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In the post-colonial times, the Punjab region between India and Pakistan had a very strong drinking culture which was characterized by gin in the summer months and whisky to help keep warm in the winter months. A tradition pulled from that, which still exists today is the Patiala peg. It's often neat and most definitely whisky.
Kept parallel against the glass, the distance between the index and little finger is the volume of any Patiala peg. If you had more distance, you’d enjoy greater volume and if the distance is less then you’d receive less, but a typical peg is assumed to be 120mL. This peg would measure out to four “small” or “two” large shots (which are 30mL).
It’s believed that it was Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala from the southeast of Punjab, who ruled the princely state between 1900 and 1938 that had coined the term “Patiala Peg”.
The story of its true origins, however, is shrouded with mystery and legends. But it is safe to say that if the Patiala peg did really come from Maharaja Bhupinder, it's because of its eccentric and bold tastes.
So, it goes something like this; the Maharaja’s team had invited the Viceroy Pride for a game and while the Sikhs were large and in charge, the Irishmen too didn’t look all that lightweight. So, in an attempt, to win against the foreigners, the Maharaja made sure to serve them enormous drinks the night before the game of ‘tent-pegging’ (a game that involves players collecting objects with a spear while being on horseback).
The Maharaja was successful in his mission, the Irishmen woke up groggy and hungover and lost the game.
There is also an alternate theory that the game was cricket instead of tent-pegging and then there are rumours that the drink emerged from Patiala and might have nothing to do with the Maharaja.
Think about this, the next time you enjoy a glass of Patiala peg.
