What is meant by a stiff drink?

barneysplash

Hi all

Does anyone know the difference between a stiff drink as opposed to a normal one?

I just watched an old TV show where a character asked for "two brandys, and make them stiff ones."

The Hill Billy

A stiff drink would usually be a large measure of spirits.

Immaculata

I think it means strong, as in 'stiff winds.'

mrsdewinter

Did the speaker also twirl his moustache, and refer to 'the little lady'?
Aw, I miss the Seventies too!

Dizzyblonde

It's my understanding that in the context of alcohol, stiff means strong/potent so it would be a drink with either very little or no mixer. Maybe a double.

My father liked a pint and a "stiff one" - a neat whiskey chaser.

syklops

I was at a hotel with my family for my aunts funeral a few months ago and my dad and I were having whiskeys. The bar man enquired as to whether we wanted singles or ...? My dad responded that a standard British measure was 35ml and effectively amounted to a damp glass. Everyone else at the bar found that comment hilarious. The 19 year old barman didn't get it.

Making a stiff drink is similar to what is called in parts in Ireland as a large one, meaning a double. If the person requesting the drink is a regular and always has a double, a large one means a triple. Basically it means larger than the normal measure.

barneysplash

I've heard of a measure of spirits being called "a half one".

That's real regulars talk:

"Give us a Guinness and a half one there John, and turn off that prat Ryan Turbidity will you."

Muahahaha

syklops wrote: »

I was at a hotel with my family for my aunts funeral a few months ago and my dad and I were having whiskeys. The bar man enquired as to whether we wanted singles or ...? My dad responded that a standard British measure was 35ml and effectively amounted to a damp glass. Everyone else at the bar found that comment hilarious. The 19 year old barman didn't get it.

Making a stiff drink is similar to what is called in parts in Ireland as a large one, meaning a double. If the person requesting the drink is a regular and always has a double, a large one means a triple. Basically it means larger than the normal measure.

I thought an Irish measure was 35.5ml and UK is 25ml

the beer revolu

Muahahaha wrote: »

I thought an Irish measure was 35.5ml and UK is 25ml

That's right. But NI is 35.5 as is Scotland, I think.

Mellor

the beer revolu wrote: »

That's right. But NI is 35.5 as is Scotland, I think.

Yeah, legally the UK has both. And its up to the pub to decide which they use.
But as you said its typically 35 in NI and Scotland and 25 in England and Wales.

NipNip

I'd have thought it meant a short with no mixer and no ice? Undiluted so to speak? Never knew it referred to the quantity.

vibe666

Mellor wrote: »

But as you said its typically 35 in NI and Scotland and 25 in England and Wales.

soft southern shandy drinking bast@rds!

OP, did the drink look like this?

syklops

Muahahaha wrote: »

I thought an Irish measure was 35.5ml and UK is 25ml

You may be right. I had it in my mind that an Irish measure was 40ml. 25mls? Damp glass is right.

efb

NipNip wrote: »

I'd have thought it meant a short with no mixer and no ice? Undiluted so to speak? Never knew it referred to the quantity.

Unlike your username

biko

It just mean extra alcohol.