When adding essentials to your home bar, glassware can often be an afterthought. It’s more common to buy a set of cheap cups from the dollar store as the vessel doesn’t change the way your cocktail tastes, right? Wrong! Not only will the right set of bar glasses change the mouthfeel, but they will also last much longer and look much nicer.
5 Signs Your Glassware Needs an Upgrade
The first telltale sign that you need to upgrade your cocktail glassware immediately is the fact you searched for this very subject. However, if you need more evidence to splurge on a nice set of cocktail glasses keep reading.
- No matter what you do, or how much you scrub, your glassware still looks dirty.
- Your glassware is chipped or cracked.
- Glassware that was a part of a complete set has missing items.
- You can’t remember the last time you bought glassware.
- The current set in your home bar or kitchen cabinets is low-quality.
If you check one or more off the list, you’ll need to save up for a new set of glassware.
Designer Glassware
Designer glassware can take your home bar to a whole other level. For example, famous industrial designer Tom Dixon has a full line of bar glasses that includes beer, flute, coupe, balloon, high ball, champagne and cocktail. Tom Dixon even creates beautifully crafted espresso cups made of stainless steel that look incredible.
How to Choose the Appropriate Glassware
Martini and/or Cocktail Glass
The most versatile glass on this list, the cocktail or martini glass, serves two drinks for the price of one. This glass holds between 3-6 ounces and can be bought with or without a stem, but the stem will allow the drinker to keep their body heat away from the beverage, so it stays colder.
Collins and Highball Glasses
Although both pieces look similar, the collins glass is narrower and taller than the highball, which can only contain 10 ounces of liquid. Tall glasses are essential because the wide rim makes it easy to add juice for mixing. Plus, these glasses are perfect for serving non-alcoholic drinks.
Shot Glasses
Unless you can gauge how much a shot is with your eyes alone, the shot glass is a requisite item for your home bar cabinet. Although short shot glasses are the most common, some can hold more than 2 ounces. In addition, shot glasses are enjoyable to collect and display on bar tops.
Rocks/Old-Fashioned Glasses
Rocks glasses are characterized by their thick bottom, which protects the ice from resting on the hot bar-top and melting faster. This glass is mainly associated with the Old Fashioned or whisky on the rocks (with ice). Old Fashioned glasses can be used for cocktails instead of highballs.
Champagne Glasses
Champagne glasses are used for champagne, but the shape of the glass can make all the difference. A saucer style is best used for sparkling wine, while a tulip style is best for sparkling wines or mixing because the design won’t trap bubbles. Flutes are ideal for showcasing garnish.
Margarita Glasses
Margarita glasses work perfectly for frozen drinks but are optimal for margaritas. These glasses come in 3 sizes: small, medium, and bowl. Small glasses are great for drinks with no ice, medium is perfect for frozen beverages, while the bowl will be necessary for heavy iced drinks.
Wine Glasses
There are hundreds of wine glasses available to purchase, but the white and red wine variety are the most common. Red wine glasses have a small, round bowl with a tapered rim, while the white wine glass has a narrow, large bowl with an edge that’s more open and wide.
Beer Glasses
Most beer types have their own glass, like the Ale or Pilsner style. Pint glasses, which hold 16 ounces, can be chilled in the fridge to keep any beer cold. On the other hand, mugs have a thick base and can be grasped with a handle, so your body heat doesn’t warm the beer.