Drink Measurements:
How to Use Parts to make a cocktail

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

It’s Friday evening and you’ve got a couple of friends coming around. You want to impress them with a drink but you don’t want to make anything too complicated or time consuming so you decide on an easy-to-make Vodka Soda. 

You find a drink recipe online and it says, “1.5 parts Vodka, 5 parts Soda Water.” You pick up your Jigger, you look at your Measuring Cup, but “parts” is nowhere to be found. Hmmmmm. 

When you read a cocktail recipe, you’ll often see that ingredients are measured in ounces (oz) or milliliters (ml). So, what do you do when a recipe uses the term “parts” instead? And how can you possibly know how to measure something that’s undefined? These are questions that every beginner home bartender asks themselves. 

Whether you’re making a single drink or preparing for a party, understanding how to use parts to make cocktails is essential. And luckily, it’s much simpler than you think.

What Does One “Part” Mean?

“Asking what a part is, is like asking how long a piece of string is,” says Rico, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador. “You guys decide. Whatever you say is one part, you go from that.” Hmmm, intriguing. Let’s keep going!

So, what does 1 part mean in measurements? First and foremost, a part is simply a relative measurement. For example, when a recipe calls for one part of ingredient A and two parts of ingredient B, you add twice as much of ingredient B. This works for single drinks and large batches. OK, now it’s starting to make sense, right?

One simple way to understand “parts” is to think of them as a ratio. If a cocktail recipe calls for 2 parts Gin, 1 part Lime Juice, and 1-part Simple Syrup, you can use any measurement as long as you maintain the same ratio.

For example, if your measurement for a part is equal to a Shot Glass, to use the example above, that would be 2 Shot Glasses of Gin, 1 Shot Glass of Lime Juice, and 1 Shot Glass of Simple Syrup. Easy, right?

One thing to keep in mind is how much liquid your chosen cocktail glass can hold. Then you can determine how big your part should be. Be sure to read our guide to cocktail glasses.

Measuring with a Jigger

There are several ways to measure the amount of alcohol and ingredients in a cocktail. Some bartenders like to weigh out their ingredients by volume (parts) using a Jigger. So, how big is a Jigger you ask? Well, they come in various sizes, but a standard Jigger is 1.5 oz or 45 ml.

If you want to see a great example that shows the use of parts, watch this video, where Rico makes a Sea Breeze. 

For his Sea Breeze cocktail, Rico uses the small side of a larger two-sided Jigger (1.5 oz / 3 oz or 30 ml / 60 ml) to equal 1-part. He measures and pours in two parts Absolut Vodka, two parts Sweetened Cranberry Juice, and four parts Grapefruit Juice. 

Since Rico uses the small side of a larger two-sided Jigger (1.5 oz / 3 oz or 30 ml / 60 ml), the actual measurements, in this case, are:

2 x 1.5 oz (30 ml) Absolut Vodka
2 x 1.5 oz (30 ml) Sweetened Cranberry
4 x 1.5 oz (30 ml) Grapefruit Juice

So, why don’t we just use milliliters or ounces instead of parts? Great question! Read on.

Using Parts to Make Batch Cocktails

Let’s say, for example, you’re making a batch of Sea Breeze cocktails for a party. In this case, using parts and the ratio of 2-1-1 is more helpful than exact measurements.

Although Rico opted for a Jigger to equal one part when making the White Russian, he could have used anything to equal one part – a Glass, a Bucket, a Bottle, a Cup and so on. Remember, you decide the size of 1 part.

When making a batch of cocktails, your part is going to be much bigger than a Jigger. Using parts allows flexibility and scalability when preparing large batches of cocktails. It simplifies the measuring process and saves a lot of time.

Let’s sum things up then. Whenever you’re faced with a recipe that uses parts, begin by determining your basic measurement—your “one part”—then divide or multiply the other ingredients to maintain the ratio. For example, 1 part can be one cup: pour two cups for 2 parts, and one-half cup for 1/2 part. Simple!

So, now you know what a part is, it’s time to get mixing! But remember, always drink responsibly.