A Brief Un-History of the Shot Glass
Shot Glasses have become a common souvenir staple the world round. It surprised me to learn that there really isn’t any idea on who first created the shot glass and what their initial purpose was for. There are actually so many stories and legends on why they were created and how they got their name, ranging from the plausible to outright legends. What can be said is that in 1940’s the first use of the term “Shot Glass” was printed in the New York Times in reference to a standard measurement of alcohol. Although countries standard definitions of a single or double shot size are not always equal.
Brief Buying Notes on Shot Glasses
A typical shot glass must be a tumbler, meaning it has no type of handle, and no “foot” on the bottom. It is usually short and has thick walls, although a taller version is also found. They are commonly made of transparent glass, although they may also be made of metal, pewter, and ceramic. Many of the cheaper shot glasses are made of ceramics which are more colorful and opaque. However, note that some types of glazes could contain toxic materials and should not be used for drinking. I’ve also noticed that airbrushed style shot glasses, are actually truly airbrushed, and the designs can easily be washed away. A characteristic of novelty shot glasses might include figurines or items within the inside or outside of the glass and these generally should not be used for drinking.
Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.
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