A glass may indeed be simply a vessel to drink from, but did you know that different glassware is best for different beverages? Whether you want to impress your guests with beautiful glasses and decanters or simply make the most of an evening tipple, let’s take a look at which glass suits which drink.
Why do we have different glassware for different drinks?
As well as merely holding liquid, a drinking glass can impact how your beverage tastes. Over the years, certain glasses have been designed to enhance aromas and correct temperatures to make the most of different types of drinks. This is especially true of cocktails, which contain a mixture of ingredients that work together to create new flavours and scents.
Which glassware for which drink?
Cocktails
Let’s start with cocktails. Why are some served in tall glasses, some in short ones, and some in shallow glasses?
Martini glasses have a long stem and a conical glass. The iconic shallow bowl is ideal for cocktails that don’t contain ice, and the large surface area helps release aromas. Both the cone shape and long stem also helps maintain the temperature. These glasses are ideal for Martini and Cosmopolitans.
Margarita glasses are similar to Martini glasses but have a rounded, two-tiered shape. They are usually solely used for the classic tequila Margarita cocktail, and you’ll often see them with a layer of salt around the rim.
Short cocktails that contain more alcohol than mixer work well in lowball glasses, also known as rocks or Old Fashioned glasses. They have a solid base that is ideal for muddling ingredients. They are squat and cylindrical, with enough room for ice and a broad opening so you can embrace the drink’s aroma.
Lowball glasses are also perfect for drinking whiskey on the rocks.
For longer cocktails that contain a large proportion of mixer, highball glasses provide enough space for ice and plenty of liquid. With these cocktails, the aroma is usually less important. Hence, a narrow shape is fine — it also prevents sparkling mixers from going flat.
Wine
Have you ever noticed that red wine and white wine glasses are slightly different? Both have a stem — this is so you can hold the glass without transferring heat to the liquid.
Red wine tends to work best in large, bowl-shaped glasses that allow you to swirl the drink and release its nuanced aromas. White wine glasses, on the other hand, are often narrower to keep the beverage cooler.
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Champagne
Nowadays, you’ll typically see champagne and other sparkling wines served in narrow flutes. The shape encourages the drink to retain its bubbles for as long as possible — a smaller surface area means less air can get in. Champagne flutes also usually have a bead at the bottom of the glass to encourage the bubbles to generate.
However, did you know that champagne was once served in rounded Coupe glasses? In the 17th Century, this sophisticated shape was the preferred option for a glass of fizz (and rumoured to have been based on Marie Antoinette’s breast, though this is unfortunately untrue!). However, the shallow bowl shape wasn’t overly effective for keeping champagne bubbly. It’s now a popular option for chilled cocktails, instead.
Gin
Originating in Spain in the 1700s, the Gin Balloon is a large, round glass with plenty of space for ice, mixer, and garnish. Why not experiment with different flavour tonics and fruit decorations?
Beer
When it comes to beer glasses, there are numerous varieties — from handled steins, tankards and mugs to curved pokals and tulips. The quintessential British pint glass is probably a conical one (essentially an upside-down cone shape). However, another common pint glass down the pub is a nonic one, which has a bulge near the top of the glass to improve grip and prevent the glasses from chipping when stacked in storage.
On the whole, beer glasses hold a pint (568 ml) and have a wide opening with enough space for the layer of frothy foam (or head) that comes from pouring beer on tap.
Brandy and Cognac
Strong ‘snifter’ spirits, such as brandy and cognac, are most effective when warmed slightly, even if served on the rocks. Brandy glasses have short stems so that you can cradle them in your hand, helping to heat the liquid slightly and release more of its aromas.
These glasses usually have a large bowl shape, often with a tapered top, so you can swirl the spirit and savour the scents as you sip.
Glassware for every drink
Whether you’re toasting champagne in stunning crystal flutes for a special celebration, serving a fine Scotch from a decanter, or enjoying a snifter of brandy, at Pyramid Glass, we have a beautiful selection of crystal glassware for every occasion. Why not explore our collection and savour every sip?