March 14, 2024

How the Jiggers took a U-Turn

Precise measuring and pouring of liquor into a cocktail glass using the ProMegJig copper jigger

We know that when you're behind the bar day-in, day-out, a good bar setup can make cocktail mixing second-nature.

But when something starts to irritate you, like missing tools from the bar station, a leaky pourer or the constant sticky mess, you'll be looking for a way to fix it.

In theory, jiggers should be a bartender’s best friend. They should enable a consistent pour and therefore a better cocktail experience. But, consistently good cocktails can only be made when you’re as accurate as possible in your measurements.

And not all spirits jigger are made equal when it comes to accuracy. Look more closely at that round jigger—if you fill it to the top for a full measure, you'll notice a bubble forms. This bubble is called meniscus which can lead to spills, overpour, inaccuracy and even challenges on measurements.

generic round jiggers cause spills

The issue here is that jiggers have, to all intents and purposes, been the same for centuries, with references to jiggers dating back to the 1800s.

While there doesn’t seem to be a clear date from when we started using the jigger, there is no doubt that the predominant shape of jigger, even today, is round. Which at Über, we suspect is down to our human love of predictability or familiarity.

We also discovered that it was this round shape and the occurring meniscus that was causing bars to waste alcohol and money. So we set out to make some changes which is how we took a u-turn, moving away from the round jigger to our unique trilobal design.

Uberbartools range of jiggers for accurate cocktail making

Here are a few reasons making the jigger switch could make a difference to you:

1. You're over the overpour

The bubble, also know as meniscus, on each round jigger can equate to an extra 3-5mL on every 30mL or 1oz shot you pour. This might not sound like a huge amount, but that's 10 per cent extra for every customer (if it doesn't end up on the bar first!) averaged out across the week, you'll likely find that 10 per cent makes a big difference. Read more about the important math lessons behind your bar in our blog.

The trilobal shape of our jiggers minimizes the meniscus effect, allowing for a more flat and accurate measurement of the liquid. Explore our BarJigX™.

2. It’s a no for inaccuracy and liquor waste

As per the point above, where is that extra 10 per cent going? If it ends up in the customer's drink, it could alter the flavour and mean inconsistent cocktails. Alternatively, if it ends up being spilled on the bar, you'll find yourself with inaccurate numbers when it comes to stock take. Learn more about spotting the signs of liquor wastage in our blog.

The trilobal design of our jiggers offer improved control while pouring with its pour-out cavity, reducing spills and waste from shaky hands. Our ProMegJig™ features a rubber center for a comfortable grip.
round jiggers waste 10% alcohol

3. More multiple measures

With a round jigger, you can expect to have two measures—one on each end of the jigger. But what if you need smaller or larger measurements? Some jiggers use measuring lines, but they can very hard to read in a darkened bar, at peak hour.

Our innovative ProJig™ features three internal lobes instead of a round interior. It measures up to 12 different volume combination with just one jigger for a more reliable way to measure, even for smaller quantities. This is ideal especially in creating cocktails that follow closely to the recipe, ensuring a consistent taste and quality for customers.

Read our guide to choosing an all-in-one jigger in our blog.

We've spent over a decade working with bars to rethink tool design, discovering what works and what doesn't. Our trilobal jigger is the ultimate symbol of that dedication to flawless design for flawless cocktail making.

Check out our range of jiggers and start working with innovative bar tools to reduce waste, increase profit and improve efficiency.