Eyeballing a pour looks effortless in movies, but at home it’s the fastest way to end up with a cocktail that’s either watery or way too strong. A jigger is the one tool that actually fixes this, once you know how to use it properly.
What Actually Matters
Filling to the Line, Not the Brim
The most common beginner mistake is filling a jigger all the way to the rim and calling it one measurement. Most jiggers are marked with an interior line just below the rim — that’s your actual 1oz or 2oz mark, with a small gap left to prevent spills.
Reading It at Eye Level
Pour on a flat, stable surface and check the measurement at eye level, not from above looking down. Looking down at an angle makes the liquid line appear higher than it actually is, throwing off your measurement more than people expect.
Double-Sided Design Saves Steps
A jigger with two different measurements on each end — like 1oz and 2oz — lets you measure two common pours without switching tools mid-drink, which matters when you’re making several cocktails back to back for guests.
From My Kitchen
My first few cocktails at home were rough — I was pouring straight from the bottle, guessing, and ending up with drinks that tasted nothing like the recipe promised. Once I started using an actual jigger and filling to the internal line instead of the rim, the same recipes suddenly tasted balanced, and I finally understood why bartenders bother with them at all.
Worth Considering
The A Bar Above Japanese-style jigger has ten internal measurement lines etched inside, which is genuinely useful once you start following recipes with odd amounts like 0.75oz. For something simpler with just the two standard measurements, the Professional Bartender Jigger covers the basics well.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sizes should a beginner’s jigger have?
1oz and 2oz cover the vast majority of standard cocktail recipes. Once you’re comfortable, a jigger with additional lines for 0.5oz and 0.75oz makes it easier to follow more precise recipes without estimating.
Can I use a shot glass instead of a jigger?
Shot glasses vary wildly in actual volume between brands, so they’re unreliable for consistent cocktails. A proper jigger is calibrated to an exact measurement, which matters more once you’re trying to replicate a drink you liked.
Rimi Sultana is a home cook from Bangladesh who has cooked for her family every day for the past five years and writes about it at Smart Cooks. Perpetually testing whether internet-famous recipes actually work in a regular home kitchen. Say hello on Facebook or through the contact page.