Liquor Bottle Sizes Explained

Ever heard people use terms like “nip,” “fifth,” or even “handle” when talking about their favorite bottle of liquor and wondered what they actually mean? Sure, bottle sizes such as 750 mL tell you how much liquor is in a bottle, but these cute nicknames can get a bit confusing.

Here’s a look at the various liquor bottle sizes you’re most likely to encounter and what they mean.

Liquor Bottle Sizes at a Glance

The U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) recognizes these and several other standard fill sizes. So, if you’re in the U.S., these are some of the standard bottle sizes you’ll most likely see for distilled spirits.

The 750 mL bottle is common in home bars, while the 50 mL miniature is actually useful for small tastings. And the larger bottles? They make more sense when you’re looking to have more liquor on hand.

What Is a Fifth of Liquor?

When you hear someone asking for a “fifth,” they’re talking about a 750 mL bottle, which is the most common liquor bottle size in the U.S. today. The name comes from an older measurement back when 757 mL was roughly one-fifth of a U.S. gallon.

You get about 25.4 fluid ounces in a fifth, and that’s widely considered a solid size for a home bar. It’s large enough to give you plenty of pours, yet it doesn’t take up the space of a larger bottle. Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon is a classic example of a 750 mL bottle.

What Is a Handle of Liquor?

In liquor terminology, a handle is a 1.75 L bottle, and it holds about 59.2 fluid ounces. That’s more than twice as much liquor as a standard 750 mL bottle holds.

Many bottles in this size have handles built into them, and that’s exactly where the “handle” name comes from. As you may have figured, a handle actually serves a practical purpose: you can easily pick up the large bottle and pour. That’s very helpful considering a 1.75 L bottle weighs a lot more than a standard bottle.

Handles make sense when you’re mixing drinks for a gathering or buying a spirit you know you’ll go through fairly quickly.

Want a spirit in this larger format? Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is one solid example.

700 mL vs. 750 mL: What’s the Difference?

If you shop for spirits from different countries, you may notice that some bottles hold 700 mL instead of the 750 mL common in the U.S.

The 700 mL format is something you’ll most likely come across when you’re buying spirits in Europe. It’s the standard European size, and the bottle holds about 23.7 fluid ounces.

In comparison, a 750 mL bottle holds about 25.4 ounces. Yes, it’s only a small 50 mL difference, but when you’re comparing two bottles of the same spirit, it’s hard to ignore that difference because 50 mL is roughly one more standard shot. [Link to: How Many Shots Are in a Bottle?]

Here’s a real-world example of this. The Eagle Rare 10 Year and Eagle Rare 12 Year are both available in 700 mL and 750 mL bottles. When you see either expression in both sizes side by side, it’s a little easier to appreciate the 50 mL difference.

Which Liquor Bottle Size Should You Buy?

There might be no “right” or “wrong” answers when it comes to taste or flavor, but as far as liquor bottle sizes go, there’s a good chance you might end up with more or less liquor than you actually need if you pick the wrong size.

The right bottle size comes down to how you plan to enjoy the liquor. Here’s the quick lowdown of how that works:

• A nip or 50 mL is a good choice if you’re looking to sample a spirit before you go all in. That way, you don’t commit to a full bottle until you’re sure you like what’s inside.

• You might want to consider a pint (375 mL bottle) if you only drink occasionally. The smaller size gives you less to work through.

• For a typical home bar, a fifth is usually a good place to start. 750 mL gives you enough liquor for plenty of pours, especially if you’re pouring yourself a drink now and then.

• If you regularly make cocktails or entertain guests, you’d probably want to step up to a 1 L or 1.75 L bottle.

Before you choose a bottle size, though, remember that a larger bottle isn’t automatically the better choice. Yes, a larger bottle might give you more bang for your buck, but if a spirit takes you a long time to finish, there’s little reason to buy more than you need. That’s another way of saying it might be easier to manage a smaller bottle if you’re looking to get something for occasional sipping.

Choosing the Right Liquor Bottle Size

It’s easy to overlook bottle size, especially when you already have a particular spirit in mind. But here’s the thing: size can make more of a difference than you might think. And you’ll quickly notice it when you pay attention to how much you actually drink and how often you reach for a bottle.

Once you know what size makes sense for you, you can start browsing The Barrel Tap’s selection of whiskey, bourbon, and other spirits and find a bottle that fits your bar and your drinking habits.