types of cocktail glasses: a complete guide to bar glassware

you've made a drink at home. the ice is ready, the lime is cut, and then comes the small pause: which glass? most of us have been there, and the answer is simpler than a crowded bar shelf makes it look.

every cocktail glass has its shape for a reason. some keep a drink cold, some leave room for ice, and some change how a sip feels. this guide walks through the common types of cocktail glasses, what each one is for and how to start a small collection that covers most of the drinks you'll want to make.

why the shape of a glass matters

a glass does more than hold a drink. its shape decides how much ice fits, how quickly the drink warms up and how it feels to sip. that's why a gin and tonic lives in a tall glass while a martini sits on a stem.

most cocktail glasses belong to one of two families. stemmed glasses are for drinks that are shaken or stirred with ice, then served cold without it. tumblers, short or tall, are for drinks served over ice. once you know which family a drink belongs to, choosing a glass gets much easier.

cocktail glass names and what they're for

here are the glasses you'll come across most often. use this table as a quick reference when a recipe names a glass you're not sure about.

the stemmed glasses

a stem keeps your hand away from the bowl, so the warmth of your fingers doesn't reach the drink. wine enthusiast explains that even the closeness of your hand can pass on enough body heat to warm what's in the glass, which is why the stem is the part to hold. that's why stemmed glasses are used for drinks served cold without ice.

source - wine enthusiast

coupe glass

the coupe has a wide, shallow bowl on a slim stem. it began life as a champagne glass and is now a familiar sight on cocktail bars. bartenders often choose it over a martini glass because its curved sides make it harder to spill. it suits daiquiris, sidecars and anything shaken until ice-cold. its smaller cousin, the nick and nora, has a deeper, bell-shaped bowl and suits martinis and stirred drinks in smaller pours.

source - gothamist

martini glass

the martini glass, also called a cocktail glass, has a v-shaped bowl on a stem. its wide mouth leaves room for an olive or a twist of peel, and the shape shows off a clear, cold drink well. it's the classic home for a martini, a manhattan or a cosmopolitan, though it does ask for a slightly steadier hand.

wine glasses

a wine glass is built around its bowl, and the shape changes with what's being poured.

• red wine glass: a larger, rounder bowl that gives the wine room to breathe, softening the flavours and opening up the aroma.

• burgundy glass: takes this furthest, with a wide bowl that's almost balloon-shaped.

• white wine glass: smaller and narrower, so the lighter aromas stay focused and the wine stays cool for longer. hold it by the stem to keep your hand's warmth away from the chilled wine.

• all-purpose wine glass: a large bowl with plenty of room for ice and soda, which makes it great for spritzes and sangria.

  source - wine insiders

the tumblers

tumblers have no stem and a sturdier base. they're made for drinks served over ice, where the ice does the work of keeping things cold and slowly dilutes the drink over time.

rocks glass

the rocks glass, also known as an old-fashioned or lowball glass, is short and wide with a solid base. there's room for a large ice cube and a garnish. it's the glass for an old fashioned, a negroni or a measure of whisky over ice.

highball vs collins glass

these two are close cousins, and plenty of bars use them interchangeably. both are tall and straight, made for drinks with lots of ice and a long pour of mixer.

the difference is size. difford's guide describes the highball as holding up to about 300 ml, while the collins is taller and holds around 350 to 400 ml. a highball suits simpler drinks like a gin and tonic or a whisky soda. a collins, named after the tom collins cocktail, has room for drinks with more parts, like a mojito. at home, one tall glass will cover both.

source - difford's guide

other names of bar glassware you may come across

a few more glasses turn up on menus and in recipes. the flute is tall and narrow, made for champagne and sparkling cocktails. the margarita glass has a wide, stepped bowl with a broad rim for salt, and the hurricane glass is tall and curvy, often used for fruity drinks like a piña colada.

these are lovely to have, but none of them is essential. most of the drinks they're made for can be served happily in a glass you already own.

a simple bar glassware guide for home

you don't need a full shelf to make good drinks. four shapes will cover most of what you'll want to serve: a short tumbler for drinks over ice, a long tumbler for highballs and long drinks, a coupe for drinks served cold without ice, and a wine glass for wine, spritzes and sangria.

start there and let the drinks you enjoy guide what comes next. if martinis become a weekend habit, a pair of martini glasses makes sense. if you love bubbles, a flute will earn its place.

cocktail glasses at anctuar

each of our glasses is made from borosilicate glass and shaped around how it will be used. here's how the six fit into your drinks.

for drinks served without ice

lipp coupe

• shape: a wide, shallow bowl on a stem

• rim: a smoke grey rim that gives the open mouth a clean edge

• good for: champagne, spritzes and daiquiris

lipp cocktail glass

• shape: a triangular bowl on a slim stem

• rim: the angled bowl and smoke rim guide each sip neatly to the lip

• good for: martinis, manhattans and stirred drinks served cold

lipp wine glass

• shape: a bowl that curves inward before opening at the rim, gathering aroma towards the nose

• rim: a smoke grey rim that makes each sip cleaner than you'd expect

• good for: red wine, white wine and spritzes like the aperol spritz

lipp flute

• shape: tall and narrow, with a slim body that holds on to the bubbles

• rim: a slight flare at the top, finished with a smoke grey rim

• good for: champagne, prosecco, mimosas and bellinis

for drinks over ice

linea tall glass

• shape: tall, with ribbed lines running from top to bottom

• good for: long drinks

linea short glass

• shape: a generous tumbler, shaped from a ribbed glass tube that's gently widened

• good for: cocktails, juice and everyday drinks

caring for them

all six are made to be enjoyed for years to come. to keep them clear:

• wash by hand with a mild soap and a soft sponge.

• dry with a lint-free cloth.

finding the glasses that suit you

there's no rule that says you need every glass on this list. start with the drinks you love making, choose a few glasses that suit them, and build from there. a good glass should feel right in your hand and make you want to reach for it again, whether it's for a weekend martini or a tall, cold drink on a warm evening.

frequently asked questions on cocktail glasses

what are the main types of cocktail glasses?

the ones you'll see most often are the coupe, martini glass, wine glass, flute, rocks glass, highball and collins. stemmed glasses are for drinks served cold without ice, and tumblers are for drinks served over ice.

what is the difference between a coupe and a martini glass?

both have stems. a coupe has a rounded, shallow bowl that's harder to spill, while a martini glass has a v-shaped bowl with straight, open sides.

can you use a wine glass for cocktails?

yes. a wine glass works well for spritzes, sangria and other wine-based cocktails, and its large bowl leaves plenty of room for ice and soda.

is a highball glass the same as a collins glass?

they're very close. a collins is usually taller and holds a little more, but at home one tall glass can do the job of both.

why do cocktail glasses have stems?

a stem keeps your hand away from the bowl, so the drink stays cold for longer. that's why stemmed glasses are used for drinks served without ice.