Bar Glassware and their Uses
If you’re hosting a St. Patrick’s Day party this year, it’s important to not only have a stocked bar, but the right glassware. There are many reasons why certain drinks are served in a particular style of glass. Visual presentation is a factor, but there are also practical reasons bartenders choose glass shapes to serve your favourite cocktail, beer, or glass of wine — temperature control enhancing the aroma, aeration of the liquid — there is science behind every glass!
Highball Glass
A highball glass is a tall tumbler that holds 8-12oz of liquid. Highballs are ideal for serving cocktails that contain ice and include a carbonated beverage. The tall, narrow, shape allows the ice to stack which keeps the drink cold while ensuring the ice melts slowly and does not dilute the drink. It also helps to keep carbonated mixers bubbly. This glass is traditionally used for drinks with a 2:1 ratio (2 parts mixer to 1 part alcohol) such as the gin & tonic, Cuba libre (rum & coke), and scotch & soda.
Lowball and Old Fashioned Glasses
Though they are often used interchangeably, there is a slight difference between a lowball (also called a “rocks glass”) and a proper old fashioned glass. Both are short tumblers that hold 6-10oz of liquid, and feature a short, wide, shape with a sturdy base. They are most often used for sipping straight spirits (either neat or with 1-2 ice cubes), but the solid base also allows for ingredients to be muddled without breaking the glass (such as in an old fashioned cocktail).
The difference? A true old fashioned glass traditionally features a cut glass design.
Champagne Flute
A champagne flute is a tall, slender glass with a long stem and a tapered bowl that holds 6-10oz of liquid. This shape is perfect for serving sparkling wines because the stem keeps your hand from warming the drink, and the taper is designed to retain the bubbles by minimizing the area from which they can escape. The narrowness also reduces the ratio of oxygen-to-wine, which enhances the flavour and aroma.
Martini Glass
Also known as a cocktail glass, the martini glass is perhaps the most iconic shape in barware. The inverted cone bowl holds 8-15oz of liquid. The martini glass is best for drinks that are served “straight up” (shaken or stirred with ice to chill, then strained into the glass without the ice) such as a cosmopolitan, gimlet or (of course) martini. The tapered shape keeps cocktail ingredients from separating and allows garnishes on picks (such as olives) to easily rest in the glass.
If you’re worried about spills, a coupe glass is an excellent alternative as it has a shallower, round bowl.