Types Of Glassware And What They're Used For

There are practically as many types of glassware as there are different varieties of drinks to put in them. There are traditional choices for specific types of beverages and there are whimsical, silly options too. While some folks might get their haunches up about what glass you pour their cocktail into, most people go about their day without thinking too much about it. Neither approach is incorrect, obviously, but it is rewarding to at least be able to make an informed decision.

One of the most important aspects of glassware, that comes up again and again, is its shape. Wine glasses, in particular, are singled out for their use based on the proportions of their curves (or lack thereof) and how that influences the enjoyment of their contents. Generally speaking, a narrow rim traps precious aromas in the glass and allows for a more complete appreciation of the wine. This applies to other glasses as well and many beer glasses are conceived with this in mind.

It's silly to pretend that you must always have the exact correct glass for any given drink. However, it can also be a lot of fun to go to the effort to ensure you are getting the optimal experience. Glasses are also very decorative and can form a stunning display in your home or bar, so keep in mind that this guide can also help you beautify your environment even as it assists you in choosing the right glass for your drink.

Coupes were initially conceived as a sophisticated way to sip champagne. More recently, however, wine experts have come to agree that the wide surface of these shallow glasses allow too many of champagne's precious bubbles to dissipate, taking with them a great deal of aroma, not to mention charm, as summarized by the Huffington Post.

However, these shallow vessels have had new life breathed into them by the modern cocktail renaissance as bartenders turn to them as a perfect container for cocktails served "up" – or chilled but without ice. The stem keeps hot hands away from the drink and prevents things from getting too warm too quickly (via Advanced Mixology) — something that a chilled glass also assists with. Many high-end cocktails bars store their coupes in neat rows in a dedicated freezer. (Although that is not the only way to accomplish this feat according to the Spruce Eats.)

The icy glass adds another sensory component to sipping on a well-made cocktail. An apocryphal story about the original coupe being modeled after *ahem* a certain part of Marie Antoinette's anatomy has no basis in history, but it does make for a colorful origin story for this indispensable glass.

A tall, narrow drinking glass that also is referred to as a highball glass — although some consider them separate types based on capacity — the Collins glass is extremely versatile. Don't let confusion over names get in the way of using this vessel when it's appropriate (Bevvy agrees).

Associated with the Tom Collins cocktail — a refreshing mix of gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and soda water — this is a perfect glass in which to serve a bubbly drink over ice. Another class of drinks, called fizzes which are extra frothy and fizzy are at their best served in a glass like this one. The most famous of these drinks is the storied Ramos Gin Fizz from New Orleans, a delicious mix of gin, citrus, cream, egg whites, and aromatic orange flower water.

Highballs aren't only another name for the glass, they're also a very simple combination of a spirit and a mixer. Originally a mixture of whiskey and ginger ale and named after a signal that let railroad engineers know that the way was all clear ahead (according to Leaf), more recently, starting in Japan, perfectionist bartenders have sought to take this simple formula to the heights of erudite sophistication. Every detail, from the temperature of the ice, to the type of water used to make the club soda is paid special attention and part of this demanding ritual is serving it in the proper glass. Thus proving the old saying that simplicity is a sign of perfection.

This is a very broad category of drinkware and a great many varieties of glasses that fit this description. What primarily distinguishes a red wine glass is its larger size. Generously proportioned, these glasses are meant to be filled only part way — specifically 5 ounces. As the Spruce Eats explains, this extra space allows you to swirl the wine and introduce oxygen into it. The extra oxygen draws out more nuance in both the wine's aroma and its taste (via Wine Enthusiast).

Many of these glasses are designed with a specific type of wine in mind. Broadly speaking, a red wine glass that is taller and narrower is better for types like cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, or red bordeaux. Meanwhile, rounder shapes — sometimes called balloon glasses – are reserved for wines like red burgundy (which must be made from Pinot Noir) or Nebbiolo, where the round shape accentuates the sometimes fleeting, delicate aromas.

While it's certainly not necessary to have a wide range of different types of glasses at home, it can be fun to go out of your way to serve a particular wine in its dedicated glass. A stemmed glass is traditional and prevents a drinker's hand from warming up a wine, something that can alter the experience of drinking more than you may think (via Wine Folly).

The martini glass is practically a symbol of the cocktail, with its instantly recognizable profile of sharp, angular lines. Named after a timeless recipe, the martini glass has managed to rename an entire generation of various tini drinks (even if the only thing they shared in common was being served out of one of these, as Eater explains).

The original formula is little more than straight gin tempered with some amount of vermouth — the proportion of which is usually left open to interpretation. This is itself a variation on an older drink called a Martinez, originally composed of a softer style of gin called Old Tom and sweet — rather than dry — vermouth. A more modern take is to substitute the gin for vodka, as well as to ratchet down the vermouth to practically nothing. The important thing to remember is that there's no wrong way to enjoy a martini and, as long as you like it, you should feel empowered to drink it however you please.

However, not everyone thinks these glasses are worth serving a martini out of, the Kitchn notes that the wide, shallow top of the glass is especially easy to spill. Despite the misgivings, modern bartenders have about its utility, the martini glass has secured itself a place in popular consciousness and remains an image irrevocably linked to cocktail culture.

A stylish glass whose long, slender profile lets drinkers appreciate the carbonation and the color of a fine beer. It typically holds less than a pint glass according to Bevvy. The beverage that this glass is named after originated in Bohemia in Central Europe when locals brought in German experts to consult them on beer making (via the Spruce Eats.) The simple combination of unroasted barley — unlike what the Germans at the time were doing — flavorful hops and high-quality water produced a clean-tasting, refreshing beer that was immediately exported all over Europe.

These days a pilsner (or pils) is one of the most imitated styles of beer in the world. American light beer is just one famous example of this crisp, simple style.

One of the hallmarks of a well-made, well-poured pilsner is a substantial amount of dense, white foam on top –- called the "head" of the beer by experts –- that this glass shows off particularly well. The flaring lip lets the foam form in a thick layer on top.

No matter the name, this glass is capable of serving much more than beer. Modern bartenders like to load them up with crushed ice and fill them with creatively-flavored mixtures, especially with elaborate fruit or herb garnishes.

There is a wide scope of possibilities beyond the pantheon of classic glasses that most bars stock. Typically, these others are designed with one particular drink in mind, whether that's the oversized margarita chalice — originally a variation on a Coupe glass, per Margaritaville — or the Glencairn, conceived specifically for the enjoyment of Single Malt Scotch.

Sipping a tropical flavored drink out of a coconut, whether ceramic or the real thing, just feels like a celebration. So does drinking a mint julep — a famous American invention — from a frosty cold, silver-plated tin. Certainly, you can drink these concoctions out of any old thing -– it's better than not enjoying them at all –- but sometimes it's worth doing it right.

Other examples of drinkware imagined for specific beverages include the Irish coffee glass (meant to serve the potent combination of hot coffee, Irish whiskey and a float of cream on top, per Serious Eats), the copper Moscow mule mug, and the curvy Hurricane glass — the name is a reference to the cocktail of the same name.

These days, creative bartenders are trying to set themselves apart with their choice of glasses and they are rethinking the previously limited variety of acceptable possibilities, finding they can add something special to a cocktail just from the choice of serving vessel. These sorts of glasses are the least necessary and most frivolous, but that often makes them the most fun.