Types of Cocktail Glasses That You Need to Have

The correct types of glasses for your crafted cocktails aren’t just for presentation. This also elevates the drinking experience of your customers or guests. The shape of the cocktail glass will determine how the glass will be held in the hand. The style of glass can be designed to hold more ice while others can enhance the aromatics of the drink.

In this article, we tackle the different types of cocktail glasses for different variety of cocktails.

The Different Types of Cocktail Glasses:

Martini Cocktail Glasses

A martini glass is probably the most recognizable type of cocktail glass because it looks so good when held. It has a v-shaped design that makes it easy to sip from without spilling any liquid. You'll often hear the martini glass called a cocktail glass, but traditionally, the cocktail glass is more rounded than the martini glass.

Featured: The Libbey Martini Glass

Highball and Collins Glasses

The Highball and collins glasses are quite similar. You can use them interchangeably for tall drinks, but they usually hold between 8 and 16 ounces.

They look nearly identical and they have a variety of sizes:

• A Collins glass has a tall and narrow body with a chimney stem.
• A Highball is usually stouter and it can hold up to 10 oz of liquor.

Featured: The Libbey 95

Highball Glasses

It has a tall straight glass that can hold up to 12 ounces. This is usually used for serving cocktails on the rocks. the shape of the glass keeps the drink cool and helps preserve its carbonation. A traditional highball glass is similar to a Collins glass but slightly smaller and narrower.

Collins glass

Sometimes called a "highball" glass, the Collins glass (also known as a tumbler) is actually taller, narrower and holds up to 14 oz. Use this tall glass to keep your cold beverages chilled and of you will dilute them with lots of ice. It's ideal for drinks that are mixed with multiple mixers. Named after the Tom Collins cocktail, the Collins glass can be used for any drink over ice.

Old-Fashioned Glass/ Low-ball/ Rock Glass

A rock glass is usually shorter and has a solid base. Unlike the glasses above which are designed to hold larger amounts of ice and mix­er, the rocks glass holds cocktails made up mainly of spirits. It was named after the classic cocktail, the old-fashioned, which contains bourbon whiskey mixed with a few dashes of Angostura bitters. The shape is ideal for muddling, stirring, and adding cubes of ice or two.

Featured: The Libbey Rock Glass

Shot Glass

The shot glass is an extremely recognizable glass at bars. An average shot is 1 1⁄ 2 ounces, while a short or pony shot is just one ounce.

A shot glass typically has thicker glass at its base than anywhere else. This reinforcement is designed so that the glass doesn't shatter when the drinker slams it onto the bar after drinking the entire contents.

Short, stout shot glasses are the most common. The caballito is the tallest and thinnest kind and it is designed specifically for tequila.

Featured: Libbey Shot Glass

Margarita Glass

A classic margarita glass has a large, round bowl that allows guests to easily add their own garnish. The wide mouth allows drinkers to enjoy the aroma of the drink with each sip, while also tasting the salt or sugar-rimmed edge. Tall stems make glasses easier to hold, even on a larger size.

Drinks such as Frozen Margarita, Margarita on the Rocks, and Daiquiri are served best in the margarita glass.

Featured: Gourmet Libbey Glass

Champagne Glasses

If you enjoy drinking Champagne occasionally, then buying a few sets of Champagne glasses would make sense. They are available in a variety of shapes and you can purchase a set of 4 or 8 glasses.

Champagne Flute

This tall, slender glass has a tapered lip that keeps the champagne cocktails's bubbles inside for longer. It typically holds between 7- 11 oz.

• Champagne flute: It is ideal for showing off a drink's garnish.
• Champagne Tulip: It has a longer stem and the rim flares out.
• Champagne Saucer (Champagne Coupe Glass): Usually used to serve more champagne. It holds around 6 to 8 ounces.

Featured: Libbey Glassware: Champagne

Wine Glass

Wines are complicated because they come in so many different types of bottles and serve a wide range of purposes. There are two types:

• White wine glass: It is a taller, and narrower glass that is more open at the rim.
• Red wine glass: It is a rounder and smaller glass with a more tapered rim.

Stemmed wine glasses are traditional. However, stemless wine glasses are becoming increasingly popular. Over time, wine glasses have grown in size. It can hold up to 22 oz of wine Any type of wine glass is suitable for serving sparkling wine cocktails.

Featured: Libbey Wine Glass

Beer Glasses

Like wine, beer has its specific glassware and some beers are better served in different types of glasses than others. There are three types of glasses that most beers can be served in; these are used interchangeably.

• Pint Glass: It is a tall, tapered glass with straight sides and can hold 16 ounces of beer. This glass also doubles as a mixing glass for cocktails and can be used in a Boston shaker set.
• Pilsner Glass: It is fluted, and great for pouring a pilsner. This typically holds between 10 and 14 ounces.
• Beer Mug: Great to keep your beer chilled drinks because you can hold onto your beer without warming it with your hands. It has a thick, sturdy base which also means it can handle a good hit on the bar top. It holds between 10 and 14 ounce
• Ale Glasses: These are the two kinds of ale glasses
  • Nonic pint glass: Its shape is similar to the standard pint glass.
  • Stemmed tulip glass: This is traditional among Belgian ales. Its wide base tapers toward the rim

Featured: Libbey Beer Glass

Tall Specialty Cocktail Glasses

Tall specialty glasses include a few types of glasses that you might see in cocktails:

• Irish Coffee Glass: It has a footed glass with a handle and is used traditionally for for hot drinks such as Irish coffee. It is made with thick, heat-resistant glass and it can hold between 8-10 ounces of sparkling beverage
• Hurricane Glass: It has a distinct pear-shaped curve and this glass looks similar to vintage hurricane lamps, which gave it its name. It can hold up to 12 ounces of cocktail and is often used to serve hurricane cocktails, Pina colada, and other frozen drinks.
• Brandy Snifter: It is used for brandy, particularly when sipping it straight. It is usually large in size but only a standard pour of about 2 ounces of brandy is poured in. This allows the drinker to enjoy all of the aspects of brandy which include watching the brandy swirl, observing its color, and taking in the aromas while taking a sip. It is also used in cocktail bar drinks such as aromatic B&B.

Featured: Libbey Snifter

Short Specialty Cocktail Glasses

There are some specialty glasses made specifically for serving certain cocktails and liquors.

• Sour Glass: They are a miniaturized version of a white wine glass and are usually used for whiskey sour and other simple but flavorful cocktails. This holds between 3- 6 ounces.
• Cordial Glasses: These tiny glasses are used as a traditional way to sip cordials (or liqueurs) straight. These are not included in the common type of glasses today. 

Featured: Libbey Sour Glass