MIND THE POUR
Drink Smart
What is a Patiala peg?
A patiala peg is 120ml of spirits — exactly double a regular 60ml peg, and a third more than a 90ml large. It is the biggest of India's common pours, and at standard whisky strength it puts about four standard drinks into a single glass. The name comes from Punjab, and the story behind it involves a Maharaja, a British polo team, and a pour poured with intent.
| Measure | Volume | vs. patiala |
|---|---|---|
| Small peg (chhota) | 30 ml | One quarter |
| Peg (regular) | 60 ml | Half |
| Large peg | 90 ml | Three quarters |
| Patiala peg | 120 ml | — |
How much is a patiala peg in ml?
A patiala peg is 120ml. That is double a regular peg (60ml) and one-third larger than a large peg (90ml). A standard 750ml bottle holds just over six of them.
The traditional way to measure one without a jigger is by hand: hold your index and middle fingers horizontally against the side of the glass, and pour whisky up to the top of the two fingers. On a typical Indian tumbler that lands close to 120ml — which is exactly how the measure spread long before anyone was checking it against a jigger.
The Maharaja of Patiala story
The name traces to Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, who ruled from 1900 to 1938 and kept one of the finest polo teams in India. As the story goes, a visiting British team — variously told as an Irish regiment side — arrived to play, and the Maharaja hosted them the night before the match.
His hospitality was, by design, extravagant. The whisky was poured to double the usual measure, and kept coming. The next day his guests played badly, and Patiala won. The oversized pour that did the damage kept the city's name.
Treat it as folklore rather than documented history — the tale has the tidy shape of something improved in the retelling. But it has been told for a century, and the measure it named is now poured nightly across India.
What it means for how much you're drinking
A 120ml patiala peg of 42.8% ABV whisky contains roughly 40g of pure alcohol. Since one international standard drink is 10g, that is about four standard drinks — in one glass, usually consumed at the pace of one.
Most health guidelines put low-risk daily consumption at around two standard drinks for men and one for women. A single patiala peg is roughly double the male guideline before you order a second. The measure's whole point, historically, was that the drinker would not notice how much they had taken on — which is worth remembering when someone pours you one.
Key takeaways
- A patiala peg is 120ml — double a regular 60ml peg.
- It contains roughly 40g of pure alcohol, about four standard drinks, at typical whisky strength.
- The name comes from Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala and a polo match his guests reportedly lost the morning after.
- The two-finger pour against the side of the glass is the traditional way to measure one.
- A 750ml bottle holds about six patiala pegs.
FAQs
How many ml is a patiala peg?
A patiala peg is 120ml — exactly double a regular 60ml peg, and one-third more than a 90ml large peg. It is the biggest of the standard Indian pours.
What is a patiala peg?
A patiala peg is an oversized measure of spirits — 120ml — served in a single glass. The traditional way to gauge one without a jigger is to pour whisky up to the height of your index and middle fingers held horizontally against the side of the glass.
What is the origin of the patiala peg?
The name traces to Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala in the early 1900s. As the story goes, ahead of a polo match against a visiting British team, he had his hosts served extravagantly large whisky pours the night before to blunt their game the next day. The oversized measure kept his name. It is folklore rather than documented history, but it has stuck for a century.
How much alcohol is in a patiala peg?
A 120ml patiala peg of 42.8% ABV whisky contains roughly 40g of pure alcohol — about four international standard drinks. That is a full evening's low-risk allowance in one glass, which is worth knowing before you order a second.
Is a patiala peg bigger than a large peg?
Yes. A large peg is 90ml; a patiala peg is 120ml. A patiala is a third larger than a large, and double a regular 60ml peg.