A peg holds countless memories for those who enjoy drinking. From late night parties to after-office hangouts, if there’s one thing that remains constant, it has to be the quintessential ‘peg’. However, have you wondered why we Indians use the peg as the standard measurement for alcoholic drinks? Well, we’ve got the answer – and it’s more interesting than you think! In this article, we’ll take a look at how peg became the ultimate measurement and the answer to: ‘what is a peg in India!’
The story of the ‘peg’ takes us back to the colonial times like most stories of origin about alcoholic drinks. Just like Bombay Sapphire’s origin has its roots in the British colonial times, the origins of the peg also lie in the British colonial times in India.
The origin of the ‘peg’ traces back to the United Kingdom, and while there is no official document or correspondence stamping its authenticity, the story has been passed down through popular culture.
‘Peg’ is apparently the abbreviation of ‘precious evening glass’. The phrase is believed to have originated in the United Kingdom by a group of coal mine workers who used to work long, exhausting hours. After hours of exhausting work, they’d receive a bottle of brandy along with their daily wages. For these workers, it was not just a drink – it was a savior in freezing conditions and harsh living conditions. For them, this evening glass offered warmth, comfort, and a moment of relief. This is how the workers eventually labelled their evening drink as the ‘precious evening glass’, now shortened to ‘peg’.
During British rule in India, this concept quietly made its way to India, where it evolved into measurements for alcoholic drinks. A 30 ml measurement became a small peg and 60 ml turned into a large peg. Over time, these measurements became standardized across the country and bartenders, restaurants, and bars adopted them for their simplicity and reliability.
Since the ‘peg’ originated in the United Kingdom, one may assume that the British continue using this as the measurement for alcoholic drinks. But let us tell you that in the UK, the ‘peg’ system didn’t really pick up. Interestingly, the UK never adopted the ‘peg’ but continued to measure alcohol as ‘shots’.
A single shot meant 25 ml of liquor while the double equated with 50 ml of liquor. While the story of the peg originated in the UK, it is in India that the term found its home – and continues to be used in daily speech.
The ‘peg’ has become a common term in Indian pop culture, finding its way in countless songs, films, and media.
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In India, one can usually find three different sizes of pegs. They are as follows:
A Patiala peg is a uniquely Indian measurement for alcohol. It is commonly measured by the distance between the base of your small finger to the top of your index finger when you wrap your hand around a standard whisky glass.
The Patiala peg can go thrice as much as a small peg, or double the quantity of a large peg. And for those wondering why it’s called so, let us tell you an interesting story.
The name ‘Patiala peg’ comes from the Maharaja of Patiala, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh. The king ruled Patiala from 1900 to 1938. Many stories agree that the term began before a sports match against a visiting Irish polo team called Viceroy’s Pride. The Maharaja hosted the opposing team for a grand feast the night before the game and famously served oversized whisky pours to them. The visiting players woke up with heavy hangovers and ultimately lost the match, and the Maharaja’s clever plan worked in his favor.
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The peg has interesting roots in the United Kingdom where it served as the savior of thousands of exhausted workers. Today, the ‘peg’ has made its way to Indian bars and restaurants, evolving from a ‘precious evening glass’ to a standard measurement for many of your favorite alcoholic drinks. Now that we know the answer to “what is a peg in India?”, it is time to inform and educate others around you about the interesting story of the peg.
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