In the world of cocktails, choosing the right cocktail glassware for your cocktail is about as important as the recipe itself! This isn’t just to do with aesthetics. The shape, style, material, weight, and balance of the glass can affect the way you taste and experience the drink. That’s why a proper glass is crucial in taking your cocktail to the next level.
While the options for glassware are seemingly endless, we’ve made up a list of four styles of glasses that we think are critical to set your home bar up for success!
Cocktail Glassware #1: Coupe
These glasses are meant for cocktails designed to be enjoyed straight up. Rumoured to be modeled on the shape of Marie Antoinette’s breast, they are shallower and can seem more refined than the traditional V-shaped martini glass. A coupe should hold anywhere between 5 to 6 ounces, allowing for a perfect fit for your cocktail.
Drinks for the coupe:
- Manhattan
- Classic martini
- Gimlet
- Daquiri
Cocktail Glassware #2: Highball or Collins Glass
Highballs are cocktails that are served over ice with a mixer added to the spirits. Ideally, you want a glass around 11 ounces in size. Any larger and your drink could become over-diluted with ice. The only difference between a highball and Collins glass is that the Collins is taller and narrower when compared to the highball glass. The styles are interchangeable, so find one with a shape you love and you’ll be set!
Drinks for the highball or Collins glass:
- Caesar
- Tom Collins
- Americano
- Singapore Sling
Cocktail Glassware #3: Rocks Glass or Tumbler
Nothing is better than the feeling of a quality rocks glass in your hand, hopefully filled with a substantial spirit or cocktail. This glass is ideal for spirit-forward cocktails and ideally should be large enough to fit a large ice cube or sphere if needed (we like double-rocks glasses ourselves). The rocks glass was built for cocktails, with the thick bottom of the glass made to withstand the muddling of a sugar cube when making an Old Fashioned.
Drinks for the rocks glass:
- Old Fashioned
- Negroni
- Knickerbocker
Cocktail Glassware #4: Copper or Mule Mug
While not exactly glassware in the literal sense, this is the perfect way to keep your drink cold, thanks to the conductivity of the copper. One of the cocktails most commonly associated with this mug is the Moscow Mule. Copper is rumoured to enhance the flavours of ginger and citrus in the Mule while intensifying the carbonation. Most copper mugs these days are lined with other metals such as stainless steel. This makes it more practical to use and helps to maintain the finish of the glass over time.
As an added bonus, these mugs also look amazing on a back bar and are useful in many other cocktails besides the Moscow Mule!
Drinks for the copper mug:
- Moscow Mule
- Dark & Stormy
- Greyhound
While there’s a huge variety of other glass styles and shapes to choose from, these four options are a great start if you’re looking for a baseline for your home bar. Looking for quality products or fun additions such as Tiki mugs? Check out our collection of glassware on our website!