How many units are in a bottle of whisky?
In the UK, we’re often told to watch what we drink. This doesn’t mean keeping an eye on the pint glass when you raise it to your lips, although that also isn’t bad advice.
No, alcohol intake is something we should all take seriously and keep a firm eye on. To measure that, we use “units”. So, for most whisky fans, that raises two questions:
How many units are in a bottle of whisky?
What in the Sam Smith is a unit anyway?
This snappy guide will help you understand what units are, how to calculate them, and help you drink more responsibly in no time.
We are told to drink no more than a certain amount of units. But what does that mean?
What is a unit of alcohol?
Units are how we express the quantity of pure alcohol in a drink.
One unit equals = 10ml (or 8g) of pure alcohol.
The reason why we monitor that is the average adult processes around 10ml alcohol in an hour. In theory, that means there should be little or no alcohol left in the blood of an adult after an hour. Of course, this does depend on many factors which account for both the person and the drink. Everyone is different, after all.
The idea of counting alcohol units was first introduced in the UK in 1987. It was designed to help people keep track of their drinking and, from what I understand of the 80s and much of the 90s, it was used about as often as the average gifts you get inside a Christmas cracker.
A 700ml bottle of 40% ABV whisky is 28 units of alcohol
How many units are in whisky?
Of course, today we’re more evolved with our approach to alcohol. Lots of whisky drinkers appreciate the spirit’s qualities beyond its capacity to alter our chemistry and get us, to use a technical term, pished.
Thankfully, it’s very easy to remember how many units there are in a standard shot (25ml) of whisky – one. Yes, one (1).
That is assuming the whisky was bottled at 40% ABV. It if was, then that means in a 700ml bottle of whisky, there’s around 28 units of alcohol in it.
It’s worth noting here that the NHS recommends that men and women not drink more than 14 units a week. If you were strictly going by its guidelines, you should only be polishing off a bottle every fortnight. Not that the NHS recommends you finish a bottle of whisky every two weeks… you know what I’m getting at.
Whisky’s high strength does mean you need to be sensible, but you all already know that I’m sure. Let’s move on to how we worked out how many units are in a bottle of whisky.
There’s about a unit of alcohol in each of those glasses!
How do you work out how many units are in a bottle of whisky?
Calculating units is quite straightforward. You don’t need to be a master mathematician. The formula is quite simple:
Strength (ABV) x volume (ml) ÷ 1,000 = units
So, all we need to know is the drink’s alcohol by volume (ABV) and the volume of the measure being served. Easy, right?
Let’s do a quick calculation together. To work out the number of units in a whisky presented at 40% ABV in a 700ml bottle, we would do the following:
40 (%) x 700 (ml) ÷ 1,000 = 28 units
For a single measure and a double measure of that whisky:
40 (%) x 25 (ml) ÷ 1,000 = 1 unit
40 (%) x 50 (ml) ÷ 1,000 = 2 units
If you can’t be bothered with any of this or want to work out your weekly intake across different spirits and alcohol etc., then Alcohol Change UK’s unit calculator provides a simple and effective service.
We can enjoy whisky while understanding how many units are in it. Just for good measure…
Drinking whisky responsibly
It’s important to be realistic about alcohol consumption. We can laugh it off or pretend it’s not a real pressing concern for people but we have a duty of care to ourselves and others.
You may find that ironic from a drinks retailer. But it’s perfectly possible to enjoy and appreciate the craft and flavour of a complex drink like whisky without abusing alcohol.
Here are a few tips for how to drink whisky responsibly:
Always measure out your dram: When pouring your own whisky, it’s tempting to freehand the pour but by doing that, you won’t be able to keep track of how much you’re consuming effectively and you’re likely to overdo it. A jigger provides exact measures. They’re essential for cocktail making too, which is more like baking than cooking (i.e. precision is everything).
Pace yourself: There’s no rush. This is a strong and complex spirit, sip it slowly and take your time to enjoy the flavours rather than rushing.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: Drinking water is essential. Stay hydrated in any situation where you’re drinking and you’ll reduce the intensity of alcohol’s effects.
Eat before and/or while drinking: Food helps slow the absorption of alcohol and keeps your blood sugar levels steady. Plus, who doesn’t love a whisky pairing?
Cocktails and mixed drinks: Whisky cocktails, like an Old Fashioned or a Whisky Sour, are excellent ways to enjoy whisky in a more relaxed and flavourful manner. Just keep the same principles of moderation and mindful drinking in mind.
Check the ABV: Most whisky is bottled at 40% ABV. But some are higher, going above 50% and even 60%, particularly in the case of whisky bottled straight from the barrel, or cask strength whiskies. These will contain more units of alcohol than whiskies with a lower ABV. Check the ABV on the bottle (ask your server/Google it if it’s being poured for you), do your calculations, and be in the know.
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