Cocktail Glasses and What They Are Used For
Bartenders change glasses between drinks for a reason. The shape controls temperature, aroma, and how long the ice lasts.
Here, we'll go through the most common cocktail glasses and the drinks they're designed for.
Two families to distinguish
Short drinks are served without ice or with a single large ice cube. They are drunk quickly, so the glass should keep the drink cold without diluting it.
Long drinks are topped with tonic, soda, or juice. Here, the glass needs height and space for plenty of ice.
Almost all cocktail glasses belong to one of these two groups. Start there, and the rest will be easy.
Martini Glass
The martini glass is designed for drinks served without ice. The long stem keeps the hand away, and the wide bowl immediately releases the aroma.
This includes dry martini, cosmopolitan, and espresso martini. Bohemia Royal Crystal martini glass 210 ml has the classic conical shape.
Chill the glass in the freezer for ten minutes before pouring. The drink will then stay cold all the way through.
Rocks Glass
The rocks glass is short, heavy, and wide. Its shape accommodates a large ice cube, which melts slowly, thus diluting the drink less.
Old fashioned, negroni, and whisky on the rocks belong here. Whisky glass Waterfall 410 ml works for all three.
Highball and Long Drink
The tall glass is the most used in a home bar. Gin and tonic, mojito, cuba libre, and non-alcoholic drinks share the same shape.
The height helps carbonation last longer, as the surface area exposed to the air is small. Long Drink Waterfall 470 ml holds plenty of ice without feeling cramped.
Balloon Glass for Gin and Tonic
The balloon glass came from Spain and has taken over gin and tonic. Its large bowl holds a lot of ice, which keeps the drink cold longer.
At the same time, garnishes like citrus peel and juniper berries have space to release their aroma. Gin and Tonic Spirale 750 ml provides this effect.
Margarita Glass
The margarita glass has a wide rim, designed for salt or sugar. The wide bowl also makes it easy to reach the rim when drinking.
Royal Crystal margarita glass 350 ml works for both classic and frozen margaritas.
Rum Glass
Small stemmed glasses are suitable for rum, brandy, and liqueur. The volume is deliberately small, as the drink is sipped slowly and needs time to release its aroma.
Rum glass General 150 ml maintains this moderate volume.
The Mixing Glass is a Tool
You never serve in a mixing glass. You stir the drink in it and then strain it into a chilled glass.
Stirring instead of shaking creates a clearer drink without air bubbles. It's suitable for spirit-forward drinks like martinis and negronis. Mixing glass 95 cl holds ice and ingredients with plenty of room.
Want to start with a set?
A ready-made set saves both time and money. Bohemia Royal Cool cocktail set provides four large gin glasses and an ice bucket, immediately covering your guests' needs.
If you also lack the tools, Cocktail Kit Pro serves as a starting point.
Quick Guide
- No ice: martini glass 210 ml
- With a large ice cube: rocks glass 410 ml
- With tonic or soda: highball 470 ml
- Gin and tonic with garnish: balloon glass 750 ml
- Margarita: wide rim 350 ml
- Rum and brandy: small stemmed glass 150 ml
- Mixing glass: tool, not a serving glass