It's surprising how many people thinks it's cool to have a bubble or lens (meniscus) form at the very top of a jigger pour prior to serving alcohol into a glass.
Sorry to be the bringer of bad news: the bubble creates BIG trouble. Let's explore the why, what and cost.
A bubble or lens for most bars is fact of life affecting almost every design of jigger on the planet. Liquor control experts such as Barmetrix acknowledge that the bubble can add 3-5mL or 1/10-1/6 Oz on every 30 mL/1 Oz served. If you own or manage a bar, the added cost of the bubble can cripple the business.
Flip this around to the other side of the counter, imagine a guest who enjoys a well-balanced cocktail experience. If their drink has been over-portioned, the drink could potentially taste too strong, too sweet, too sour or just plain weird.
Drinking and driving? Get pulled over and breath tested… then good luck finding an understanding "Your Honour", and could end up getting a very different type of serve with rather unfortunate “benefits!”
Why It Happens
All jiggers and shot glasses are round, except one! Once a pour reaches the top edges of a jigger or shot glass, nature takes over, exerting surface tension, pushing liquid inwards and towards the midpoint of the jigger, thereby forming a bubble.
What's Next?
Once the surface tension reaches a tipping point, the bubble will break, particularly when energy or motion is exerted by a bartender. The result, alcohol cascading down the sides of a jigger, seen on a counter top or floor. Then the bartender will compensate the spill with an extra pour of liquor.
Costs
To some, a fraction of an Oz or those extra pesky mLs don't seem much but during a brisk night's trade, the bubble can increase the cost of a fairly basic speed rail drink by $0.05-$0.15 cents per shot, potentially more if serving back bar booze. Ouchhhh if you’re making lots of Long Island, ice teas or serving expensive cocktails!
The seemingly harmless bubble at the top of your jigger can have a real impact on your bottom line. By understanding the science behind the meniscus and adopting alternative measuring tools or techniques, you can significantly reduce liquor waste.
Thankfully, to stop being Bubble Dumb, the answer is simple... it’s just a matter of looking for the right tool to do the job—trilobal jiggers! Uberbartools developed the ProJig™ or ProBarJig™, specifically designed to flat pour (no bubble). Watch here.
Uberbartools trilobal jiggers are considered the most accurate on the market, proven to reduce the surface lens/meniscus and features easy pour out exit lips, reducing liquor spillage from shaky hands.
Invest in the right tools, educate your staff, and watch your profits rise alongside the quality of your cocktails.