When you’re hosting a party, you don’t want to leave your best whiskey, tequila, mezcal, and gin out of your home bar. No offense to your guests, but it’s much more economical to buy Tito’s (one of the best brands of cheap vodka) or Casamigos (our top pick for cheap tequila). Typically, spirits come in standard 750mL bottles, the most popular size for storing on bar carts and in liquor cabinets. The stems are large bottles that dwarf them. To save you from the momentary panic of doing quick math at the liquor store, mumble How many shots are there in a handle?—We examined the numbers for you.
In fact, we’ve covered a series of questions to help you ace your next housewarming party or dinner party. We’re sure you know how many mL are in a liter and how many ounces are in a shot. But how about how many shots are in a quart? How many milliliters are in a shot? Or how do we convert ounces to mL in the first place?
And if you're wondering which liquor is worth buying in the first place, check out our roundups of the best vodkas for martinis, the best bourbons, and the best whiskeys for old fashioneds.
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What is a Drink Handle?
“Handle” is a nickname for half-gallon liquor bottles, earned because they often have a handle on the side to aid in carrying. The handles are twice the size of standard 750 mL bottles, called quintals.
Stems can be filled with any type of spirit, whether it’s vodka, tequila, whiskey, or gin. But typically, only popular brands come in stem sizes. For example, many small-batch bourbons are only available in fives. Perhaps the more common question is: How many shots are in a bottle of vodka?? Because clear spirit is mostly found on the handles.
Related: 32 Best Grocery Store Beers
How Many Ounces Are in a 1.75 L Bottle?
One pint contains just under half a gallon of liquor—1.75 L or 59.2 oz. While exact calculations come down to decimals, you can usually calculate conversions using rounded numbers.
There are 1,000mL in a quart. Therefore, there are 1,750mL in a handle. Then, there are just under 30mL in an ounce. When you divide the total of 1,750mL by the 30mL in an ounce, you get just over 58oz per handle.
Sure, we're a little off the exact amount because we didn't use all the decimals, but if you need a rough estimate, just focus on the rounded numbers. Your brain will thank you.
Related: The Best Cheap Whiskey of 2024 for a Great Bottle on a Budget
How Many Shots Are In A 1.75L Bottle?
There is no federally mandated shot size in the U.S. So it's not clear how many ounces are in a shot, or even how many shots are in a stem.
It depends, says Sother Teague, beverage director of Amor y Amargo in New York City and author of the book. I'm just here for a drink.
“If I'm going to take a shot, meaning pour it into a glass and drink it, it's going to be one ounce, because that's all you can fit in your mouth at one time,” Teague says.
But if he’s making a cocktail, that amount can increase—depending on how much alcohol it has. When Teague makes tequila cocktails, for example, he uses 2 ounces of liquor because, unlike a shot, which he calls “temporary,” a shot is meant to be sipped over a longer period of time. But when he makes a Manhattan, which requires more than just 2 ounces of liquor because it contains multiple alcoholic ingredients, the lines blur.
But when it comes to measuring bottles, he offers a simple answer: “If someone pointed to a 33-liter bottle and changed the ounces, I would say you could get 33 shots from there.”
Using the same 1 ounce/shot guideline, a handle that is 1.75 L or 59.2 ounces would contain approximately 59 shots.
Related: The 11 Best Whiskey Glasses You Can Buy
How to Pour a Shot Properly
If you pour it straight from the bottle into your glass, you will never get the amount you were hoping for and will probably spill it everywhere.
When you go to the bar, all liquor bottles are capped with a special cap. These caps, called pour spouts, are designed to transfer liquor from the bottle to the glass cleanly and efficiently. Some are even made to pour a full 1oz at a time.
So if you want to get the most out of your handle, that is, if you are pouring Definitely 59 shots, no more, no less—you can buy your own metered pour spouts. How's that for cost-effectiveness?
Automatic 1oz Measured Bottle Pourer (4-pack)
Courtesy of Amazon