In Poland they are called "monkeys", and in the West "miniatures" ... small bottles of alcohol are a peculiar phenomenon, the popularity of which not only does not decrease, but is constantly growing.

What is it that attracts people to these small portions of various drinks?

Where did it even come from?

Alcohol miniatures are not a new invention at all, although over the years they have changed in form and ... size.

In the West, the first known "miniature" comes from 1862. It was a tiny glass bottle with a capacity of about 2 ounces (about 60 ml) containing whiskey. What was it created for? It was probably supposed to be used for "testing" and tasting the drink.

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, "miniatures" were also known in Poland, and their capacity was about 80 ml (they most likely contained vodka). It was at that time, in Warsaw, that the common name of these small portions of alcohol, which is still present in Poland, was created: "monkey". It stemmed from the effects of consumption: a person after such a small portion of alcohol was not heavily drunk, but already felt the influence of the fluid consumed, he became relaxed, cheerful, that is, as it was called then, he got "monkey mind".

Until recently, in Poland, the smallest portions of alcohol available in shops were the so-called "Quarters" with a capacity of 250 ml. However, their distribution was hindered by the regulations of the European Union, and therefore they were replaced with 100 ml and 200 ml bottles. In the West, "miniatures" come in different sizes, although 50 ml is the most common.

Small capacity, many advantages

Statistics show that every day in Poland about 3,000 "monkeys" are sold daily. Annually, it is to be reached by about one million people, and the total sales amount is 3 billion pieces. It is true that this is quite an impressive number, especially since it is done without promotion or other marketing activities?

Nevertheless, not only in Poland the "monkeys" break sales records: also in Western Europe and the USA, a growing consumer demand for this type of products can be noticed. British alcohol producer Quintessential Brands increased the production of 50 ml bottles of gin and whiskey to 200,000 per week in 2019. As the brand representatives admitted, demand is not only influenced by the internal market - a large number of "miniatures" are also intended for export. There is a slightly lower demand for "monkeys" in the USA (reaching several million units a year), although it is characterized by a constant upward trend.

Moreover, research shows that small bottles of alcohol are an egalitarian product: almost everyone buys them. Among consumers, we can find representatives of every age, social and professional group. The only difference is the intentions of using the purchased drink.

Where does the phenomenon of small bottles of alcohol come from?

First of all, they are small, light, and therefore handy. They are easy to put in your pocket, bag, backpack and take with you ... in fact, wherever you want to raise a symbolic toast. Their low price also encourages buying.

"Monkeys" make it possible to introduce a person to "light, cheerful humor" for little money, without having to spend more money on a large bottle, which might not be used in full at once.

Small portions of alcohol are also bought for the purpose for which they were originally created: for tasting. People buy small, cheaper portions of a previously unknown drink just to get to know its taste: it allows you to try different products for the same money you would buy one large bottle for. And in the event that the drink does not appeal to the consumer, no one will be particularly sorry for a few pennies spent "on tasting".

"Miniatures" of various spirits are also an indispensable element of the landscape of today's airports. It is in duty-free shops or on the airplanes themselves that large amounts of these small portions of alcohol are sold: in the USA, "miniatures" have even been nicknamed "airplane" because they were most often associated with this sphere. Why have these little bottles become so popular there too? Again, they take up little space, allow you to make your trip pleasant without the risk of overdoing it with the amount of drink, they are cheaper and allow you to taste. Moreover, they can be transported by people traveling with hand luggage only, which gives them the opportunity to take a symbolic "gift" for friends or relatives from another country.

A few more interesting facts ...

Alcohol miniatures have been a treat for many people for years. They are also one of the collector's items - the greatest enthusiasts can boast of really impressive collections (one of the leading collectors from Spain has about 42 thousand "miniatures" and no copy is repeated twice!).

There are also more and more museums in the world, in which the exhibitions are just miniature drinks. Such an attraction is available, among others in Norway (the "Mini Bottle Gallery" in Oslo has probably the largest collection of miniature bottles in the world) and in Belgium.

"Monkeys" are the subject of a stormy discussion among governing bodies in various countries of the world, and this is for fear of contributing to excessive alcohol consumption. In Europe, however, their position seems to be unwavering for the time being. Nevertheless, miniatures with liquors are not legal everywhere - in some USA (eg Utah) there is a ban on selling alcohol in portions of less than 100 ml, while in Louisiana the miniatures were legalized only in 2014!

Do you want to place an order for alcohol? Contact us and we will prepare you the best offer of iconic brands on the market.