With most bars and restaurants around the country closed or at limited capacity, you’d be wise to upgrade your at-home cocktail game. Investing in your home bar via a spirits delivery services or club is one way to take your home mixology from good to great. Another easy way to improve your drinking experience: Make sure you’re using the best cocktail glass for your beverage of choice, the same way your favorite local bar does. While technically any glass will help get your drink into your mouth, there are specific shapes designed or typically used for specific drinks, intended to take your drinking experience to the next-level.
“The main reason it really matters is tradition,” says Jim Meehan, bartender, journalist and author of The PDT Cocktail Book and Meehan’s Bartender Manual. People have certain expectations of how cocktails should look in a glass, and serving yours in the appropriate, traditional vessel can kick your at-home bartending game up a notch, he says.
What using the right cocktail glass doesn’t do is make your drinks taste better, Meehan says. (Although it might in your mind.) The right glasses can help aid in the appreciation of certain wines, but it doesn’t work the same way for cocktails. “Cocktails are usually served cold, which blunts their aroma,” Meehan explains, and “most cocktails are served up to the rim of the glass, which can be traced back to value being associated with volume.”
But having a traditional glass paired with the right cocktail gives off a certain look and feel you’d get in a bar. “The glassware serves as the liquid’s ‘packaging’ and consumer expectations of value are associated with that,” Meehan says. “The same could be said for the glasses you choose to serve guests in your home, despite value not being commodified in the same way.”
When it comes to choosing the glassware for your cocktails, Meehan says you should ultimately pour out your drinks into “whatever vessel you prefer, coffee cup martinis included.” But, if you want to bring the bar experience home, these are the best cocktail glass styles for specific drinks — whether you stick to tradition, though, is up to you.
Best Cocktail Glasses For Martinis
Riedel Extreme Martini Glass
Martini glasses traditionally have a long stem to help keep your drink as cold as possible, but their straight edges and relatively small capacity usually mean that they’re tough to drink from without spilling. These curved glasses can hold up to 8-ounces, so you can sip a standard 3-4 ounce martini comfortably without it being a balancing act. And unlike some other martini glass styles, these are dishwasher safe, so there’s no need for hand-washing.
Best Cocktail Glass For Fizzes
Riedel Highball Glasses
Traditional highballs and fizzes are served with no ice, which is why these glasses tend to be a little shorter than Collins glasses, Meehan says. This attractive set of two highball glasses from Riedel was designed with craft spirits specialist Zane Harris. Each glass has vertical paneling for an easy grip, while a weighted, pebbled base helps ensure that your drink won’t knock over easily.
Best Cocktail Glass For Wine Spritzers
Williams Sonoma Angle White Wine Glasses
Choosing a wine glass for spritzers doesn’t need to take a lot of thought — “use the same wine glass you usually use for wine for the wine spritzer,” Meehan says — but you’ll want to make sure there’s enough room in there for ample wine and club soda. These glasses from Williams Sonoma fit the bill. They’re made of lead-free crystal and have a wide, angled bottom to easily fit your wine, fizz and whatever else you like to throw in the mix.
Best Cocktail Glass For Moscow Mules
Coppermill Kitchen Vintage-Inspired Copper Moscow Mule Mugs
Moscow Mules are classically served in copper mugs to help keep your cocktail as cold and refreshing as possible. The mugs are instantly recognizable, and some Moscow Mule aficionados swear the style helps the cocktails taste better. This vintage-inspired set from Coppermill Kitchen has hand-hammered details, and they double as pretty kitchen decor when you leave them perched on an open shelf.
Best Cocktail Glass For Spirits on the Rocks
Schott Zwiesel Distil Whiskey Glasses
An old fashioned or double old fashioned (DOF) glass is usually your best bet when it comes to sipping whiskey, vodka or any other spirits on the rocks, Meehan says. This Schott Zweisel collection is crafted from crystal and bolstered with titanium for resistance to breakage, chipping and scratching. And while they’re perfect for your favorite spirit over ice, their 13.5 ounce capacity makes them great for cocktails, juice or sparkling water too. They’re also dishwasher safe, making them perfect for everyday use.
Best Cocktail Glass For Coffee Cocktails
La Rochère Louison Coffee Mugs
Sure, you could sip a coffee cocktail out of your usual ceramic mug, but the glass version feels a little more special than what you use for your morning cup. These mugs from La Rochère Louison are perfect for just about any coffee cocktail you can dream up, whether it’s hot or cold. They’re made in France, footed for stability and style and have a delicate handle to keep your fingers comfortable while you drink.
Best Cocktail Glass For Margaritas
Sobremesa Hand-Blown Recycled Margarita Glasses
A classic margarita glass is instantly recognizable thanks to its wide top and tapered bottom. This set from Sobremesa stands out for its squat shape and colored rim, which comes in blue or green. Each piece is made in Guatemala, hand-blown out of recycled glass for a sturdy feel. And despite being hand-made, they’re also dishwasher safe.
Best Cocktail Glass For Champagne Cocktails
Metallic Rimmed Champagne Coupes
Coupe glasses, which have a wide, shallow saucer, allow just enough space for your favorite Champagne cocktail — or just Champagne — while offering a little more interest than your standard flute. This simple set adds a little sparkle with a metallic rim and they come in gold or silver to match rest of your barware.
Best Cocktail Glass For Aperol Spritzes
Tumblers
While you might often find an Aperol spritz in a standard wine glass, they’re actually traditionally served in a tumbler, Meehan says. These Gigogne tumblers are simple, easy to grip and designed to stack for effortless space-saving storage. A delicate rim around the body helps minimize slippage while you sip, and a tapered body lends a sleek yet approachable feel. Duralex’s glasses don’t just look good, they also go through a tempering process to make them chip- and impact-resistant, so you can expect to use these for years to come.
Best Cocktail Glass For Tropical Drinks
Libbey Hurricane Glasses
Hurricane glasses are typically the vessel of choice for tropical drinks, Meehan says, and this set is a fun twist on the usual look. A pineapple-inspired shape pulls double-duty as funky decor, while the texture makes them extra grippable. The 17-ounce glasses are also durable and dishwasher safe, making clean-up as easy-breezy as your drink.
