How Many Shots Are in a Fifth?

Q: Marlene writes, “How many ounces are in a 1/5th bottle of vodka?”

A: First, let’s use a 1 oz shot for this exercise. Next, what exactly is a fifth? It is an old measurement for a bottle of booze. It refers to the fact that the bottles were 1/5th of a gallon. These days most bottles are 750 ml, which is close to 1/5 of a gallon. A gallon contains 128 fluid ounces. So a fifth (1/5) or 750ml contains a tad more than 25 oz, or 25 one-ounce shots. Of course, many use 1 ½ ounce for a standard shot which is around 16 shots.

Bar Measurement Chart

Facebook Comments