As an expert sommelier and brewer, I can provide you with a detailed answer to the question of how much liquor is typically poured when ordering a drink on the rocks. When a drink is ordered “on the rocks,” it means that the liquor is poured over ice cubes in a glass. In this case, a standard pour is usually around 2 ounces.
The reason for this standard pour size can be attributed to a couple of factors. Firstly, when a drink is ordered neat or on the rocks, it is usually served in a rocks glass or an old-fashioned glass, which typically has a larger capacity than a standard cocktail glass. This means that there is more room for the liquid, hence a slightly larger pour.
Secondly, when a drink is served on the rocks, the ice cubes take up some space in the glass. This means that there is less room for the actual liquid, so a slightly larger pour is necessary to ensure that the customer still receives a satisfying amount of the spirit.
It’s worth noting that the exact pour size can vary depending on the establishment and the bartender. Some bartenders may pour slightly more or less than 2 ounces, depending on their own personal preferences or the specific guidelines set by the establishment they work for.
In my own experience as a sommelier and brewer, I have found that a 2-ounce pour for a drink on the rocks is generally considered standard practice in many bars and restaurants. However, there may be exceptions to this, particularly in specialty cocktail bars where the focus is on creating unique and intricate drinks that may require different pour sizes to achieve the desired flavor profile.
To summarize, when ordering a drink on the rocks, it is typically served with a 2-ounce pour of liquor. This ensures that the customer receives an adequate amount of the spirit, considering the larger glass size and the presence of ice cubes. However, variations in pour size can exist depending on the establishment and the bartender’s discretion.