If you’re relatively new to making cocktails at home, you may be wondering why there are so many different types of bar glasses and does it really matter which ones you use?
Yes, it matters.
Let's start with the different shapes. The shape of the glass affects two aspects of your cocktail, its aromatics and its temperature. Take for example the Glencairn, the preferred whiskey-drinking glass of choice. With its large bowl and narrowed rim the Glencairn is the perfect glass to release your whiskey’s unique and distinctive aromas with a gentle tilt and a swirl. In other cases, your cocktail may be affected by what the glass is made of. Different vessels carry temperatures at varying speeds, an action that’s referred to as thermal lag. Now picture a large, ornate Tiki mug. Since it’s made of ceramic it’s going to keep your cocktail colder than glass or metal which is especially helpful for your typically high proof Tiki cocktails that need to be packed with ice.
The Cocktail Glass
Or is it the martini glass? The original “V” shaped cocktail glass was a slimmer, smaller version of what we know today as the martini glass. In 1925, the Parisians introduced a wider base to the glass and then decided to call it the martini glass for any drink that’s served up and stirred like the Manhattan, martini or Brooklyn. And since there’s no ice in these cocktails the stem was lengthened to keep your hand away from the cocktail to keep it from getting it warm. Call it what you like but this is your go-to-glass for any stirred cocktail that needs to be served up.
The Collins, Highball and Delmonico
While these chimney-style glasses go by a different name each serve the same function, to sip something cold and refreshing over lots of ice. The Collins glass is the largest of the three and typically sizes between 10 to 14 ounces. This glass originated in the 1850s and took its name from the family of Collins cocktails, most famously the Tom Collins. The Collins is notable for being slimmer than the standard highball and with its narrowed diameter it’s hard to spill ice over the rim, making it the perfect party glass. The middle child of the group, the Highball, falls within the 8 to 12-ounce range. It’s believed this glass dates back to the 1890s when the word “highball” made its way into the bar vernacular. “Ball” was a bartenders’ slang for a glass and a “highball” (a tall glass) meant a scotch and soda. The highball is still the best way to serve a good old scotch (or whiskey) and soda. Last is the less notable Delmonico glass, the shortest glass among the three and slightly flared. Named for the now defunct New York restaurant, the Delmonico was traditionally used to hold fizzes and Rickey’s, two styles of drinks that contain sparkling water.
Old Fashioned, Rocks Glass and Lowball
The Old Fashioned glass achieved notoriety in 1948 when it was featured in David Embury’s bartending guide, The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks. Since that time the glass has been produced in various styles and sizes ranging between four and ten fluid ounces and referred to as the rocks glass, lowball, whiskey glass and tumbler. With its wide and robust base you won’t need to think twice about which glass to use when mixing your next Sazerac or margarita.
Nick & Nora
If you’re a fan of The Thin Man movies that spanned the 1930s and 40s you may recall the film’s two lead characters, the sophisticated, witty detectives Nick and Nora Charles who spent their time solving crimes with a martini in one hand and their little wire-haired fox terrier Asta’s leash in the other. Portraying the post prohibition good life on-screen their personas were admired and their cocktail glasses were sought after. Featuring its classic bell shape curve the Nick & Nora is perfect for serving a smaller scale version of your favorite Manhattan or martini with a sense of vintage style and flair.
The Coupe
Legend has it that the coupe was molded from Marie Antoinette's left breast, and that she wanted her court to toast her health by drinking from glasses shaped like her bosom. Truth be told the glass was actually invented long before the reign of the queen. In 1663 in England it was one of the first, if not the first, glasses invented specifically for drinking Champagne. However, it was soon realized the shape of this glass was not ideal for sparkling wine of any type as the bubbles dissipated much too quickly due to its broad surface area. With movies and TV shows like “The Great Gatsby”, “Mad Men” and “Boardwalk Empire” that glamorized the cocktail culture, the coupe is now the cocktail glass of choice.
The Snifter
Similar in design and function to that of the Glencairn, the snifter has been used for quite some time. History shows it was first written about by the Roman statesman, Pliny the Elder, between the years 23 and 79 AD. In his writings he noted that the glass snifter was preferred over gold and silver goblets and priced similar to other precious metals. And if you look carefully you’ll find a few snifters placed among the Apostles throughout da Vinci’s painting of The Last Supper. While the snifter was first used for wine, it’s the ideal glass to serve your finest brandy or favorite IPA.
The Mule Cup
In the 1930s, John Martin, who later became president of G.F. Heublin & Brothers, an east coast food and spirits importer, purchased a small distillery called Smirnoff for $14,000. During that time very few people drank vodka because most had never heard of it. One day, Martin was visiting his friend Jack Morgan who owned the Cock ‘n Bull pub in Hollywood. Martin complained that he couldn’t sell his vodka and Morgan grumbled that he couldn’t sell his house-made ginger beer that he had sitting in his basement. As the two were lamenting about their problem in walks Sophie Berezinski, a Russian immigrant who was peddling solid copper mugs from her father’s factory. After a few drinks the three came up with the idea of creating a special cocktail, The Moscow Mule, a mix of vodka, ginger beer and lime juice, and only serving it in Sophie’s copper mug. And If you’re wondering about the dents covering the mug the copper sheets were originally hammered by hand to ensure an even distribution of heat and air. As a result the hammered mugs would intensify the cocktails coldness.
So the next time someone asks you why you have so many different glasses in your bar simply tell them “the glass really matters”.
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