Cocktail Glasses Types

Stock your bar with the correct glassware and impress your guests.

Many people cannot tell the difference -- or aren't even aware there is a difference -- between a red wine glass and a white wine glass. Certain glasses are made for certain alcoholic beverages and though it's not a requirement that you drink your wine in a particular glass, you will find that bartenders only serve drinks in their "matching" glasses. To impress your friends and family members, become familiar with the most common cocktail glasses so that you can stock your at-home bar with the correct glassware.

Martini Glass

A martini glass is a triangular glass used to serve martinis. Dry martinis, martinis on the rocks and cosmopolitans are often seen in these glasses. Martinis come in a variety of flavors and tastes and are all served in the martini glass, which holds around 8 oz.

Champagne Flutes

Champagne flutes are tall and slim, almost resembling a tulip. Other than Champagne, bartenders serve Champagne based drinks such as mimosas in these flutes. The Champagne flute holds 7 oz. of champagne.

Red and White Wine Glasses

Wine glasses are larger than most cocktail glasses with rounded tops. White wine is typically served in the thinner version of the wine glass, which holds about 8 oz. Red wines are served in the fuller, rounder version of the wine glass, which holds 10 oz.

Beer Stein

Beer mugs are actually referred to as steins. Steins are used to serve beer and ales and hold 10 oz. of beer. Sometimes beer mugs are kept in the fridge or freezer to add an extra bit of cold to your beer.

Highball and Lowball Glasses

Highball glasses are where you typically find your Bloody Mary or Long Island Iced Tea. The glass holds about 14 oz. of liquid and is also used by some bartenders to serve some beers. Lowball glasses are the shorter version of a highball glass and are used to serve whiskey drinks and other mixed drinks, such as rum and cokes.

Margarita Glass

Your margarita glass, or cocktail glass, is similar to a martini glass except that the top portion is rounded and flares slightly. Frozen margaritas, on the rocks and other cocktails such as daiquiris are served in these cocktail glasses. The cocktail glass serves just over 8 oz.

Hurricane Glass

These glasses are tall like a Champagne flute and wide like a beer mug with a curvaceous wave in the center. If you've been on a cruise ship or any tropical destination, you've very likely had a pina colada or another tropical beverage served in a hurricane glass. The hurricane serves 10 oz.

Shot Glasses

Shot glasses are probably the most well known barware piece. The typical shot glass serves 1 oz. of liquor, which is all that goes into the glass. Mixed drinks do not go in shot glasses. Common shots include vodka, tequila, brandy or any other liquor you desire.

References

• Cocktail Mixing Master: Cocktail Glass Guide
• Bartender Guide: Barware