Shot glass facts for kids
A shot glass is a small glass container. It was first made to hold or measure small amounts of liquids. People often use them for collecting or as souvenirs.
Shot glasses can be decorated with many different pictures, words, or funny designs. They are popular items to collect, especially those from different places or with special themes.
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How the Name "Shot Glass" Started
The word "shot" has been used for a small amount of liquid since at least the 1600s. In the United States, it started meaning a small drink of spirits around the 1920s. The full phrase "shot glass" has been used since at least the 1940s.
The First Shot Glasses
Some of the very first glasses used for whiskey in America, from the late 1700s to early 1800s, were called "whiskey tasters" or "whiskey tumblers." These were made by hand by glassblowers. They were thick, much like today's shot glasses. You could often see a special mark or rough spot on the bottom where the glass was attached during blowing. Sometimes, these marks were ground smooth. Some of these old glasses even had handles or designs added by hand.
In the early to mid-1800s, glassblowers started using molds to make glasses. They made many different styles of "whiskey tasters" in various colors. These glasses were also thick and still had rough bottoms from being hand-blown into the molds. As glass-making technology got better by the late 1800s, these rough marks on the bottoms of glasses mostly disappeared.
Different Kinds of Shot Glasses
Cheater Glass
These glasses have a very thick, solid bottom. This makes them look like a regular shot glass, but they actually hold less liquid. They give the appearance of a full-sized glass while holding only about two-thirds of the usual amount.
Single Glass
A single shot glass is designed to hold one standard amount of liquid.
Fluted Glass
A fluted glass is a type of shot glass that has a simple ribbed or grooved pattern on the bottom part of the glass.
Pony Glass
Pony glasses are quite small, usually holding about 30 milliliters (one ounce) of liquid. They are often used when mixing ingredients for a larger drink.
Tall Shot Glass
Tall shot glasses are taller and thinner than typical shot glasses. They are sometimes also called "shooter glasses."
Rounded Glass
In rounded shot glasses, the sides of the glass curve downwards. There is a noticeable difference in height between the top edge and the bottom rim. These types of glasses are popular in Europe.
Tools for Measuring Shots
Jigger
A jigger is a special tool used by people who mix drinks. It helps them measure the exact amount of liquid needed before pouring it into a glass or a mixing container.
The word "jigger" for a small measuring cup or amount of liquid first appeared in the United States in the early 1800s. Old records from the 1800s mention "jigger bosses" giving jiggers of whiskey to workers building canals.
The common double-ended jigger we see today, shaped like an hourglass with two different-sized cones, was invented in 1893. Usually, one side measures a standard single amount, and the other side measures a different amount, like a half or a double. The exact sizes can change based on local rules.
In the U.S., a modern jigger usually holds about 44 milliliters (1.5 US fluid ounces). In the United Kingdom, jiggers are typically 25 ml or sometimes 35 ml. Jiggers can also have markings inside to help measure even smaller amounts. Before the 1920s in the U.S., a jigger was often considered to be about 59 ml (2 US fluid ounces), but now it's usually 44 ml (1.5 US fluid ounces).
Measuring Shot Glass
A measuring shot glass has lines or markings on its side, showing smaller units like half-ounces, teaspoons, tablespoons, or milliliters. These are helpful for measuring ingredients precisely when mixing drinks or even when following cooking recipes that need exact small amounts. They allow you to measure several small units at once.
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See also
In Spanish: Vaso de chupito para niños
