Jigger

A jigger is the standard measuring tool behind almost every home bar and professional bar in the US. Most are double-sided hourglass shapes, one cone holding 1.5 oz and the other 0.75 oz or 1 oz, though metric versions in milliliters are common too. The word also gets used loosely to mean the shot itself, as in a jigger of gin.

Using a jigger matters because cocktails are built on ratios. A Daiquiri or Margarita only tastes balanced when the spirit, citrus and sweetener land in the right proportion, and eyeballing a free pour makes that consistency almost impossible to repeat drink after drink. Bartenders who look confident free pouring have usually practiced with a jigger for years first.

When buying one, look for clearly etched or stamped measurement lines rather than painted markings that wear off, and check that the rim is thin enough to pour cleanly without dripping down the side. Stainless steel is the standard material because it will not pick up flavors. A common beginner mistake is only owning one size, then guessing at the smaller pours a recipe calls for.