The Types of Cocktail Glasses Yous Really Need, Co-ordinate to Potable Experts

Photo-Analogy: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

So you're trying to set upwardly a squeamish home bar (long gone are the days of drinking vino out of mugs), simply the procedure is feeling a bit overwhelming. Is there any deviation betwixt a highball and a collins drinking glass? Are those V-shaped martini glasses actually a reasonable thing to own? What size coupe do you demand? The adept news is that ownership cocktail glasses doesn't accept to be all that complicated — or expensive. According to Matt Piacentini, possessor of the Up & Upward, a cocktail bar in the West Village, his squad uses just 5 different types of cocktail glasses to make about of the drinks on its carte. Joaquín Simó, partner at Pouring Ribbons and Tales of the Cocktail's American Bartender of the Yr in 2012, makes it fifty-fifty simpler. "You lot can make 90 per centum of drinks in a rocks, a collins, and a proficient all-purpose cocktail glass."

Regardless of what y'all make in them, the right cocktail glasses for you are a matter of taste. The showtime rule of thumb, says David Fudge, co-founder of nonalcoholic-spirit brand Aplós, is picking something you lot would actually enjoy drinking out of, considering "it's all about elevating the whole experience. For me, when you're drinking out of an antique crystal glass, there's something about the beverage that'south more than special, and it does gustation better."

To assist you lot notice your own perfect matches, we took a deep dive into cocktail glassware, speaking with more a dozen professional bartenders and boozehounds about their get-to pieces of cocktail glassware.

The most-recommended cocktail glass was the coupe glass, especially for someone who likes to become creative with the drinks they brand at domicile. In virtually mod cocktail confined, the coupe has dethroned the V-shaped martini glass as the get-to. It holds about six ounces, which means you're drinking what Piacentini calls a "civilized" amount of booze. (Though if you want your glassware to be more forgiving of spills, become for a coupe that'south seven or eight ounces so the drink won't come right up to the top edge.) Kimberly Hunter, CEO and founder of Potent Pours, appreciates the wider rim because that "means lots of garnish. It'south versatile, too — I can sip Champagne without fear of losing my bubbles."

Coupe spectacles are good for cocktails served "upward," meaning they've been shaken or stirred with ice and so served chilled, without ice — like a martini — or even "frozé," every bit Supergay Spirits co-founder Aaron Thorp suggests. The stem means y'all don't oestrus upward the cocktail with your hand equally you sip it. And though y'all can spend hundreds of dollars on a prepare of coupe glasses, this probably isn't where yous want to be spending the majority of your glassware upkeep. "A superexpensive coupe drinking glass is but going to be actually thin and delicate," says Piacentini, significant it'south more likely to break.

Libbey Embassy 5.5 oz Champagne Glass

While these are called champagne glasses (and you can certainly apply them for that), Landes thinks they're the ultimate vessel for learning how to brand proper cocktails served up at dwelling house. "If you're trying to strop in on your skills, size is important," he says. "It's an indicator that you've portioned out the right amount of everything." Correct now, they but seem to exist available in big sets — but if you go in with friends, information technology'southward a bully investment.

Libbey Capone Speakeasy Coupe Cocktail Glasses

Hunter recommends these speakeasy-mode, budget-friendly coupe glasses that she says her "clients adore." They're 8 ounces, then they'll be peachy for those wary of spills or who desire more room for garnish.

Cocktail Kingdom Leopold Coupe Glass, 6 Ounces — 6-Pack

Thorp prefers a classic set to the fancy or trendy options out there. This one gets the job done, and because information technology comes in a six-pack for only $40, you're not breaking the bank.

CB2 Float Coupe Cocktail Glass

Evie Negri-Albert, all-time known on TikTok and Instagram as Drinks by Evie, prefers something a little more than upscale to the traditional coupe glass. These have a delicate but slightly dramatic shape, so if yous're looking for something Instagram friendly (or to impress guests), these might exist the best choice for you.

CB2 Eve Coupe Cocktail Glass

Negri-Albert also recommends these textured spectacles. They're ten ounces, which is 4 ounces to a higher place virtually practiced recommendations, so you lot'll have plenty of room for garnish — and peace of heed that you probably won't spill easily. (Correct now, they're on backorder, but CB2 volition ship them to you as soon equally they get available.)

Sir/Madam Rialto Glass Coupe in Crème

If you do, withal, want to splurge, consider these showstoppers. Jessica Manley, the other co-founder of Aplós, is of the heed-gear up that you should be excited by the glassware you utilize, and she's drawn to the spunky, colored glasses Sir/Madam creates. These accept a nice vintage vibe to them, and in unique colors like "moon glow," "menthe," and "salmon," they double as kitchen décor. And not simply are they made of a sturdy glass, but they're fifty-fifty dishwasher safe.

Estelle Colored Glass Champagne Coupe

Tiffanie Barriere, founder of the Drinking Passenger vehicle, calls these spectacles "some of the all-time cocktail coupes I've seen in my entire life." The six-piece set comes in blue, pink, or green and is handblown in Poland — which explains the toll tag. If yous'd like to spend a fiddling less, these colored coupes from Westward Elm might be a good culling.

Schott Zwiesel Classico Martini Glass

For his part, Landes thinks the V-shaped classic martini glasses are due for a improvement. "They savage out of vogue, equally things practise," he says, "but it's so funny that people claim they're hard to beverage out of. If anything, they're easier. The drink pours right into your mouth with the smallest of an bending change."

A single rocks glass is "going to exist for anything corking, any spirit on the rocks," explains Piacentini, though you could also use it for stirred, chilled, spirituous cocktails served "down," pregnant they're served chilled merely in a glass without a stem. I such example is a Negroni, points out John Sergentakis — the regional sales managing director for Nolet'due south Gin — fabricated with gin, sweetness vermouth, and Campari. Piacentini also prefers these rocks glasses to snifters for brandy, since you're able to more easily scent the aromas.

The ideal single rocks glass is "somewhere between 8 and ten ounces," says Simó. "That'due south plenty where you could put a decent-size chunk of ice in in that location if you like making the fancy ice." And if you're going to splash out on i part of your glassware setup, make it the rocks spectacles. "Those are the glasses where you're most likely to take the drinkable that'll accept you the longest to beverage," says Piacentini. "You lot don't sit down back in a comfy leather chair with an up potable and sit there for 45 minutes with it, but you will if it'southward something overnice and stirred on a big piece of ice. It'll final for that long." So it's worthwhile to splurge on a heavy-bottomed rocks glass that feels balanced and good in your hand.

Ikea Frasera Glass

Even though our experts remember that rocks glasses are completely worth spending your money on, information technology never hurts to explore a budget option. "I'm not afraid to say that Ikea does it correct," says Barriere. "They're consequent, and you lot're not so angry when you break i — y'all just go get some more, and information technology's fine. I love that." This is a x-ounce glass, then it's on the larger side for single rocks glasses. And the ridges make it await a bit more special than just a regular glass. "People will say, 'Oh, I really similar that glass,'" and I'll say, 'Ikea,' and they'll exist very impressed," Barriere adds.

Estelle Colored Glass Rocks Glass

Barriere raved most its coupe glasses but notes that the company has other options, similar vino glasses with and without stems and these rocks glasses. This sophisticated prepare is inspired past vintage glassware, and thanks to the high-quality glass, they're sure to last.

Nude Glass Big Top Set of 4 Whisky SOF Glasses

Negri-Albert agrees that rocks glasses are "extremely important for some of the most classic cocktails," and if she's going to spend the money on new spectacles, she heads to Nude Drinking glass. She'southward peculiarly fond of this ridged option, but if you'd like something a little more than plain (and less expensive), the brand has lovely options for that, besides.

Kimura Glass Barber A03 Gift Box

A double rocks glass, also sometimes chosen a double former-fashioned, should simply be about 2 ounces bigger than a single rocks glass, non twice the size. Jake Republic of ireland, CEO and founder of bourbon make Off Hours, keeps this style of glass on his own bar, noting it works for "any fashion you take your bourbon — neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail." Considering of the larger size, it's a touch more versatile than the single rocks glass, since it can fit more. "We would practise a julep in those — crushed ice all the way. Simply when you need a piddling more room, or you've got a drink like an old-fashioned or a Manhattan on the rocks," says Piacentini. You could also put margaritas in these glasses instead of getting a dedicated margarita glass. That's why, if you're only going to go i blazon of rocks drinking glass, the double rocks glass is generally more versatile.

CB2 Watson Double Old-Fashioned Glasses

Republic of ireland calls this CB2 set "affordable and modern nevertheless archetype at the same fourth dimension." The glasses come in a set of eight, so you'll have enough for post-pandemic dinner parties. And even though they are on the inexpensive side, Ireland promises they're all the same loftier quality.

CB2 Buchanan Stacking Double Old-Fashioned Glasses

If you're tight on space, these CB2 glasses, which come recommended by Negri-Albert, tin be stacked upward, so they'll take upwards less room on your bar or bar cart. And while they're convenient, they're nonetheless nice-looking and mature.

CB2 Hendricks Double Old-Fashioned Glass

Hunter says she's "literally drooling over just about all" of the glasses at CB2, but she's especially drawn to this one, because the wide mouth of this glass gives "room for garnishing the superlative of the glass." If y'all're feeling fancy, she adds, "you can also garnish the outside of the glass for an elevated cocktail await."

Libbey Carats 12-Ounce Double Old-Fashioned Glass

"I like something super-utilitarian for a double rocks glass with understated manner," says Thorp. These Libbey glasses fit the nib for him because they're archetype-looking and functional. Plus they're really a peachy deal — you become 12 glasses for $50, with each glass coming out to merely over $4.

Andrew O. Hughes Handblown Double Old-Fashioned Clear Glass

At $l a pop, these are a flake of a splurge, but Ireland promises they will "final a lifetime." He notes that they're handblown by Andrew Hughes himself in Brooklyn, and then each one is custom.

There is technically a difference between a highball and a collins glass: "A highball is a tall, skinny glass. A collins is just a taller glass," Piacentini says. Collins spectacles are unremarkably a couple ounces larger than a highball, merely only due to the boosted top. Only in that location's really no need to get into the weeds on this one — Negri-Albert says the terms are interchangeable in the drink globe, then you lot don't really demand to get both for your home.

These tall, chimney-shaped glasses are good for gin-and-tonics, vodka-sodas, and whiskey and gingers but can exist repurposed for tiki drinks made with crushed ice. They're also "super-acceptable for nonalcoholic drinks," adds Negri-Albert. Equally far as size is concerned, bigger isn't necessarily better. "You lot don't want a 16-ounce collins glass, considering you're going to be hammered after your second Tom Collins," says Simó. "Go almost a 12-ounce highball or a collins glass, and you'll be fine." If yous're still unsure, become for the highball. "As a bartender, I would say 90 pct of my drinks were poured in a highball glass," estimates Sergentakis.

Kimura Glass Compact Tumbler

"My favorite highballs are from Kimura," says Thorp near this Tokyo-based brand that also comes recommended by Fudge. "While they're expensive, they're stunning to utilise because they feel weightless in your hand." The company has been making spectacles for over 100 years, and it actually supplies glass for different confined and restaurants around the world, so if y'all're looking for truthful bar-quality glasses, these are probably a good choice. The brand also offers hundreds of other glass types — from coupe to wine glasses — so you tin can shop for more than merely highball-style pieces.

Nude Glass Savage Set of 4 Highball Glasses

If you lot like the style of the Kimura Glass options — but not the toll — this Nude Glass set recommended past Negri-Albert is quite similar. Information technology's non as thin or delicate, but it is less than half the price.

Crate & Barrel Vance Cut-Glass Highball Glass

Negri-Albert likes this unproblematic and elegant highball drinking glass. It'southward also office of a full collection, so you can outfit your whole bar with this cut-line style.

CB2 Cirque Cooler

Like most CB2 options, these glasses are affordable and easy to supervene upon while still existence nice-looking. While they have a heavy base, the walls are however thin, so they feel a chip college quality.

Ferm Living Ripple Long Drink Glasses

"The ripple glass was the glass of 2020," says Landes (though that doesn't mean they don't look just equally good in 2021). It seemed like everyone was buying (and companies were knocking off) this way. They look sophisticated, but with a bit of intrigue from the textured sides and different-size bases.

Nick and Nora spectacles are starting to become as common in arts and crafts-cocktail bars as coupes. "Nick and Noras are more bell shaped, in between a coupe drinking glass and a very small wine glass," says Piacentini. "In a perfect world, I love Nick and Nora glasses for stirred-upward drinks and coupe glasses for shaken-up drinks," because the smaller Nick and Nora glasses fit three to four ounces of liquid perfectly. Though if y'all are looking to keep your glassware to a minimum, there's null you would serve in a Nick and Nora glass that you couldn't as well serve in a nice coupe. Nick and Noras are also generally a little scrap more specialized and therefore harder to source.

Crate & Barrel Nick and Nora Glass

Landes notes that Crate & Barrel "do a good job of staying on trend." He's particularly addicted of the brand's Nick and Nora glasses. They feel more refined in terms of "density and shape" than a lot of the models you notice in restaurant catalogues — and they go out a bit of room for garnish at the top.

Bormioli Rocco Italian Classic Cocktail Glasses

We also like this fix of four glasses from Food52. Yous can purchase a "total bar" fix, too, which is xvi glasses and comes with coupe, martini, fizz, and Nick and Nora glasses.

Xaquixe Apasco Tumbler M

Shelley Kleyn Armistead, a partner at Gjelina Grouping who is in charge of the interior design and tableware, recommended the tumbler size of these glasses for a roundup we did on the best drinking spectacles — but the grouping actually uses the medium ones for margaritas at its restaurants. If you want something versatile that tin can be used both for bar and kitchen, these sustainably made beauties are a bang-up selection. They're currently available for preorder.

Viski Deco Crystal Highball Glasses

"Tiki spectacles can sometimes lean theatrical," says Landes, "until you lot run into Viski." These glasses somehow read every bit sophisticated, even with details like carved-out faces, dissimilar-sized chimera ridges, and gold armor. "They're elegant and fun at the same time," Landes says. The Crystal Highball glasses he pointed to in particular are currently sold out, though you can get notified when they become available — and store the make's other delightful options in the meantime.

Libbey Tiki Pineapple Glasses

Libbey strikes again, this time in the form of a (relatively) understated pineapple-patterned tiki glass, recommended by Chockie Tom, founder of the popular-up Doom Tiki.

"It's a little up to personal taste," says Piacentini, who doesn't like the "traditional shot drinking glass that's chubby and wide and has the line effectually it." Sergentakis likes any style every bit long as it's glass. What both Piacentini and Sergentakis concur on is that a shot glass should never be filled all the way to the top, and it should be big enough so that you lot don't spill. "If y'all get an ounce shot glass, information technology gets messy," notes Sergentakis. "Ounce-and-a-half shot glass, and I'd recommend yous cascade an ounce in it so you've got a footling room to thank you."

Crate & Barrel Bitty Bite Tall Glasses

This set of eight is from sturdy glass. They say less "higher frat political party" and more similar "adults having a adept time."

Mamo Single 7:2 Multipurpose Glass

These glasses were mentioned in a holiday-party piece we published last month by consequence planner Lilli Sherman, and they're so gorgeous, they're definitely worth a spot on this listing. Each i actually doubles every bit a cocktail glass (the bigger size) and a shot glass (the smaller size), so it's a two-for-one deal wrapped up in a display-worth drinking vessel. Sherman likes to use hers for sipping amaro and other digestifs, too.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy beyond the vast due east-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best dining room decor items , coffee makers , pocketknife sets , Japanese coffee brewer , charcoal water filter , and drinking glasses for water and more . Nosotros update links when possible, but note that deals tin can elapse and all prices are subject to change.

Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate committee.

The 9 Types of Cocktail Glasses You Need at Home