What is a Shot Glass ?

To the casual observer it might be a rugged little thing for drinking shots of whiskey, or an advertising glass for distillers or distributers, or a souvenir glass from a tourist shop. The true collector thinks of them in regard to their minimum and maximum height; minimum and maximum capacity; and style of glass.

According to the Shot Glass Club of America shot glasses are whiskey tumblers which are small vessels designed for drinking distilled spirits in small amounts. Tumblers (i.e. shotglasses) DO NOT have a foot, stem or handle. The base of a tumbler is pointed or convex. Shot glasses are limited to a maximum of two ounces in volume and strictly less than three inches in height. Minimum capacity is one ounce and the shortest height is 1-3/4 inches. Shot glasses normally tapper out at the top.

Items which are mistaken as shot glasses include dram glasses, candle holders, toy mugs, juice glasses, cordials, brandy glasses and toothpick holders.

What is a Shot ?

In 1690,the administration of William of Orange passed: "An Act for the Encouragement of the Distillation of Brandy and Spirits". New drinking styles and the lifting of taxes on distilled spirits encouraged their growth and influenced the development of glassware. The introduction of gin named for Ginievre or Geneva overtook England. In 1713 Parliament removed all restriction on the distillation and sale of spirits. These actions brought on the socalled "gin plague". While the English aristocrats drank fine brandies and expensive wines the common citizens gorged on gin and beer. Gin was blamed for crime, idleness, begging, and unemployment in the middle-classes and poor. To combat the "gin plague" in England Parliament imposed a 20 shilling per gallion tax on gin in the 1760's. Distilled spirits became more powerful per volume and lead to drinking in smaller vessels. Dram glasses made of metal or tiny glass bowls on long stems and bases, which were available at the time, only held an ounce or two. Dram glasses cheaply made were frail and broke easily, but were quit popular and used in the practice of dramming. Dramming entailed several small toasts of rum, brandy, whiskey, or gin drunk in succession in lodges, taverns and dram shops. Dramming carried over to America but ended in England by about 1840. As sturdier glass was used to make dramming glasses they made a load noise, as they were slammed to the table, much like the firing of a musket. The sturdier "fired" glass was heavier and could take more abuse with bases as thick as an inch of glass.

The Influence in glass development

Many glass creations in the New and Old World were geared to the consumption of beverages. Champagne glasses, wine glasses, cordials and others have distinct differences and are used for specific liquids.

Jefferson's cocktail party

When Jefferson became president one of his first goals was to stock the White House wine cellar. He entertained frequently and invented the Presidential Cocktail Party. In his first year as president he spent $6500 on food and $2400 on wines.

Mark Pickvet's "The Definitive Guide to Shot Glasses" lists the following address: 
The Shot Glass Club of America
P.O. Box 90404
Flint, MI 48509


The club was established in 1990

You might be able to get a copy of the book using its PB ISBN # 0-915410-90-7 The address of the publisher is : 

Antique Publications
Box 553
Marietta, Ohio 45750


Pickvet's book has a good history of glass and shot glasses. It also has a catalogue guide standard for categorizes of shot glasses by type, design, source, etc. There is also a price guide and a price list which uses the catalogue system. The book is copyrighted 1992 so the prices are several years out of date.
Mr Pickvet has also written a prior book "Shot Glasses: An American Tradition", 1989.

 
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Send your comments to Mark D. Simpson Sr.

Last updated March 1, 1997.