast
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