A proper cocktail starts with quality ingredients and the right tools. Once you’ve measured and mixed, selecting a glass is an essential next step. Glassware can transform a drink, highlighting aroma, enhancing texture and temperature, and giving the drink the presentation it deserves.
Our glassware guide makes it easy to match each cocktail with the perfect glass. Once you understand the ideal combination of shape, size, and weight for your drink, the choice becomes second nature, and every cocktail feels more considered.
The Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is a short glass designed to hold spirits served neat (without ice) or on the rocks (with ice). Its solid, substantial base provides a comfortable heft in the hand while providing stability for muddling directly in the glass and slowing dilution by offering insulation. The wide rim lets your spirit’s aroma open up with every sip.
Traditional: Old Fashioned, Negroni, single spirits neat or on the rocks
Less Traditional: Margaritas with a big rock, Mai Tai's, Daiquiri on the rocks
The Hi-Ball
With its tall, narrow profile, the Hi-Ball glass is well suited for mixed drinks that combine spirits, non-alcoholic mixers, and ice. The high sides allow ice cubes to stack and distribute evenly throughout the drink, while the narrow opening helps preserve carbonation. Its proportions keep drinks balanced and cold, making it ideal for slow sipping, especially for larger cocktails. Thin-rimmed Hi-Ball glasses lend themselves especially well to garnishes, offering a sharp edge on which to perch sliced fruit or a sprig of fresh herbs.
Traditional: Bloody Mary, Gin & Tonic, Mojito, Rum & Coke, Tom Collins, Gin Fizz, Dark & Stormy
Less Traditional: any spritzes (sparking wine + soda + liquor), Mai Tai's with crushed ice, any drink you wish with a lot of ice
The Coupe
Historically used for Champagne, the coupe is perfect for drinks served up—cocktails that are chilled with ice, then strained and served without it—like Martinis and Manhattans. Over time, the coupe was largely replaced by the flute for Champagne service, since a taller, narrower bowl better preserves carbonation. The slender stem helps keep your drink cool, while the curved sides make it easy to sip and less prone to spills than a traditional martini glass.
Traditional: Martini, Manhattan, Daiquiri, Gimlet, Aviation
Less Traditional: Negroni, Old Fashioned, any liquor
The Nick and Nora
The name Nick and Nora was coined in the 1980s by Dale DeGroff, a bartender at New York’s Rainbow Room, in his search for a glass that felt more refined than the large, angular martini glasses popular at the time. The name is a nod to cocktail-loving characters from a 1930s novel, fitting for a glass inspired by vintage stemware. Like the coupe, its curved sides make for easy sipping. The smaller size is perfect for spirit-forward cocktails served up and offers a contained and balanced presentation.
Traditional: Pisco Sour, Paper Plane, Bee's Knees, Sidecar
Less Traditional: any wine
Spanish Glassware
In the cafés and restaurants of Barcelona, glassware is clean-lined and built for daily use. Utilitarian design keeps the focus on what’s being poured, from crisp lagers to house wine.
Available in three sizes, our Spanish glassware is designed for easy use at the table or bar. The 17 oz glass works well for beer, with gently tapered sides that support a steady rise of bubbles and a balanced head. The 8 oz glass is reminiscent of the everyday wine service found in Spain, suited to smaller pours that remain fresh and cool.
Tiki Glass
Tiki may call to mind tropical breezes and carved mugs, but the tradition is a uniquely American invention rooted in postwar cocktail culture. Today’s revival focuses on well-balanced drinks made with rum, fresh citrus, and layered syrups. A good tiki glass offers room for crushed ice and generous garnishes, keeping the drink cool and enhancing its multidimensional flavor.
Traditional: Mai Tai, Zombie, Painkiller, Scorpion
Less Traditional: non-alcoholic punches, Piña Colada, Rum Punch, Hurricane
A Few Helpful Tips
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Any cocktail can be enjoyed in any vessel. Think of this as a reference, not a rulebook. You can enjoy a Margarita in any of these glasses.
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For a colder cocktail, chill your glassware in advance. Set it in the freezer or fill it with ice while you prepare your drink, then empty it just before pouring.
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All of our cocktail glasses are dishwasher safe, but hand washing is recommended for the coupes.
The Finishing Touch
Good glassware doesn’t just hold a drink, it completes it. These guidelines offer a place to start, but the best glass is ultimately the one you reach for. With a few well-chosen pieces on hand, every pour can feel intentional from the first sip to the last.
Salut!
