Origin of the Term "Fifth"
A fifth is called a fifth because it’s equal to approximately 1⁄5 of a US gallon. In the late 19th century, a fifth of a gallon was the largest legal liquor amount sold to individuals without a wholesale order.
Understanding Bottle Sizes
The term fifth comes from when bottles were 4/5 of a quart, the same as 1/5 of a gallon. 750 ml is the same as a standard wine bottle.
Variations and Calculations
A fifth of alcohol, be it vodka or other liquor, is another name for a 750 ml bottle. A pint is 60% of a fifth, the standard liquor bottle size.
Additional Information
The 1.75 L bottle is also called a handle of liquor. It’s big enough to have a handle on the bottle. Selling by the quart was a wholesaler threshold. Using that, you can calculate shots in a liquor bottle.
Historical Context
The term “fifth” was used as the liquor amount shared by several people. It was codified as the standard in the early 20th century.