How Many Drinks Does a 750ml Bottle of Liquor Make?

November 14, 2025 •

3 min read

According to most bartending standards, a 750ml bottle of liquor, also known as a 'fifth', contains approximately 16 to 17 standard 1.5-ounce shots. This calculation is the foundation for determining how many drinks does a 750ml bottle of liquor make, though the final number can fluctuate based on the specific cocktail and pour size.

Quick Summary

A standard 750ml bottle of liquor yields roughly 17 shots or 10-12 cocktails, but the exact count is affected by pour size and mixed drink recipes. Factors include the difference between a 1.5-ounce shot and a larger pour for cocktails like an Old Fashioned.

Key Points

16 to 17 standard shots: A 750ml bottle, or 'fifth,' yields about 17 standard 1.5-ounce shots, or 16 if accounting for spillage.
10 to 12 cocktails: Most spirit-forward cocktails requiring 2 to 2.5 ounces of liquor will reduce the total number of drinks from a bottle to around 10-12.
Pour size is critical: The number of drinks heavily depends on the pour size. A smaller 1-ounce pour can yield 25 servings, while a 3-ounce double shot provides only 8 drinks.
Measure for accuracy: Using a jigger ensures consistency and helps maximize the number of drinks per bottle, preventing waste and guaranteeing balanced cocktails.
Differs from wine: A 750ml bottle of wine typically contains 5 servings, not 16-17, as the standard pour size is significantly larger at 5 ounces.
Mixed drinks are not standard: Cocktails can contain more than one standard drink equivalent, so the total number of mixed drinks you can make is not the same as the number of shots.

Calculating Your Drinks Per Bottle: The Science of the Pour

Understanding how many drinks you can get from a 750ml bottle is more a matter of simple math than guesswork. The calculation is based on the bottle's total volume divided by the volume of each pour. A 750ml bottle, the standard for most spirits, is equivalent to 25.4 fluid ounces. From there, the number of drinks depends entirely on how much liquor you pour for each serving.

Standard Shots

For a standard shot, the general consensus in the U.S. is 1.5 fluid ounces (or 44 ml). To find the total number of shots, you divide the bottle's volume by the shot size:

Bottle volume in ounces: 25.4 oz
Standard shot size: 1.5 oz
Calculation: 25.4 / 1.5 = 16.93 shots

This is often rounded down to 16 shots to account for minor spills or variations in pouring. If you use a smaller 1-ounce pour, a 750ml bottle can yield up to 25 servings. To achieve this level of precision, many bartenders use a jigger, a small measuring tool designed to ensure consistent pours.

Mixed Drinks and Cocktails

Determining how many cocktails you can make is slightly more complex, as cocktail recipes use different amounts of base spirit. A classic mixed drink might use a standard 1.5 oz pour, yielding 16 drinks. However, many cocktails call for a larger 2 to 2.5 oz pour, especially for spirit-forward drinks like a martini or an Old Fashioned.

For a 1.5 oz cocktail pour: A 750ml bottle makes about 16 drinks.
For a 2 oz cocktail pour: A 750ml bottle makes about 12 drinks (25.4 / 2 = 12.7).
For a 2.5 oz cocktail pour: A 750ml bottle makes about 10 drinks (25.4 / 2.5 = 10.16).

For cocktails with multiple liquors, like a Long Island Iced Tea, the amount of base spirit will also vary and may contain more than one standard drink equivalent per glass. It is important to remember that 'one drink' doesn't always equal 'one standard drink' in a cocktail.

Comparison of Servings by Drink Type

When planning a party or managing a bar, knowing how different drink types affect the bottle's yield is crucial. The following table provides a quick comparison based on typical U.S. pour sizes from a 750ml bottle.


Drink Type	Standard Pour Size	Approximate Drinks Per 750ml Bottle
Standard Shot	1.5 oz	17
Small Shot	1.0 oz	25
Double Shot	3.0 oz	8
Mixed Drink	1.5 oz	16-17
Rocks Pour	2.0 oz	12
Spirit-Forward Cocktail	2.5 oz	10

Factors Affecting Your Pour Count

Pouring Consistency: Hand-pouring without a measuring tool, or 'free-pouring', can lead to inconsistencies. Experienced bartenders can free-pour accurately, but for the average person, a jigger is the best way to ensure you maximize your drinks per bottle and control drink strength.
Ice and Mixers: For drinks served on the rocks or with mixers, the amount of ice and mixer used can create the illusion of a larger drink, even if the liquor volume is standard. A good pour is less about filling the glass and more about getting the right ratio.
Alcohol by Volume (ABV): For lower-proof liquors, a larger pour might be considered a standard 'drink equivalent' compared to higher-proof spirits. A standard drink contains roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol (0.6 fluid ounces), and the amount of liquid changes depending on the ABV.

The Difference in Wine and Champagne

It's worth noting that the calculation for liquor does not apply to wine or champagne. A standard 750ml bottle of wine typically yields about 5 glasses, based on a standard 5-ounce pour. For champagne, the pour size is smaller (around 4 oz), resulting in roughly 6 glasses from a standard 750ml bottle.

Conclusion

While a 750ml bottle of liquor is a staple for home bars and parties, the exact number of drinks it produces is not a single, fixed number. For standard shots, you can plan on getting about 16 to 17 servings. However, the true answer depends on the type of drink and the pour size. By using proper measurements and understanding the variations in cocktails, you can accurately plan for your event and ensure you have enough libations to go around. Whether you're serving simple shots or complex cocktails, the key is consistency and a little bit of math.

Frequently Asked Questions

For a party, a 750ml bottle of liquor yields approximately 16 standard mixed drinks, assuming each drink uses a 1.5-ounce pour. However, if guests prefer stronger cocktails, the number of drinks will decrease.

A 750ml bottle of liquor contains 25.4 fluid ounces. This measurement is the basis for calculating the number of shots or cocktails that can be poured from the bottle.

Yes, a 750ml bottle of vodka and a 750ml bottle of whiskey will yield the same number of drinks if the pour size is consistent. The type of liquor does not affect the total volume, only the type of drink you can make.

A 'fifth' of liquor is a common name for a 750ml bottle. This name originated because the size used to be one-fifth of a U.S. gallon before metric standards became common.

To ensure consistent pours and maximize the number of drinks from your bottle, use a jigger. This small, hourglass-shaped measuring tool helps eliminate guesswork and prevents over-pouring.

The number of cocktails varies based on the recipe. For standard cocktails with a 1.5-ounce pour, you can make around 16 drinks. For more spirit-forward drinks with a 2 to 2.5-ounce pour, you'll make 10-12 cocktails.

A 750ml bottle of wine provides approximately five 5-ounce glasses, which is a different standard than for spirits.