A dram of whisky can be one of life’s wee pleasures, but have you ever thought - how many units of alcohol are in the glass?

A single measure of Scotch (25ml) contains 1 unit of alcohol. It's recommended that you do not regularly exceed 14 units of alcohol a week. 

Learn more about how many units are in a dram of Scotch Whisky compared to other drinks

Scotch Whisky: made to be measured. Savour your Scotch.

Ways to plan your units and drink responsibly

If you choose to enjoy an alcoholic drink as part of a night out, a night in or as a celebration, remember to do the following:

Stay hydrated – be sure to regularly alternate alcoholic drinks with water

Have something to eat throughout the day or evening

Look after friends and colleagues

Never drink and drive

Want to learn more about monitoring your drinking? Visit the Drinkaware website to explore useful tools and tips.

Can single malt Scotch Whisky be used in cocktails?

Yes, absolutely! While blended Scotch whisky has more commonly been used in cocktail mixing, single malt Scotch is a fantastic addition to a cocktail. A cocktail mixologist will use a range of mixers and ingredients, along with their skills in creating great taste combinations, to mix a longer drink that ensures Scotch Whisky’s craft and flavour profiles are allowed to shine through.

Remember, cocktails should always be sipped and savoured, and you should pay attention to how many units of alcohol are included, as it can often be more than one.

Explore some Scotch Whisky cocktail recipes below that include 2 units of alcohol or under...

Whisky Sour

Ingredients

• 50ml 40% ABV Scotch Whisky (2 units)
• 30ml lemon juice
• 15ml pure cane syrup
• 15ml egg white

How to make: Shake all the ingredients with ice. Strain back into the cocktail shaker and shake again, without ice. Strain into ice filled glass, garnish with dried orange slice.

Old Fashioned

Ingredients

• 50ml 40% ABV Scotch Whisky (2 units) 
• 1 tsp white sugar
• 4 dashes of bitters
• ice, orange peel and rosemary to garnish

How to make: Place the sugar into a whisky tumbler. Add the bitters and a third of the Scotch before filling the glass with ice. Slowly stir, gradually adding the remaining Scotch until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is chilled. Garnish with a twist of fresh orange zest and a sprig of rosemary.

For more information about how to manage your alcohol consumption, visit

Explore the Made to be Measured campaign...

FM @humzayousaf met with SWA Council today to discuss shared priorities including investment, exports & tourism, along with a pledge to build on the success of the industry’s #MadeToBeMeasured campaign with direct support from @scotgov

Read the release 👉https://t.co/tIyBsRkSjV pic.twitter.com/4IJLbObvJT

— Scotch Whisky Association (@ScotchWhiskySWA) September 8, 2023

What a night! #MadeToBeMeasured sponsors @HolyroodSources - and we were delighted to hear FM @HumzaYousaf support the campaign during the pod's first live audience show

🎧 Listen to #HolyroodSourcesLive: https://t.co/djcMH7lIc6

🥃Savour your Scotch: https://t.co/oFNW1bE4sa pic.twitter.com/6hQSxct4MF

— Scotch Whisky Association (@ScotchWhiskySWA) August 16, 2023

"The craft and heritage that goes into every drop of whisky means that it deserves to be appreciated."

From Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 to the world 🌍, @ChivasNewsRoom Master Blender Sandy Hyslop writes in @TheScotsman about how #ScotchWhisky is #MadeToBeMeasuredhttps://t.co/3P0hUvSya7

— Scotch Whisky Association (@ScotchWhiskySWA) August 31, 2023

Scotch Whisky is #MadeToBeMeasured – the craft and skill that goes into your dram of Scotch means it should be sipped and savoured.

25ml of 40% ABV #ScotchWhisky is 1 unit of alcohol.

Learn more 👉 https://t.co/6tfeYIL1KM pic.twitter.com/xio4iW2N4t

— Scotch Whisky Association (@ScotchWhiskySWA) July 31, 2023

A pleasure to meet FM @HumzaYousaf earlier today 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🥃

Great that @scotgov supports our #MadeToBeMeasured campaign to educate consumers on responsible alcohol consumption

We look forward to working with the First Minister on that shared priority, as well as growth and Net-Zero https://t.co/LGBGlgrMs9

— Scotch Whisky Association (@ScotchWhiskySWA) August 3, 2023