There are so many types of glasses for alcohol. Like a ridiculous number. Wine glasses, margarita glasses, pint glasses, nora glasses, cordial glasses, martini glasses, coupe glasses, champagne flutes, and collins glasses are all specifically designed for different drinks.

We have no idea who decided it would be best to create a different glass for just about every cocktail, but glasses can get expensive for the home mixologist.

To save your hard-earned cash for booze, you probably only want the most essential and versatile glasses for your beautifully crafted cocktails. Whether you’re serving up your favorite drink from a cocktail delivery service or you’re whipping up your own creations, every mixed drink deserves a beautiful drinking glass. Below are the best types of cocktail glasses for a home mixologist.

 

Have You Got The Right Home Bar Tools First?

Before we start looking at the different types of cocktail glasses, make sure you've got the right tools to make your classic cocktail at home.

Do you have a Hawthorne strainer or Boston shaker? Before you spend a dime on cocktail glassware, you need the proper mixology tools. Check out the most important drink mixing tools for a home mixologist.

 

COVERING THE STAPLES

First things first, before we cover the different bar glasses you should have on hand, it's important we go back to the basics. On your average night, you might have a glass of red wine or a beer with dinner. It's a good idea to invest in quality red wine, white wine, champagne, and beer glass sets for your home. Remember, a red wine glass and white wine glass are different shapes, so get at least six of each to start off. If you like entertaining, make sure you have a beer, wine, and champagne glass set that matches so you can create a cohesive look to your dining room table spread. 

Now that you have your wine glass, beer glass, and  champagne flute sets, it’s time to expand to the most essential cocktail glasses. 

Types of Cocktail Glasses

The aptly named cocktail glass looks a lot like a martini glass. The main difference is the cocktail glass is a bit more rounded. These glasses typically range from 3 to 6 ounces (with the occasional 10-ounce glass), this glass is the essential glass when it comes to serving shaken and stirred cocktails. This stemmed glass can be fragile, so be sure to handle it with care.

Highball Glass

The highball glass is a tall, straight-sided, and slim bar glass. This sturdy glass, typically filled with ice, is used for long drinks like a Cape Codder, or a Bloody Mary. These bar glasses are typically 8 to 10 ounces, with a taller 12 to 14-ounce version called a chimney.

Old-Fashion Glasses

The old-fashion glass is the most iconic whiskey glass. Often referred to as rocks glass or a tumbler, this 4 to 8-ounce glass is short, stocky, and straight-sided. It often has a heavy glass bottom so it can stand muddling. This glass is best suited for a mixed drink  served over ice, like an Old Fashion.

Double Old-Fashion Glasses

The double old-fashion glass is a 12 to 16-ounce glass typically used larger lowballs and double-shot drinks with mixers on ice.

Shot Glass

This sturdy little glass typically holds 1.5 ounces when full. Other versions are more tall and narrow and can hold between 2 and 4 ounces.
These glasses can also be used in the place of jiggers for measurement purposes in the event you don't have a jigger. But seriously. Get a jigger.

 

How To Choose The Right Type Of Glass – The Practical Thoughts

When looking at getting cocktail glasses, be honest with yourself. If you never drink a Moscow Mule, but you think the glass is cool, get a copper mug. This is for you in your living room. While the nora glass, tiki mug, snifter glass, and cordial glass might look cool in your kitchen, chances are quite high that they’ll never be taken down from the shelf. When it comes to choosing the right drinking glass, you need to be practical, but you also want it to look nice in your home. A copper mug, old fashioned glass, and a martini glass are all traditional staples to add to any bar cart.

Would you ever see a mixologist using anything but a mixing glass to mix drinks? No. But is anyone going to care in your home if you use a red solo cup? Probably not. If they do, more drinks for you.

Lastly, just do yourself a favor and get dishwasher safe glasses. After a great night of mixing classic cocktail drinks, the last thing anyone wants to do is dishes. The next morning, you aren't going to want to do dishes either. Just get glasses you can throw in the dishwasher and move on.

Get Mixing

Not sure  which cocktail to make? Let your glassware decide for you! With these glasses, you will have the glasses (or an easy substitute) you need for almost any cocktail. As you host parties or host a party of one, you are now one step closer to master home mixologist.

A large part of mixology is the show. Any glass or cup does the job of holding a cocktail. With these glasses, you can start to provide a far better visual experience for those you mix for.

If you are looking for mixing inspiration, check out our full store of cocktails made by your favorite mixologists. With our patented twist bottle technology, your cocktail is always fresh and delicious.