Types of Cocktail Glasses & Other Bar Glassware Your Home Bar Needs
The ultimate guide to your home bar.
From cocktails to beer to wine, there’s a glass for every drink. When choosing the perfect type of cocktail glass or other type of bar glass for your home, it’s important to consider what drinks you make regularly. Having the perfect bar glassware creates a fun drinking experience for you and your guests.
Types of Cocktail Glasses
You’ll find that most cocktail glasses are glass, but metals (such as tin and copper) are also commonly used for cocktails because they help insulate the chilled drink.
Cocktail Glasses
Spirit & Liqueur Glasses
Beer Glasses
Wine Glasses
Everyday Glasses
Cocktail Glasses
Highball Glass: A highball glass is tall and on the skinnier side, holding between 8 and 12 oz. While commonly confused with the collins glass, highball glasses are wider and shorter. Drinks are usually created right in the highball glass, with the ingredients poured over the ice and stirred. Popular cocktails that are served in highball glasses are rum and Cokes, gin and tonics, and dark and stormies.
Martini Glass: A martini glass is a classic, recognizable cocktail glass. It has a V-shaped bowl with a broad rim, making it easy for you to smell the aroma of your cocktail. The long stem makes it easy to hold, but the shape of the glass makes it hard to drink fast, requiring you to take sips instead. Popular cocktails served in martini glasses are martinis, cosmopolitans, and sidecars.
Coupe Glass: At more modern bars, you’ll find that most martini glasses are replaced with coupe glasses. Not only are they stylish, but they help prevent spills. Coupe glasses are similar to the classic martini glass but rounder. They hold about 6 oz. of liquid and are best for drinks that are shaken or stirred and served without ice. They were once commonly called the champagne saucer but are no longer the go-to glass for champagne. You’ll find many craft cocktails (like a sidecar, aviation, and martinez) served in this glass.
Moscow Mule Mug:The iconic Moscow Mule mugs, also known as copper mugs, are great for keeping your cocktail cold. The copper helps insulate the mug to keep your drink colder for longer. Popular drinks that are served in a copper mug are the famous Moscow Mule, mint julep, and greyhound. Some say that the copper mug helps boost the taste of the drink, but we’ll leave that decision up to you!
Margarita Glass: A specialty cocktail glass, you’ll find that the bowl of the margarita glass has two different levels. The part of the bowl near the stem is smaller, while the top of the bowl is much broader. The wider rim is perfect for adding salt or sugar and allows you to enjoy the smell of your cocktail with each sip. A margarita glass works best for frozen drinks like a frozen margarita or a daiquiri. They come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 6 to 20 oz. It has also become normal to serve margaritas on the rocks in other glasses like pint glasses or lowball glasses.
Tip!
If you are looking for a fun way to serve shrimp cocktail, chips and dip, or other finger foods at a party, try a margarita glass!
Hurricane Glass: The hurricane glass is on the larger side (around 20 oz.), and adds a bit of flair to any cocktail. The hurricane cocktail was first developed in the 1940s by New Orleans tavern owner Pat O’Brien after he first poured the cocktail into a glass shaped like a hurricane lamp. The glass and the name stuck. It’s been a classic drink in the French Quarter ever since.
The hurricane glass has a tulip-like shape with a flared rim and a very short stem. The larger glass provides room for fun garnishes. Popular drinks served in this glass are piña coladas, Singapore slings, and of course, hurricanes.
Mint Julep Glass: This glass is commonly called the julep glass and is typically made out of silver, copper, or pewter – making it a popular choice for keeping drinks cold. Julep glasses became popular at the Kentucky Derby and have become fun collectibles. Most drinks that are served in julep glasses come with crushed or shaved ice.
Gin Balloon Glass: The gin balloon glass is also known as a cognac glass. It is a type of snifter glass that has a short stem, large round bowl, and tapered top – trapping the aromas and flavors inside the glass for exceptional tasting. Gin balloon glasses are commonly used for drinking cognac, gin, whiskey, and brandy.
Whiskey Glass:The whiskey glass is commonly known as the lowball glass, a shorter version of the highball. It is a short tumbler that commonly holds around 6 to 8 oz. Lowball glasses are used for serving a neat pour of liquid, often whiskey (hence the name). Lowball glasses are perfect for muddling ingredients like mint.
Snifter Glass: Snifter glasses have larger bowls and short stems, allowing you to cradle the glass in your hand. Unlike other cocktail glasses, snifter glasses use the warmth of your hand to heat up the glass, which releases the aromas and enhances the flavor. The glasses hold between 6 to 8 oz., but most pours are around 2 oz. The large, round bowl lets you really enjoy your drink, taking in the aromas and swirling it in the glass.
Cordial Glass: Cordial glasses have small bowls and are made with thin, delicate glass. They generally hold around 2 oz. and are meant for sipping cordials or liqueurs.
Pint Glass: Pint glasses are the most common glasses used when serving beer. They have wide brims that keep the beer head (the collar or foam that holds the beer's aromas) contained.
Beer Mug:Beer mugs are glass mugs that are best when frosted. Pop them in the freezer before pouring so you can keep your beer cold. They typically hold between 10 and 14 oz.
Pilsner glass: Pilsner glasses typically hold between 10 and 14 oz. It has a fluted shape, which is best used for lighter beers. The wider rim still allows room for the beer head.
Red Wine Glass: Red wine glasses tend to have larger bowls than white wine glasses, meaning that they are taller and wider. Red wines have bolder flavors, and the larger bowl allows the ethanol to evaporate before it hits your nose – making the wine taste smoother.
White Wine Glass: These are similar to red wine glasses but are a bit smaller and narrower. The smaller bowl preserves the aromas and helps to maintain the cooler temperature needed for white wine.
Stemless Wine Glass: These are becoming more and more popular. They are great for both red and white wines, allowing for enough space to swirl, smell, and enjoy. You don’t have to use them for just wine; they are also great for mixed drinks or highballs.
All-Purpose Wine Glass: If you aren’t picky about your wine glass, then opt for an all-purpose option. All-purpose wine glasses are barware items that are meant for all kinds of wine – they can include a stem or be stemless. The shape of these glasses is a mixture between red and white wine glass designs to let the notes and aromas of both types settle before drinking.
Champagne Glass: Think tall, straight, and slender. Champagne glasses (also called flutes) are not designed to be filled to the brim. The shape allows you to smell the aromas and gives room for the constant bubbles. Champagne flutes typically hold between 7 and 11 oz. The flute shape provides the perfect rim for adding a garnish to the top.
Double-Wall Glass: Meant for keeping your cocktail cool, these glasses feature a double wall for insulation purposes.
Drinking Glass: Drinking glasses are simple barware glasses that can be used for a variety of drinks. From water to juice, soda, or a cocktail, these glasses offer a range of capacities fit to quench your thirst.
Goblet Glass: Another multipurpose glass is the goblet. Goblet glasses can resemble a wine glass, but they contain a thicker steam and slightly rounder bulb. They can be used for cocktails or non-alcoholic drinks.
Mason Jar: Mason jars offer a fun and convenient way to drink thanks to their built-in handle and embellished sides, though there are some mason jars with no handles. As this glass is another everyday barware option, you can enjoy any drink – alcoholic or non – from this type of cocktail glass.
Tip!
Be sure to hand-wash your cocktail glasses and rinse thoroughly. Dry right away to avoid water spots. When storing, flip your glasses upside down to help prevent dust and debris from collecting.
Now that you know about the different types of cocktail glasses, it’s time to stock your home barware!
