Vintage Shot Glasses

From Wild West Saloons to Modern Bars

Interestingly the term “shot” likely originated in the 19th century American frontier, where cowboys might have traded a cartridge, or “shot,” for whiskey at saloons. As distilled spirits gained popularity, small, varied glasses, often called “jiggers” or “whiskey tasters,” were used to serve liquor. However, standardization didn’t occur until the mid-20th century, with shot glasses typically holding around 44ml in the United States and 25ml in Europe.