Cocktail glasses

Cocktail glasses

The right glass changes the aroma, structure, and enjoyment of a cocktail

What it is

Every glass has a shape designed for a specific use. The rocks (or old fashioned) glass is short and wide, for cocktails served over ice. The highball is tall and narrow, for long drinks with plenty of soda. The coupe is flared, for champagne and cocktails served without ice. The martini glass is conical, to keep things cold without warming from contact with the hand.

When to use it

• Rocks: whiskey sour, negroni, old fashioned, any cocktail with ice cubes.
• Highball: mojito, gin and tonic, Cuba libre, anything sparkling or lengthened.
• Coupe: daiquiri, sidecar, shaken cocktails without ice.
• Martini: martini, cosmopolitan, manhattan, anything served well-chilled and crisp.
• Tiki: piña colada, mai tai, generous exotic cocktails.

How to choose

Choose thick glass with a heavy base for rocks glasses; it handles ice cubes without tipping over. Look for a generous capacity: a glass that is too small forces you to reduce portions. For coupes and martini glasses, look for a stem long enough to keep your hand away from the bowl. Avoid very thin glass when starting out; it breaks easily and is expensive to replace.

Care

Hand wash in hot water without scented soap, which leaves a film and ruins cocktail foam. Dry with a clean dish towel, never air-dry, as it leaves hard water spots. Store stemmed glasses upside down to keep dust out of the bowl. Throw away any chipped glass; glass cuts, and a chip on the rim is hard to hide.

The common mistake

Serving a negroni in a martini glass or a mojito in a coupe: the shape is not just aesthetic; it guides dilution, foam retention, and even the nose of the cocktail. A glass that is too small with too much ice yields a diluted cocktail before the first sip. Choose the glass before mixing the drink, not after.