Terminology: Dash, Splash & Float
Mixology has its own language which can be confusing if you’re reading a recipe and it wants you to float a splash of this or add a dash of that. So here’s the skinny on these bartending terms.
Dash: This is the tiniest common recipe measurement. It’s generally considered to be equivalent to 1/32 oz. However most measuring devices don’t measure that small of a quantity. Basically just a few drops is all you need for a dash. Be sure not to confuse dash with its big brother, splash. A splash is over eight times as much!
Splash: A splash is an imprecise measurement left to the discretion of the mixologist (that’s you!). It is quite a bit more than a dash, but generally considered to be less than 1/2 oz. 1/4 oz. is a safe amount to splash.
Float: This is when you hold your breath and lie on your back in the water, this is opposed to a floatie, which is something floating in your drink that is not supposed to be there. All right, really, a float is a final ingredient poured carefully on top of the other ingredients of a drink. Usually the other ingredients will have been shaken or already stirred before you pour your float because floating is the last step before completing your cocktail with garnishment. Depending on the ingredient, and how carefully you want it floated, you can just pour the ingredient in slowly; or you can pour it over the back of a spoon, or down the handle of a barspoon.