
Ah, the great mystery of the tiny tipple! You're talking about those adorable, pocket-sized portions of liquid courage that are perfect for everything from hotel minibars to testing a new spirit without committing to a full-sized relationship. While they have an official, rather distinguished name, they've collected a delightful number of aliases along the way.
The proper, pinkies-out term for these little guys is "miniatures." But let's be honest, that's a bit formal for a bottle you can palm. Depending on where you are and who you're talking to, you're more likely to hear them called "nips" or simply "minis," especially in North America. Thanks to their historical role as the perfect travel companion for a nervous flyer, they're also famously known as "airplane bottles."
Digging a little deeper into the slang, you might hear them called "shooters" or a "single," which is a pretty accurate description of their one-and-done purpose. Since the standard volume is 50 milliliters, some people cut to the chase and just call them "50s." So, whether you call them miniatures, nips, or airplane bottles, rest assured everyone will know you're referring to that perfect, portable little dose of cheer.


