Which glasses to keep at home

Which glasses to keep at home

Every shape exists for a reason: holding ice, keeping a drink cold without ice in it, or giving the aroma somewhere to go. Three of them already cover most of the catalog, and the rest come attached to a specific drink.

The three that cover almost everything

  • Rocks glass

    short and wide, for drinks served over ice: Old Fashioned, Negroni, Caipirinha

  • Highball

    tall and straight, for long drinks with ice and something fizzy: Gin & Tonic, Cuba Libre, Mojito. A Collins glass is nearly the same, just a bit taller and narrower

  • Coupe glass

    wide bowl on a stem, for drinks served up. It's also the natural stand-in for a martini or Nick & Nora glass when cupboard space is short

The stemmed ones

A drink served up wants a stem: your hand holds the bottom instead of the bowl, so the drink is still cold at the last sip.

  • Martini glass

    the classic V on a long stem. It's the image of the Martini and the Cosmopolitan, and the wide rim delivers the aroma on the first sip

  • Nick & Nora glass

    deeper and more closed than a coupe, so it spills less. Made for spirit-forward drinks like a Manhattan

  • Flute

    tall and narrow, holds the bubbles longer. For sparkling wine on its own and for drinks built on it, like a French 75

One drink each

These came attached to a recipe and carry its name.

  • Hurricane glass

    tall, curvy, on a short stem. Born in tiki drinks, it handles volume and crushed ice

  • Copper mug

    the Moscow Mule tradition: the metal frosts in your hand and keeps the drink cold

  • Julep cup

    the metal cup of the Mint Julep, the one that frosts over on the outside

  • Snifter

    rounded on a short stem, it gathers the aroma at the narrow rim. For brandy and highly aromatic drinks

Chill the glass first

For a drink served up, a chilled glass makes a real difference. Put it in the freezer about 30 minutes ahead, or fill it with ice and water while you make the drink and tip it out before you pour.