How to Use a Speed Pourer
By
Colleen Graham
Updated on 05/25/21
The Spruce / S&C Design Studios
A speed pourer is a stainless steel or plastic spout that is inserted into the most often used liquor bottles in a bar. It offers precise control when pouring alcohol into a glass or cocktail shaker.
These pour spouts come in a variety of styles and are essential tools for professional bartenders. They're also a nice addition to home bars, particularly when serving cocktails at parties. There are some tips and tricks that you can use to get the most out of your bar's speed pourers while ensuring your liquor stays fresh.
What Is a Speed Pourer?
Also called a liquor pourer or pour spout, a speed pourer is designed to fit into the neck of standard 750-milliliter liquor bottles (many do not fit liters). It's secured by a series of plastic or rubber fins (often called the cork) that grab onto the interior glass. Inside the bottle is a short tube that directs liquid through the pourer to the exterior spout. Many include an air hole that regulates the flow, ensuring a smooth pour. Some have a collar that encases the top of the bottle to prevent drips.
The first speed pourer patent was filed in 1963 by John J. Daly. According to the patent (US3190511A), his goal was "to provide a liquid pourer particularly adapted for liquor bottles so that a desired amount of liquor is dispensed in a uniform stream upon tilting of the bottle containing the pourer." Before this, bartenders removed a bottle's cap every time they needed to pour a shot of alcohol. This may not have been a big issue in early bars, but as bars became more crowded and bartenders needed to make drinks more quickly, the speed pourer became an invaluable tool.
Using a speed pourer makes it quick and easy to pour a shot of liquor into any glass. By streamlining the flow of liquid coming out of the bottle, it helps prevent spills and splashes while giving greater control over the amount of alcohol that is poured. Some are even designed to pour a precise shot every time.
Today, most bars add speed pourers to frequently used liquor bottles. This includes the alcohol in the bar's well, and the least expensive and most popular brands of liquor and liqueurs. Generally, bars do not use speed pourers on top-shelf liquors, opting instead to leave the original cap in place to maintain freshness and prevent evaporation.
Styles of Speed Pourers
The Spruce / S&C Design Studios
Speed pourers are made of either stainless steel or plastic or a combination of the two materials. There have been many innovations in the original design, with each addition developed out of the need to solve a particular problem that bartenders encountered.
Speed pourers are extremely convenient, but it's not good to store a bottle for a long time with the speed pourer alone. Even bartenders debate about whether or not to remove pourers at the end of the night. The reason is that nearly every type of pourer will let some air into the bottle and reduce the liquor's shelf life. Oxidation may occur, and liquor will evaporate slowly over time. If exposed to excess heat and light, there may also be some loss in flavor. Caps are available that will cover some pourers, and a few pourers have the ability to twist close. Otherwise, it's best to remove the pourer and close the bottle with the original cap.