What Does Two Fingers of Whiskey Mean? Answered (2023 Updated) - Liquor Laboratory (2024)

by Lydia Martin

Last Updated on December 29, 2022 by Lydia Martin

There are several ways to drink whiskey, and we’re sure you’ve heard people order “fingers” of alcohol at some point. But what do two fingers of whiskey mean?

Don’t pour yourself a full glass just yet. We’ve got the real deal here.

Table of Contents

What Does “Two Fingers Of Whiskey” Mean?

What Does Two Fingers of Whiskey Mean? Answered (2023 Updated) - Liquor Laboratory (1)

The term “Two Fingers of Whiskey” means that the width of two fingers when you hold it next to the glass is the volume of the whiskey. The terminology two fingers of whiskey is a rough way of measuring how much whiskey goes in your glass.

Two fingers of whiskey is not an official unit of measurement for whiskey pour, but it would be helpful since whiskey is not meant for chugging.

Is It A Unit of Measurement?

Two fingers of whiskey can be a unit of measurement for whiskey pour. You can use it at home or when ordering a neat whiskey at the bar.

It would be an easy way to give each glass the same amount of whiskey, even if you don’t have a measuring tool.

However, the two fingers of whiskey measurement may vary because of three reasons: (1) size of your finger, (2) diameter of the glass, and (3) shape of the glass.

How Much Are Two Fingers Of Whiskey?

What Does Two Fingers of Whiskey Mean? Answered (2023 Updated) - Liquor Laboratory (2)

If you have an old-fashioned glass (6-8 ounce) and an average-sized finger, two fingers are roughly 2 ounces of whiskey (without ice).

However, it would be best to remember that the one-ounce-per-finger measurement works on single old-fashioned glasses (since there are large double old-fashioned glasses). A bigger and wider base of the glass brings a big difference.

How To Order Two Fingers Of Whiskey

If you want to order two fingers of whiskey in a bar, tell the bartender that you want two fingers of whatever whiskey you prefer.

You can say “two fingers of Bulleit bourbon please” to the bartender, and he will give you a straight, room temperature whiskey in an old-fashioned glass to the height of their two fingers.

Also Read:

Do People Still Use It?

What Does Two Fingers of Whiskey Mean? Answered (2023 Updated) - Liquor Laboratory (3)

Yes, people still use the two fingers of whiskey as a measurement of their spirit at home.

However, the antiquated method is no longer used in bars because different bartenders have different finger sizes, making the whiskey pour inconsistent.

Moreso, the standard pour in most bars is 1.25 to 1.50 ounces, so it would be hard to figure out how much to charge per finger.

Compared to Other Units Of Measurement

One Finger

When measuring a distilled spirit, one finger refers to the volume of whiskey that will fill a glass when one finger is wrapped around the bottom.

It is nearly an inch (3/4) and roughly an ounce of the spirit.

Three Fingers

What Does Two Fingers of Whiskey Mean? Answered (2023 Updated) - Liquor Laboratory (4)

Three fingers of whiskey are pretty much the same concept as one finger.

You will fill the glass to the height equal to the width of your three fingers. It measures roughly three ounces or two shots of distilled spirit.

FAQs

How many fingers is a shot of whiskey?

A shot of whiskey is one and a half fingers. Since a finger is roughly an ounce of spirit and a shot means 1.5 ounces, you will need to fill a standard old-fashioned glass with one and a half fingers.

Can two fingers of whiskey get you drunk?

No, two fingers of whiskey will not get you drunk. Two fingers of whiskey are roughly 2 ounces, which is just above a shot if you will use an old-fashioned glass. No one gets drunk with a shot or two of a distilled spirit.

Final Thoughts

Two fingers of whiskey is an old bar term [1] or measurement of whiskey pour. While some people use it to indicate how much whiskey they should pour in a glass, it can be an inconsistent measuring tool.

The size of the finger and the diameter and shape of the glass may make a big difference to the volume of the whiskey.

However, feel free to use it at home as a measuring tool for your drinking session.

Reference:

  1. https://www.westword.com/restaurants/ask-the-bartender-giving-all-those-old-bar-terms-the-finger-5747968

What Does Two Fingers of Whiskey Mean? Answered (2023 Updated) - Liquor Laboratory (5)

Lydia Martin hails from Redmond, Washington, where you’ll find some of the best co*cktail bars and distilleries that offer a great mix of local drinks. She used to work as a bar manager in Paris and is a self-taught mixologist whose passion for crafting unique co*cktails led her to create Liquor Laboratory. Lydia can whip up a mean Margarita in seconds! Contact at [emailprotected] or learn more about us here.

What Does Two Fingers of Whiskey Mean? Answered (2023 Updated) - Liquor Laboratory (2024)

FAQs

What does 2 fingers of whiskey mean? ›

Whiskey is often measured in “fingers”. Simply hold your finger next to the glass and pour yourself a finger's width. For instance, if you were to order two fingers of whiskey, you'd end up with roughly two adult-sized finger widths of whiskey in your glass.

What does a finger of whiskey mean? ›

the fingerbreadth (literally the width of a finger) is an informal but widely used unit of measure. In the measurement of distilled spirits, a finger of whiskey refers to the amount of whiskey that would fill a glass to the level of one finger wrapped around the glass at the bottom.

How many fingers of whiskey is a shot? ›

A shot of whiskey is one and a half fingers. Since a finger is roughly an ounce of spirit and a shot means 1.5 ounces, you will need to fill a standard old-fashioned glass with one and a half fingers.

How many ml is a finger of whiskey? ›

A finger, roughly equivalent to 1 fluid ounce (30 ml). Two fingers are considered a full serving (so named as it's the height of your finger against the glass). A glass, however much the house prefers to pour, generally consisting of 1.5 – 2.0 fluid ounces (45 to 60 ml).

Where did the expression 2 fingers come from? ›

Myth: During the Hundred Years War, the French cut off the first and second fingers of any English archers they managed to capture, to stop them from being able to shoot their bows. In response, the English taunted them by flicking their fingers at them, which is where the 'two finger' insult originated.

What does tapping 2 fingers mean? ›

The tapping of the fingers is a way to say thank you if you are in the middle of a conversation.

What kind of alcohol is two fingers? ›

Imported from the Los Altos region in the Jalisco Province of Mexico where farmers have grown agave for over 100 years. The tequila is produced in a family run distillery, exclusively from Mountain Blue agave plants that have matured for some 8 to 10 years.

Is two fingers of whiskey a lot? ›

Two fingers of whiskey are roughly 2 ounces, which is just above a shot if you will use an old-fashioned glass. No one gets drunk with a shot or two of a distilled spirit.

How many shots are in two fingers? ›

Two fingers means a single pour. Three fingers means a double pour.

Is 2 fingers 2 ounces? ›

Recently, with a nod to bar history, there has been an effort to standardize the "finger pour" to 3/4 of an inch per finger in an standard old fashioned glass, which equals about one ounce per finger. This would result in two fingers equaling two ounces and so on.

What measurement is a finger? ›

finger, ancient and medieval measure of 1/8yard, or 4 1/2inches (11.4 cm), used primarily to measure lengths of cloth. The finger derives ultimately from the digitus, the smallest of the basic Roman linear measures.

Is 2 shots of whiskey enough? ›

One shot glass of whiskey equals 1-1.25 fl. oz or 30-45 ml and is a recommended amount for one person daily. That means around four shots of whiskey are enough to make you drunk. There are also types of undiluted whiskey that have 75 ABV, and they will make you drunk faster with smaller amounts consumed.

How many ml is 2 fingers? ›

Please share if you found this tool useful:
Conversions Table
1 Fingers to Millimeters = 22.22570 Fingers to Millimeters = 1555.75
2 Fingers to Millimeters = 44.4580 Fingers to Millimeters = 1778
3 Fingers to Millimeters = 66.67590 Fingers to Millimeters = 2000.25
12 more rows

How many ounces is a finger of whisky? ›

Pouring a Finger

You may have heard someone say the phrase, “a finger of whiskey.” The idea is that a pour of liquor to the height of a finger held horizontally alongside the bottom of glass should roughly equal two ounces.

How much is 2 inches in fingers? ›

Please share if you found this tool useful:
Conversions Table
2 Inches to Fingers = 2.285780 Inches to Fingers = 91.4286
3 Inches to Fingers = 3.428690 Inches to Fingers = 102.8571
4 Inches to Fingers = 4.5714100 Inches to Fingers = 114.2857
5 Inches to Fingers = 5.7143200 Inches to Fingers = 228.5714
11 more rows

What does 🤟 mean? ›

What does 🤟 I Love You Gesture emoji mean? A universal emoji! Or … is it? The love-you gesture or I love you hand sign emoji is the American Sign Language gesture for “I love you,” showing a hand with a raised index finger and pinky (little) finger and an extended thumb.

What does two fingers up and thumb out emoji mean? ›

The victory hand emoji is most often used to represent “peace” and all the sentiments of unity, harmony, and collective humanity that come with it.

What does whiskey dirty mean? ›

Dirty. © Liquor. This refers to an alcoholic drink, usually a co*cktail in which the colour and taste is changed slightly by adding different ingredients to these.

What does three fingers whiskey mean? ›

Three fingers of whiskey are pretty much the same concept as one finger. You will fill the glass to the height equal to the width of your three fingers. It measures roughly three ounces or two shots of distilled spirit.

What is it called when you have two drinks in your hand? ›

Completing a buffalo with the proper hand can be called a double buffalo, forcing the player to chug two drinks.

How many glass of whiskey can make you drunk? ›

“Intoxication can occur when 500 ml of beer (or 60 ml of whiskey) is consumed within 1 hour or 650 ml of beer (or 90 ml of whiskey) is consumed within 2 hours.” How do you know you're drunk? Intoxication has some unmissable early signs that can confirm you are drunk.

How many ounces of whiskey should you drink a day? ›

As with any other type of alcohol, whiskey is believed by many to have mild to moderately beneficial effects when consumed in moderation. This means drinking no more than 3oz of whiskey per day for men (2 shots of whiskey) and 1.5oz per day for women (1 shot of whiskey), with no additional alcoholic drinks.

Is a glass of whiskey a week too much? ›

Well, in fact, the liver has an immense capacity to regenerate. Hence, the 'safe limit' for alcohol consumption is said to be 21 units per week (1 unit is approximately 25 ml of whiskey) in men, and 14 units in women. No more than three units in one day, and to have at least two alcohol-free days a week.

How many shots until someone gets drunk? ›

Most people get intoxicated after taking three to four shots; this influence can happen more rapidly if the person involved is small in stature.

What is a serving of whiskey called? ›

There are lots of names for a measure of whisky. They include: a nip, a toot, a tot, a snifter, and a wee dram. But the most common name for a measure of whisky is a dram.

What size is 1 shot of alcohol? ›

Most shot glasses hold around 1.25 oz. to 1.5 oz., but there is no official standard size for a shot. Some shot glasses can be less than an ounce and others can be over 3 ounces, with the most common size being 1.5 oz.

How do you measure 2 ounces of liquor? ›

In order to properly measure an ounce of liquor, it is important to use a jigger. A jigger is a small, two-sided measuring cup that is used to measure liquor for co*cktails. One side of the jigger is typically marked with 1 ounce, while the other side is marked with 1 1/2 ounces or 2 ounces.

What count is 2 ounces of liquor? ›

How Many Counts Is a 2 Oz Pour? A 2-ounce pour is 4 counts using a pour spout. So you'll count “one one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand, four one-thousand” and stop.

How many shots are in a 2 ounce handle? ›

Most co*cktail recipes need 2 ounces of alcohol, for a total of 30 drinks per handle.

Are two fingers an inch? ›

* Use your own body for fast, approximate measuring. The first joint of an index finger is about 1 inch long. When a hand is spread wide, the span from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the pinkie is about 9 inches; from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the index finger, around 6 inches.

How do you calculate finger ratio? ›

First, measure the length of your index finger from crease to tip. Then do the same for your ring finger. Divide the first number by the second to calculate your 2:4 digit ratio. For example, my index finger is 7.8cm and my ring finger is 8.2cm, so my ratio is 7.8÷8.2=0.95, which is precisely the average for a man.

How much is a shot of whiskey? ›

Like other liquors, a standard whiskey pour is 1.5 ounces for shot, 2 ounces for a neat or rocks pour, and 3 ounces for a double. Pouring whiskey is right up there with pouring beer in importance, as every bartender needs to master these.

Can I drive after 2 shots of whiskey? ›

It's not easy to determine how much whiskey you can drink before driving. If you wanna err on the safe side, two shots are the maximum limit if you're a man. On the other hand, women with less body weight are safe for up to one shot of whiskey.

How long does it take for 2 shots of whiskey to wear off? ›

After you stop drinking, booze stays in your bloodstream for up to 6 hours.

How many shots of whiskey does it take to get alcohol poisoning? ›

How Many Shots Of Whiskey Can Kill You? If you consume 21 shots of alcohol in one sitting, it is extremely dangerous to your health. You are at risk, and it can kill you. At an average shot, it is 1.5 ounces and contains at least 30% alcohol.

How Do You measure 2 ml of liquid? ›

How to Convert Metric Measurements to U.S. Measurements
  1. 0.5 ml = ⅛ teaspoon.
  2. 1 ml = ¼ teaspoon.
  3. 2 ml = 1/3 teaspoon.
  4. 5 ml = 1 teaspoon.
  5. 15 ml = 1 tablespoon.
  6. 25 ml = 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons.
  7. 50 ml = 2 fluid ounces = ¼ cup.
  8. 75 ml = 3 fluid ounces = ⅓ cup.
Jan 26, 2023

What is three fingers of a drink? ›

Three fingers, means you fill up the glass to a height with liquor (usually whiskey) approximately equal to the width of three fingers. Obviously “fingers” aren't an exact measurement (depends on glass, depends on the fingers), but its roughly an ounce per finger.

Is a shot of liquor 1 or 2 oz? ›

The accepted amount of liquor served in a shot in the U.S. is 1.5 ounces or 44 milliliters. One US fluid ounce is 29.57 ml.

What is a single measure of whisky? ›

Pubs and bars used to commonly serve spirits (like vodka, gin, rum or whisky) in 25ml measures - that's about one unit of alcohol per measure. But these days many pubs and bars have switched to 35ml or 50ml measures – meaning you might be having a lot more alcohol without realising.

Is a shot of liquor 2 oz? ›

In the U.S., a standard shot is 1.5 ounces. There are no federal laws mandating what a shot should be, although Utah has made it the legal maximum. Still, it's up to the bars to decide how many ounces are in a shot, and this can range from 1.25 ounces to 2 ounces depending on the state.

How do you represent 2 inches? ›

The international standard symbol for inch is in (see ISO 31-1, Annex A) but traditionally the inch is denoted by a double prime, which is often approximated by a double quote symbol, and the foot by a prime, which is often approximated by an apostrophe. For example; three feet, two inches can be written as 3′ 2″.

What is male hand size? ›

The average length of an adult male's hand is 7.6 inches — measured from the tip of the longest finger to the crease under the palm. The average length of an adult female's hand is 6.8 inches.

What does saluting with two fingers mean? ›

The salute is performed with the middle and index fingers extended and touching each other, while the ring and little fingers are bent and touched by the thumb. The tips of the middle and index fingers touch the peak of the cap, two fingers meaning honour and fatherland (Honor i Ojczyzna).

How many ounces are in a finger of whiskey? ›

Pouring a Finger

You may have heard someone say the phrase, “a finger of whiskey.” The idea is that a pour of liquor to the height of a finger held horizontally alongside the bottom of glass should roughly equal two ounces.

How many ounces is a shot of whiskey? ›

Like other liquors, a standard whiskey pour is 1.5 ounces for shot, 2 ounces for a neat or rocks pour, and 3 ounces for a double. Pouring whiskey is right up there with pouring beer in importance, as every bartender needs to master these.

What does 3 fingers up mean? ›

Protesters have since added symbolism to the gesture, stating that the three fingers stand for the French Revolutionary ideal of liberty, equality, fraternity.

What does 2 fingers up mean love? ›

2 fingers up means you are madly in love.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Errol Quitzon

Last Updated:

Views: 6029

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Errol Quitzon

Birthday: 1993-04-02

Address: 70604 Haley Lane, Port Weldonside, TN 99233-0942

Phone: +9665282866296

Job: Product Retail Agent

Hobby: Computer programming, Horseback riding, Hooping, Dance, Ice skating, Backpacking, Rafting

Introduction: My name is Errol Quitzon, I am a fair, cute, fancy, clean, attractive, sparkling, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.