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How much is a dram of Scotch?

March 19th, 2009 Leave a comment Go to comments

Dram of ArdbergIf you do any reading about Scotch, or whiskey in general, you’ll often read people talk about having a dram of Scotch. Intuitively we know it’s some measurement, that we pour a bit of the golden (or amber or whatever, depending what you prefer!) elixir, call it a dram, and go about our merry way enjoying it.

But, what exactly is a dram?

Historically, a dram was a coin, a unit of mass, and a unit of volume.

For volume, it’s an eighth (1⁄8) of a fluid ounce.

So there you have it, a dram is an eighth of an ounce… but in reality it just means “a wee bit” when you talk about Scotch. No one is holding a measuring spoon when they measure out their drams!

(Photo: stephangeyer)

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  1. Cory
    February 9th, 2011 at 10:46 | #1

    But in practice, nobody drinks that small of a glass. A normal pour in the UK is 1.25 imperial fluid ounces, so by definition, 10 drams. When you’re at home, you pour whatever you’re comfortable with. I think mine are typically 1.5 to 2.0 imperial fluid ounces.

  2. admin
    February 17th, 2011 at 02:27 | #2

    I agree, no one ever puts only a dram in their glass. :)

  3. Hoose Mcnosin
    July 7th, 2011 at 02:22 | #3

    So, I will presume you are familiar with a Scotch tasting. How much is typically poured in a nosing glass at a tasting?

  4. Joe Crow
    July 13th, 2011 at 23:47 | #4

    …I always wondered whether I was over- or under-measuring my wee drams, bearing in mind that I live in Ireland where fractions of a Gill are the accepted measure (or at least they were, when I did bar work as a student).

    So now I know that my drams are just that: MY drams.

    Which leads on to my other long time question: how much water should I add? My favourite whiskies are Laphroaig; Lagavulin; and Caol Ila (in that order), although I can also be tempted by the (4?) other Islay malts, and I like a 50:50 malt:water mix, which I achieve either by eye or with a small measure – whatever is to hand – a shot glass, for instance.

    I’m not really a fan of other Scotches, although I admit that once I tasted the peaty/smoky Laphroaig I didn’t look much further!

    Slainte.

    Joe

  5. Rod McIntyre
    September 8th, 2011 at 17:44 | #5

    Good Day Joe,
    I am Rod McIntyre in Boulder Colorado and I have been enjoying fine scotch for many years. I prefer Macallan and have had the pleasure to try most others including your favorites. A very good friend of mine once ask me how I drank my scotch and I told him straight up. He suggested that I put in one single ice cube in to open the the flavors of the scotch and by God it sure did and also gave it a nice little chill which was perfect for me. Thought I might just pass that on for your review.
    Continue to enjoy the great spirit of scotch and I will toast to you in Ireland.
    Rod

  6. Dean
    October 3rd, 2011 at 05:21 | #6

    So technically a dram of Scotch is a sip.

    I drink my Scotch straight up as well but I prefer to add a little bit of water to open up the flavor. Ice tends to dull the nose and flavor of the Scotch. But to each his own.

    I drink The MaCallan 12 and Glenfiddich 18.

    Enjoy.

  7. Rick Camp
    November 14th, 2011 at 14:29 | #7

    Having lived in Scotland (Edinburgh) for a year, I was told, “a dram is a measure of Scotch determined only by the generosity of the pourer”… which is exactly the way it seems to work out in reality!

  8. Steve
    December 11th, 2011 at 06:15 | #8

    For about thirty years I wouldn’t touch alcohol. But in a restuarant hanging over the Roaring Forks River in Glenwood Springs, CO, my wife ordered the house whisky. I picked up her glass to see what it smells like…..wow!!! Do I like the smell of The Glenlivit! To me a dram is that little bit I pour in a snifter, and it lasts for hours. I would love to experience 25, but 12 is still wonderful for an evening. My dram is probable about 1/2 an ounce.

  9. Merciful Fate
    March 20th, 2012 at 21:10 | #9

    Dram it! Don’t ya hate being disillusioned by a “special” sounding word. To me it always sounded like a decently sized glass with which you could get your nose in and enjoy the fragrance and taste, unfortunately it is a tiny unit of measure. So sorry all ya wee bonnie lasses but a “wee dram” would be a small small bit, and no educated person talks thus. I digress (and digest) for why drink it by the dram when you can drink it by the tun.

  10. Charlie Noble
    April 9th, 2012 at 18:15 | #10

    A Dram in Scotland can be the following: When you say, “Can I have a dram?” 1. If at a pub you can expect a basic shot of whisky. 2. If you’re at a neighbor’s or friend, you can expect a portion that they feel is of their generosity. So a dram, although may have some technical history or even a traditional history – A Dram of Whisky is shot. The amount of that ‘shot’ is determined by the owner of the whisky. A “wee dram” is usually just the beginning of a Tall one. Had you not a drink earlier, a wee dram is to get your windpipe ready for the taste of a good drink. Be sure it is real Scotch Whisky – Single Malt – and never spelled with an ‘e’ in Whisky. Otherwise it can’t be from Scotland.

  11. Merciful Fate
    May 1st, 2012 at 09:08 | #11

    A dram is exactly 3.696716 cubic centimeters (centimetres) which is exactly 3.696716 milliliters (millilitres) (same), 0.1250008 of an ounce (oz), 0.1301062 of an ounce (oz UK), 0.003906276 of a quart, 0.007812553 of a pint, 0.006505314 of a pint (UK), 0.2500018 of a tablespoon, 0.750005 of a teaspoon.

    I had this program called “Convert” on my computer the whole time and only just decided to look for dram under “volume” and sure enough there it was.

    3/4 of a teaspoon wouldn’t really impress someone or quench a thirst so maybe we should just have a glass of scotch?

    “They speak of my drinking, but never think of my thirst” ~ Scottish proverb.

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