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Why 750ml vs 1L as standard btl size?

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OW Holmes

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Re: Why 750ml vs 1L as standard btl size?

by OW Holmes » Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:01 am

I have no historical information as to WHY it became the size it did, but an interesting (at least to me) bit of hearsay on the effect of bottle size. As Robin notes in his wine advisor, both liquor and wine eventually assumed the same general size. And whether that had to do with easy carrying size, or lung capacity of glass blowers, it did have an impact on the game of golf. It is widely reported, and believed by many, that the modern game of golf is 18 holes, rather than 7, or 11, or 25, because that is (or at least was) the number of shots in a bottle of scotch, and when early scottish players of the game consumed a shot a hole, they were done (both with the bottle and probably their ability to navigate home) after 18 holes.
-OW
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David M. Bueker

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Re: Why 750ml vs 1L as standard btl size?

by David M. Bueker » Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:26 am

I would prefer the 500 ml size, except that if things were reduced to that size we would still be paying the same prices. Think of the slogan: "New, more convenient packaging!" There would be no mention that it was smaller, and the price would not change.

By the way, I've had two wines from the early '70s that were 700 ml.
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Michael Pronay

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Re: Why 750ml vs 1L as standard btl size?

by Michael Pronay » Wed Jun 18, 2008 7:18 am

As to the perfect bottle size for dinner, let me quote Anthony Barton:

"A magnum is the ideal bottle if you are having dinner alone — provided there's a bottle of Champagne for apéritif and Sauternes for dessert."
Ceterum censeo corticem esse delendam
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