We love a shot glass at Muddled, there’s something about the snug fit in the hand, and the modest amount of precious liquid it holds.
It’s not all about slamming and slugging back in one (although there is a time and a place for that wonderful ceremony), but really savouring a favourite homemade liqueur or smooth pure spirit.
So what is the history of the shot glass? There are many theories and at Muddled we think they are all totally plausible explanations for the name, here are our top six - choose your favourite!
Theory 1 – Schott/shot
Back in 1884, German Friedrich Otto Schott invented the small, robust stemless spirit glass. When it arrived across the pond, it was Americanised with the name shot glass instead of Schott Glas.
Theory 2 – buckshot glass
A small glass would be left on dinner tables in early America in which guests could place the lead shot or buckshot that may still be in their meals and that this is where the shot glass derives its name from.
Theory 3 - pen holder
According to some legends, the original shot glass was invented over 100 years ago and was a small, thick walled glass commonly found on writing desks, filled with lead shot. When your trusty feather writing quill was not in use, it would be stored upright in the lead filled shot glass.
Theory 4 – firing glass
Dram glasses that were used for chugging rum, whisky, gin, and brandy were thin and broke easily, so thick 'firing glasses' were created to withstand being pounded on the table. After a toast, the glass was slammed on table to make a loud sound, like a gunshot and the firing glass became a ‘shot’ glass.
Theory 5 - fair exchange
Some believe the shot glass originated in western saloons where cowboys would trade a gun cartridge for a small amount of alcohol.
Theory 6 - equal measures
The name first appeared in print in The New York Times in the 1940s in an article about ways to regulate the size of a ‘shot’ of liquor in NYC.
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