Preparation
Whether you’re always mixing new drinks or enjoy a whiskey on the rocks, having the right cocktail glasses on hand can help to elevate your drinking experience and make you feel like you’re enjoying a nice cocktail at a fancy bar even if you’re sitting on the couch in your sweatpants. As for what types of cocktail glasses to stock your home bar with, that’s up to you. Max Stampa-Brown, partner at Den Hospitality and beverage director at The Garret Bars in New York City, recommends thinking about what you’ll be serving most frequently. “Glassware can be pricey, so choosing carefully based on the vessels that will best amplify what you’re serving is a smart approach to take,” he says. “If you plan to make a lot of margaritas, then maybe invest in a great set of margarita glasses and forgo the martini glasses (or find a more affordable set). The concept of essential glassware is subjective; your essentials might be different than your neighbor’s, and that’s okay!”
In addition to the types of drinks you’ll be enjoying, investing in glassware that reflects your personality is also important. “Whether it’s a set of petite coupe glasses, tiny vintage martini glasses sourced from an estate sale, or modern, cutting-edge styles, think of glassware as a way to express yourself,” Stampa-Brown says. “There are no wrong choices, and the best glassware is whatever set that you feel proud of showing off to your friends.”
While some glassware is named for the cocktails typically served in those drinking vessels, that doesn’t mean that you can only serve that cocktail in that particular glass—or that you even need that specific glass to enjoy that cocktail, though the shape and capacity of different cocktail glasses are optimized for specific types of drinks. “Although tradition has always been the underlying factor with glassware or cocktail choice, in the privacy of your own home, you can put whatever you want in whichever glass you choose, but keep in mind the volume of the cocktail and the capacity of the glass,” Ian Bishop, portfolio manager at Flavors of Italy in Honolulu, Hawaii, says. He adds that a tall, narrow collins or highball glass, for example, is designed to keep carbonated cocktails from losing their fizz.
Best Coupe Glass: Hand-Blown Colored Cocktail Coupe GlassesBest Martini Glass: Riedel Extreme Martini GlassBest Old Fashioned Glass: Schott Zwiesel Kirkwall Double Old Fashioned Rocks GlassBest Highball Glass: Dorset Crystal Highball GlassesMost Showstopping Glass: Absolut Elyx Copper Pineapple
