The balance between all the ingredients is what makes a great drink. That’s why the precision with which the ingredients are measured is of utmost importance in bartending.
There are three types of correct measurements: with a jigger, using a drink dispenser or pourer, and through free pouring.
A bar spoon is also used. The liquid is measured in milliliters (ml), centiliters (cl), or fluid ounces (oz). In most recipes, we will encounter these measurements.
The professional bartender uses the free pouring method as the primary way to measure liquids, sometimes assisted by the jigger and the bar spoon. Free Pouring is a system that allows measuring the liquid in its free pour through a simple yet effective way of counting, where the professional controls the exact amount they need to pour. The liquid poured through free pouring is measured in ounces, and is often more accurate than the jigger. To carry it out, metal pourers or spouts are used, which are placed on the mouth of the bottle.
One ounce is equivalent to 0.2957L, which is approximately 30 ml.
It is mandatory to use the jigger when we are not yet experts in Free Pouring. It is highly recommended to do daily training before starting work or during slow service hours, always with bottles filled with water, and checking the accuracy of the liquids using the check pour.
The check pour is used to verify the accuracy of the pour during Free Pouring training. In this regard, there are three different states of the pour:
Exact Pour - this is the perfect pour that corresponds to the desired amount, or as its name indicates, the exact pour.
Under Pour - this is the pour that has been done below the required amount. It is considered an under pour when it deviates by 1/8 oz from the perfect amount.
Over Pour - this is the pour that has been done above the required amount. It is considered an over pour when it deviates by 1/8 oz from the perfect amount.
