The Ultimate Guide to Cocktail Glasses

Developed in order to improve a drink’s appearance and flavor, appropriate cocktail drinkware accentuates aromas and regulates temperature.

Both contribute to showcasing the cocktail recipe in its intended form. And at the end of the day as a bar or restaurant owner, that should be top of mind for you, creating a more memorable drinking experience.

Once you familiarize yourself with cocktail glasses, get some inspiration from our well guide along with 15 unique cocktails to make.

The chalice-like design of the martini glass forces you to sip your drink, making it perfect for drinks without mixers. Or for adding a toothpick with a row of olives across the top. The traditional martini glass holds about 4 to 4.5oz.

Classic cocktails to serve in a martini glass include:

• Martini
• Cosmopolitan

Wide and short with a thick base, rocks glasses, also known as old-fashioned or lowball glasses, hold between 6 to 8oz of liquid. Because of the shape of the glass, rocks encourage bartenders to muddle ingredients, stir, and add large chunks of ice. Hence on the rocks, which in the cocktail world literally means a drink served undiluted with ice cubes.

For that reason, rocks glasses predominantly hold spirit-based drinks, unlike their counterparts, which contain more ice and mixers.

Classic cocktails to serve in a rocks glass include:

• Old Fashioned
• Negroni

Identified by its large, round bowl, the margarita glass also has a distinctive wide rim that allows for ample garnishes. Both play a large role in this glass. The bowl enhances the aroma of the drink, while the broad rim provides room for that characteristic salty or sugary component.

Additionally, the tall stem makes the glass easy to grasp even on the largest sizes.

Classic cocktails to serve in a margarita glass include:

• Frozen Margarita

• Daiquiri

This long, straight glass holds 8 to 12oz of ice and is suitable for serving rock cocktails. Based on its narrow shape, a highball/Collins glass maintains the right temperature and carbonation for the cocktails traditionally served in them.

Because a highball glass is slightly shorter and wider than a Collins glass, it is frequently used interchangeably with one.

Classic cocktails to serve in a highball/Collins glass include:

• Rum and Coke

• Paloma

• Gin and Tonic

The copper mug is excellent for keeping cold beverages cold on a hot day, thanks to its conductivity. Historically, the Moscow Mule cocktail, a vodka-ginger beer-lime juice mixture, has been served in copper mugs.

Copper is said to enhance the flavors of ginger beer and citrus as well as the fizziness. Although nowadays, many copper mugs are lined with stainless steel in order to prevent copper leaching into beverages.

Classic cocktails to serve in a copper mug:

• Moscow Mule

• Mint Julep

Originally created to accommodate champagne, the coupe glass’s round shape actually isn't suited for fizzy beverages. The large surface area makes it difficult for bubbles to dissipate. Instead, a coupe glass is best suited for drinks that require straining and serving 'straight up' without ice, such as a Manhattan.

This glass has a very long stem, which prevents your hand from warming the drink.

Classic cocktails to serve in a coupe glass include:

• Manhattan
• Gimlet