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Jigger vs Free Pouring
Measuring each ingredient against pouring by eye or by count.
Which should you use?
Measure. A cocktail is a ratio, and the small measures — 15ml of syrup, 20ml of lime — are where pouring by eye goes wrong, because a few millilitres is a large share of them. Experienced bartenders who free-pour train against a measure and check themselves often. At home a jigger, or a set of measuring spoons, is the most reliable way to get the same drink twice.
| Dimension | Jigger | Free pouring |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | Good if filled to the brim and read level | Varies with the bottle, the pourer and the day |
| Consistency | High | Only with practice and regular checking |
| Speed | A little slower | Faster for a trained bartender |
| Where it matters most | Citrus, syrup, bitter liqueurs | Least harmful in a highball, where the mixer dominates |
| In UK licensed bars | Required for gin, rum, vodka and whisky served neat or with one mixer | Not allowed for those; drinks of three or more liquids are exempt |
Using one in place of the other
Free pouring a highball is forgiving. Free pouring a Daiquiri or a Negroni is where drinks drift out of balance.
In the recipes on this site
Every recipe on the site is written in measured millilitres. Spec Lab and the Recipe Doctor assume the measures were followed.