Dozens of different shapes of whiskey bottles have been produced in a variety of sizes as they have evolved. From the tiny 50ml bottles commonly found on airplanes to the huge 3 liter “Texas Mickey” bottles. So why do standard whiskey bottle size vary from country to country? Government regulators try to standardize bottle sizes between countries because it makes it easier to trade. It also gives consumers some certainty about what they are getting when they buy a bottle of spirits and makes it easier to compare values.
In the UK, the standard whisky bottle size was 26⅔ fluid ounces until 1980, when they changed it to 750 ml. In 1992, the European Community (or EU as they are now called) changed the standard bottle size from 750 ml to 700 ml.
In the United States, bottle sizes are regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (ATTTB). In the late 1970’s there was a huge push to move the US to a metric system, so the ATTTB adjusted the bottle size. They set the standard bottle size at 750 ml, as it was close to the standard “fifth” of a gallon.
ATTTV banned imported 700 ml bottles out of concern that they would confuse consumers. That’s why Americans have 750 ml bottles of whiskey, while Europe has 700 ml.
