what are the small bottles of liquor called

[LailaRose]

Ah, the tiny titans of the tipple world, the pocket-sized party starters! It seems these little guys go by more names than a secret agent, depending on who you ask and where you are.

Officially, the industry term for that 50ml bottle of liquid courage is a "miniature." It's the most formal and widely accepted name for a bottle containing what is essentially a single shot. However, as with most formal things, people have come up with much more fun and efficient ways to refer to them.

You'll very commonly hear them called "minis," which is the cute, shortened version of miniature. Another popular name you'll encounter is a "nip," a classic term for a small swig of spirits. And if you're looking for a name that gets straight to the point of its intended use, "shooter" is also a frequent contender. So, whether you're asking for a miniature, a mini, a nip, or a shooter, you're all talking about the same mighty little bottle. It proves that good things, and a surprising number of aliases, do indeed come in small packages.