Mini liquor bottles are 50ml, which is 1.7 ounces, or slightly more than a standard shot. They go by a lot of names, nips, airplane bottles, shooters, but they all mean the same thing. Most of what we sell here comes in multi-packs rather than singles, which is how minis make sense for most of the reasons people buy them: filling stockings, trying a spirit before committing to a full bottle, or putting one at every place setting. Prices run from under $10 for a gift set to around $70 for a ten-pack of aged tequila. We ship to most states, with an adult 21 or older required to sign at delivery.
Stocking Stuffers
Minis are the easiest stocking stuffer there is for an adult who drinks, because they're small, they're cheap per stocking, and nobody has to like the whole bottle. The trick is to buy a multi-pack and split it. A ten-pack of Rebel 100 or Ezra Brooks covers ten stockings for under $17. The Jack Daniel's Family of Fine Spirits gift set is already boxed and under $10.
For something sweeter, the Ole Smoky moonshine six-packs come in flavors like Banana Pudding and Butter Pecan, and the Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream twelve-pack is the crowd-pleaser of the group. If you're buying for a mixed crowd, a few different packs split across stockings beats one big pack of something only half of them drink. For bigger gift ideas, our whiskey and bourbon holiday gift guide picks up where stockings leave off.
Samplers
The smartest use of a mini is trying something before you buy the full bottle. That matters most at the expensive end, where a 50ml costs a few dollars and the 750ml costs a lot more. Hennessy XO in 50ml tells you whether XO is worth $200 to you. The Blanton's 50ml three-pack does the same for single barrel bourbon, and since each mini can come from a different barrel, it shows you how much they actually vary.
Minis also make the best tasting flights. Buy the Don Julio Blanco, Reposado and Añejo ten-packs and you can pour all three side by side. It's the clearest way to taste what time in oak does to the same agave, and enough for a whole group to do it.
One honest caveat: minis cost more per ounce than full bottles. You're paying for the format. If you already know you like something, the 750ml is better value.
Party Favors
For weddings, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and holiday tables, a mini at each place setting is a favor people actually use. Bourbon is the easiest crowd pick, and Rebel and Ezra Brooks both work out to under $2 a bottle. The Crown Royal Blackberry six-pack is a sweeter option, and the Gran Malo multi-pack gives you spicy tamarind shots for a livelier crowd. Two practical notes: check that your venue allows outside alcohol before you plan around it, and keep favors to guests who are 21 or older.
If you want tequila specifically, mini tequila narrows it down, and gift sets cover full-size bottles that come ready to give.
Mini Bottle Sizes
When people say mini, they almost always mean 50ml, and that's what this collection is built around. It takes fifteen of them to equal a standard 750ml bottle. The next sizes up are 100ml, which is rare, 200ml, sometimes called a half pint, and the 375ml half bottle, which is the better choice when you want more than a taste but less than a full bottle. Some brands also sell their minis as sleeves or boxed sets of ten or twelve, which usually brings the price per bottle down considerably compared with buying singles.
Mini Liquor Bottles FAQ
How many ounces are in a mini liquor bottle?
A standard mini is 50ml, which is about 1.7 ounces. That's slightly more than a standard US shot of 1.5 ounces.
What are mini liquor bottles called?
Nips, airplane bottles, shooters and minis all refer to the same 50ml bottle. The names vary by region, but the size is the same.
Can you take mini liquor bottles on a plane?
You can carry them in your carry-on as long as they fit within the liquids rule, in a single quart-sized bag. Federal rules prohibit drinking alcohol you brought aboard, though.
Do mini liquor bottles expire?
Sealed spirits don't. Cream liqueurs are the exception, with a shelf life of around two years, so the Bourbon Cream minis are best enjoyed rather than stored.
Are mini bottles cheaper than full bottles?
No. Per ounce, minis cost more than a 750ml of the same spirit. They're worth it for sampling, gifting and favors, not for value.
Can mini liquor bottles be shipped to my state?
We ship to most U.S. states, typically within a few business days. Someone 21 or older has to sign at delivery. Availability is confirmed at checkout, since a handful of states restrict direct spirits shipments.