How Many Shots in a Half Gallon?

There is nothing worse than running out of alcohol at a party. That is why good planning ahead of time can help avoid disappointment and empty cups.

Many people often wonder how many shots are in various size bottles as it helps them determine how much alcohol they need to buy to keep their guests happy. How many shots in a half gallon, for example, is commonly looked up as the half gallon is a generously sized bottle of alcohol. 

Here is a breakdown of how many shots are in various sized alcohol bottles:

50ml/1.7oz - 1 shot

Quarter pint (100ml/3.4oz) - 2 shots

Half pint (200ml/6.8oz) - 4 shots

Pint (375ml/12.7oz) - 8 shots

Fifth (750ml/25.4oz) - 16 shots

Liter (1L/33.8oz) - 22 shots

Magnum (1.5L/50.7oz) - 33 shots

Half gallon (1.75L/59.2oz) - 39 shots

Double magnum (3:/101.4oz) - 67 shots

Rehoboam (4.5L/152.2oz) - 101 shots

So, as you can see from the breakdown above, the answer to the commonly asked question - 'how many shots in a half gallon?' is 39 shots.

However, things can become more complicated when you begin to consider what type of alcohol is being used, as a pour of hard liquor will be more than a liqueur, for example. Our breakdown is based on a standard 1.5oz shot, which is common for liquors like rum, vodka, gin and whiskey. It is always a good idea to measure your shot glass and then readjust our table so you make sure you buy just the right amount. Not only can you find standard size shot glasses measuring 1.5oz, but there are also 1.25oz and 2oz shot glasses. 

Many people opt for a half gallon, also referred to as a handle, as it is more than double the standard bottle of liquor. Unlike other types of liquor bottles, a handle literally includes a handle at the top, making it a very distinct looking bottle.

Curious about how many handles you should buy to make sure all of your guests are catered for? Well, if you assume you had 30 guests and each had 3 shots, then 3 handles would be enough. Of course, not every guest will want just a shot so you may want to consider what additional alcohol you will need for mixed drinks. Whereas a shot is typically 1.5oz, a mixed drink uses slightly more, usually about 2oz or so, so you would be able to serve about 30 drinks from one handle. 

Now you know just how many drinks and shots you can get from a handle, let’s take a look at some of the most unique party shots:

Captain Crunch Shot

Mexican Hot Chocolate Shot

Or, why not try some of these delicious mixed drinks:

Apple Martini

Big Red Margarita

Peach Raspberry Margarita

Strawberry Negroni

You can also get adventurous and make your own alcohol:

Marshmallow Vodka

Cinnamon Whiskey

Coffee Liqueur

Jalapeno Infused Tequila