A 700 ml bottle of whiskey at 40% alcohol by volume (ABV) contains 28 UK alcohol units. A 750 ml bottle at 40% contains 30 units, and a 1-litre bottle contains 40 units. Higher-proof whiskey contains more even when the bottle is the same size.
Whether the label says whiskey or whisky does not change the calculation. You need the bottle volume and ABV.
How many units are in a bottle of whiskey?
| Bottle size | 40% ABV | 43% ABV | 46% ABV | 50% ABV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 350 ml | 14.0 | 15.1 | 16.1 | 17.5 |
| 500 ml | 20.0 | 21.5 | 23.0 | 25.0 |
| 700 ml / 70 cl | 28.0 | 30.1 | 32.2 | 35.0 |
| 750 ml | 30.0 | 32.3 | 34.5 | 37.5 |
| 1 litre | 40.0 | 43.0 | 46.0 | 50.0 |
These are UK units, where one unit is 10 ml or about 8 g of pure alcohol. They are not US standard drinks.
The whiskey-units formula
UK units = volume in ml × ABV ÷ 1,000
For a 700 ml bottle at 40%:
700 × 40 ÷ 1,000 = 28 units
For a 750 ml bottle at 46%:
750 × 46 ÷ 1,000 = 34.5 units
Use the exact numbers on the label. “Cask strength,” “barrel proof,” and limited releases may be much stronger than a typical 40% bottle.
The Alcohol Units Calculator works for any bottle size and ABV. The UK alcohol units guide explains how bottle totals relate to weekly tracking and drink-free days.
Units in a single or double whiskey
Bottle totals are useful for shared or long-term tracking, but an individual entry should use the amount poured.
| Pour | 40% ABV | 43% ABV | 46% ABV | 50% ABV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 ml | 1.00 | 1.08 | 1.15 | 1.25 |
| 35 ml | 1.40 | 1.51 | 1.61 | 1.75 |
| 50 ml | 2.00 | 2.15 | 2.30 | 2.50 |
| 60 ml | 2.40 | 2.58 | 2.76 | 3.00 |
UK licensed premises commonly use 25 ml or 35 ml measures for spirits, depending on the venue. Home pours may be larger and should be measured occasionally rather than guessed by glass height.
How many servings are in a bottle?
A 700 ml bottle contains:
- 28 servings of 25 ml
- 20 servings of 35 ml
- 14 servings of 50 ml
- About 11.7 servings of 60 ml
A 750 ml bottle contains 30 servings of 25 ml, about 21.4 servings of 35 ml, 15 servings of 50 ml, or 12.5 servings of 60 ml.
The number of servings does not determine the units unless ABV and pour size are also known. At 50% ABV, every pour contains 25% more pure alcohol than the same volume at 40%.
UK units versus US standard drinks
One US standard drink contains about 14 g of pure alcohol. A 1.5 US fl oz pour (about 44 ml) of 40% spirits is approximately one US standard drink.
A 750 ml bottle at 40% contains about 237 g of alcohol, or roughly 17 US standard drinks. The same bottle contains 30 UK units because each UK unit represents a smaller amount of pure alcohol.
Use the Standard Drink Calculator for US measurements. Do not compare a UK guideline directly with a US standard-drink total.
What proof means
In the United States, proof is twice the ABV. An 80-proof whiskey is 40% ABV; 100 proof is 50% ABV. Convert proof to ABV before using the UK formula:
ABV = proof ÷ 2
Proof systems have varied historically and by country, so use the modern ABV printed on the bottle whenever possible.
Tracking a bottle shared over time
Do not log an entire bottle as one occasion if it was shared or consumed across several days. Record each pour with its volume, ABV, quantity, and time. If exact pours are not known, note the starting and ending bottle level and label the result as an estimate.
A practical method:
- Save the whiskey name and ABV.
- Choose a measured default pour.
- Log each serving when poured.
- Adjust the volume for a double or generous pour.
- Review the weekly total alongside other drinks.
Alcohol Tracker° can store repeat drink details and keep units, timing, cost, and calories connected to the original serving. The alcohol diary template also works on paper or in a spreadsheet.
Bottle units and weekly guidance
The NHS advises adults who drink regularly not to exceed 14 units a week on a regular basis, spread across three or more days. A 700 ml bottle of 40% whiskey contains 28 units—twice that weekly guideline.
The comparison is context, not a schedule for consuming a bottle. Guidance is not a target, and drinking less lowers risk. People who are pregnant, taking interacting medication, managing certain health conditions, driving, or recovering from alcohol problems may need to avoid alcohol entirely.
Do not use units to calculate when driving is safe. Units describe pure alcohol consumed; they do not measure BAC or impairment.
Worked whiskey examples
Suppose two people share 200 ml from a 700 ml bottle of 43% whisky, divided equally. The consumed portion contains 200 × 43 ÷ 1,000 = 8.6 units, or about 4.3 units each if pours were equal. The amount remaining in the bottle is not part of that occasion.
If one person pours 30 ml at 46%, the serving contains 1.38 units. Two such pours contain 2.76. Logging “two whiskies” without the measure and strength would hide both inputs.
Whiskey with ice, water, or a mixer
Ice, water, soda, or another non-alcoholic mixer changes the drink’s total volume and concentration but not the amount of alcohol originally poured. A 25 ml measure of 40% whisky remains one unit after dilution. If the mixer contains alcohol—such as a liqueur or fortified wine—calculate and add that ingredient separately.
Melting ice can make it harder to estimate the original pour from the final glass. Record the spirit measure when pouring rather than trying to reconstruct it later.
Whiskey cocktails and tasting flights
A cocktail can contain multiple spirit measures. List every alcoholic ingredient or use a verified recipe. A tasting flight may use small pours, but several samples can add up: five 15 ml tastes of 46% whisky total 75 ml and contain 3.45 UK units.
At a distillery or event, ask for the sample size if it is published. When it is not, label the diary entry as an estimate. Small glasses do not necessarily mean a small total when many are served.
Does age or price change the units?
No. Maturation age, origin, rarity, and price do not determine alcohol units. Bottle size and ABV do. An older 40% whisky and an inexpensive 40% whisky contain the same pure alcohol per measured serving. Cask-strength releases are different because their ABV is higher, not because they are premium products.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many units are in a 70cl bottle of whiskey?
A 70 cl bottle is 700 ml. At 40% ABV it contains 28 UK units. At 43% it contains 30.1 units, and at 46% it contains 32.2 units.
How many units are in a 750ml bottle of whiskey?
At 40% ABV, a 750 ml bottle contains 30 UK units. Multiply 750 by the actual ABV and divide by 1,000 for another strength.
How many units are in a shot of whiskey?
A 25 ml measure at 40% ABV is exactly 1 UK unit. A 35 ml measure is 1.4 units, and a 50 ml double is 2 units. Stronger whiskey contains more.
Does adding water reduce whiskey units?
Adding water lowers the concentration in the glass but does not remove alcohol, so the total units remain the same. Drinking only part of the diluted serving changes the amount consumed.
Can whiskey units tell me when I am sober?
No. A unit calculation is not a BAC measurement, and individual absorption and elimination vary. Never use units, a formula, or a countdown to decide whether to drive.
The quick answer
How many units are in a bottle of whiskey? A common 700 ml bottle at 40% contains 28 UK units; a 750 ml bottle contains 30. Check both size and ABV, especially for stronger releases, and record individual pours when the bottle is shared or consumed over time.
Sources: NHS alcohol units, UK Department of Health units explanation, and NIAAA standard drink guidance.
Keep exploring
Use the calculator or continue with a related guide:
Put the guide into practice
Keep a clearer drink diary.
Track units, standard drinks, cost, calories, dry days and estimated BAC on iPhone and Apple Watch.
