Types of Cocktail Glasses

Cocktails are ever-growing in popularity, and there are so many different types of cocktail glasses. So knowing what glass to use for what cocktail is a great piece of knowledge for you to have. Once you are confident with the glasses and their benefits, you may even want to start mixing up which glass you use to serve a drink. The Gin and Tonic is a great example of how straying from the norm can sometimes open up a gateway and take a drink to new heights.

Balloon Glass

Here in the UK, Gin and Tonic has been served in a tall glass for years. But now we are starting to take inspiration from across the pond and are moving towards the oversized balloon style of gin glasses. Made famous by the Spanish, the “Gintonic” takes advantage of the extra space in a balloon glass to create a drink that carries the traditional Gin and Tonic to a whole new level and has since travelled across Europe gaining in popularity.

Crafting your own Gintonic is a little like building a dish; a little time and some fresh ingredients is all you need to create a symphony of bitter effervescence that will set your taste buds alight. Fill your glass with plenty of ice, and pour in one part of your favourite Gin and three parts premium tonic. This is going to make the perfect canvas for your drink.

Next, it pays to know what botanicals were used when distilling your Gin as you’re going to complement the flavours and bring the best out of your cocktail. All Gin contains Juniper, so this is a good garnish to start with, but don’t be afraid to experiment and add pretty much any herb, fruit or veg you want. Some bars go as far as making their own bitters to offset any sweetness. Just be creative and create something delicious.

TIP: Balloon glasses hold a large volume of cocktail, so change the settings on your ice machine to make the largest ice cubes possible. Small ice cubes will melt far too quickly, over diluting your drink and destroying its flavour.

Article: See our guide on which ice machine to buy to make sure you always have the right type of ice.

Martini Glass

Amongst the most glamorous of cocktail glasses, the Martini glass does a little more than just look pretty. As with most stemware, the aim is to keep the heat generated by your hands away from the drink. A Martini uses no ice in the glass, so even the slightest bit of body heat can affect your perfectly made drink.

Another issue which may arise if serving a Martini in the wrong glass is the lack of fizz and the different consistencies of the spirits and liquors used; in a straight rocks glass, these liquids would separate, giving you a drink that is harsh on the palette. The coned shape prevents this happening and ensures everything stays mixed.

TIP: Do you want yours shaken, not stirred? This may be fun to say, but shaking a Martini in a cocktail shaker is a sure fire way to ruin it. Shaking aerates a cocktail and the result will be a cloudy, murky drink with a texture better suited to a Piña Colada. Stirring with a bar spoon will allow you to lower the temperature of the drink without adding texture, resulting in a perfectly clear, smooth Martini.

Margarita Glass

Mixing style with practicality, the Margarita Glass has a fun look that also benefits your drink. The wide opening creates a lot of surface tension and allows you to inhale thesharp and zesty flavour of lime and Tequila whilst you drink.

One thing to watch out for when creating this drink is to make sure that if you're rimming the glass with salt that you don’t get any salt on the inside of the glass. If it does get inside, it can fall into your drink and create a briny chaos. Rim garnishes don't have to be limited to plain salt and sugar: you could try smoking your salt or even dehydrating foods then dropping them in to a spice grinder to create an intensely flavoured powder.

TIP: The easiest way to avoid garnish getting on the inside of your glass when rimming, is to hold it at a right angle to the salt or sugar and gently tap the rim into garnish, turn a little and repeat. The beauty of this technique is that your drink won’t be subject to a change in flavour as there is no chance of extra seasoning falling in to the glass.

Hurricane Glass

The Hurricane glass has some serious “look at me” factor. The curvy, slightly oversized shape of the glass creates a spectacle at the bar. Used for pretty much any drink you would serve in a tall glass, you can go crazy with over the top garnishes like big pineapple leaves, a whole celery or even sparklers.

Hurricane glasses are tougher than they look and can easily withstand quite heavy use, making them perfect for when there’s a bustling part atmosphere.

TIP: When making frozen cocktails, it really helps to start with ice that is dry. If it’s wet, it means it is too warm and is at around 0°, meaning the ice will melt completely before it has managed to chill the drink.

Hi Ball Glass

The Hi-Ball glass glass is quite often the most commonly used cocktail glass because of its versatility. It's famous for presenting cocktails such as the screwdriver and the mojito. The Hi-Ball glass may also be referred to as a long drink glass. This glass is perfect for tall drinks that use juice or mixer and is often served with ice and a straw.

Making this your go-to glass for mixed drinks can be a good idea when you work in a busy bar; the glasses aren’t stackable but their tall and thin nature doesn’t take up much space on a shelf.

TIP: Glass washers have a habit of knocking these glasses over during a wash cycle. Specially designed glass racks are available that eliminate the chance of this happening and they can hold up to 36 tall glasses at a time.

Champagne Flute

Instantly recognisable, fluted Champagne glasses are delicate and magnificent glasses that ooze luxury and class. The long, thin shape helps to contain the carbonation in the drink and creates an impressive display of tiny bubbles that shoot to the top of the glass and create a small explosion of aroma at the surface.

The flute is perfect for younger sparkling wines, but a champagne coupe will allow more flavours to develop. A tulip shape starts off thin and opens to a wide bowl before closing slightly towards the aperture, creating a tulip shape.

TIP: Serving Champagne by the glass is a great money maker, but sometimes bottles are left half full over night. A Champagne stopper can help to re-seal the bottle and will keep it fresh and sparkling until the next day. If you need it to stay fresh for longer, use a Champagne pump to increase the pressure in the bottle.

Shot Glass

The shot glass, or shooter as it's often known, is always a must on any list, not just because of its use for a Tequila Slammer, but also because you can try a range of shots from straight vodka through to a Squashed Frog.

Shots and shooters come in not only a variety of shapes and sizes, but they also come in a variety of materials, making them perfect for any occasion. Slammer glasses utilise an extra thick base so they can withstand use by enthusiastic customers without breaking.

TIP: If the shot you are preparing calls for layering, there are a couple of things you can do to make it easier. First of all, chill the ingredients to make them denser and easier to layer, then use a spirit pourer with a slow pour speed (or put your thumb over the breather hole to slow the pour rate whilst pouring) and pour onto a bar spoon that is touching the glass and only just above the spirit you are layering onto.

Classic Cocktail Shapes

Many cocktails can be served in a variety of glasses, so if you don't want to buy every single type of cocktail glass, go for the classic shapes. Before you buy your glasses, decide what your cocktail menu is going to be. Are you going to go for the firm favourites, or are you going to add a little variety to your menu? There are thousands of cocktail recipes out there, but, of course, you could have fun creating your own concoctions for your customers to enjoy. Experimentation and fresh ideas will help you keep ahead of the trends and give your customers more reason to come back.

Article: Now you know what cocktail glasses to use, it's time to discover how to become a master mixologist.

Are you new to serving cocktails? Why not read our guide to getting started with cocktails? Getting Started with Cocktails