The best cocktail glasses (and straws) to help you stock your summer bar

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The right glasses for your high-end cocktails

A good cocktail consists of a mix of bold and subtle flavors. The way humans taste those flavors is heavily dependent on obvious variables such as temperature, and also more obscure aspects like how the liquid contacts the tongue. To that end, the type of glass used to serve a cocktail has a big influence on the drink’s quality.

It’s not only about taste, either. The way a cocktail looks also has a profound effect on the overall experience. The last thing you want to do is marginalize a drink’s appearance because you don’t have the right glass for showcasing colors, gradients and garnishes. Luckily for home bartenders, there’s no shortage of high-end cocktail glasses to choose from.

How to pick the right cocktail glasses

First, consider what type of cocktails you and your guests like the most. If you’re a big fan of whiskey, make sure to collect some smaller glasses that can accommodate the size of a common dram. If fruity, sour beverages are more your thing, consider wide-rimmed glasses that increase surface area and help bring out some aromatics. And of course, if you love to compare and contrast various beers and wines, you’ll need a set of glasses that work perfectly with each variety to get the most out of your favorite beverages.

Cocktail glass size

Classic bar drinks such as the old-fashioned, martini and cosmopolitan don’t usually have a ton of volume. For that style, it’s worth having some traditional, mid-size rocks glasses on hand. For enjoying bright, refreshing cocktails, you’ll need something larger.

And while most people are familiar with the classic pint glass, many types of craft beer taste significantly better from tulip glasses, for example. Similarly, fans of high-end wine know full well that the size of the glass helps to evaluate its body and appearance while allowing for the right amount of oxidation.

Shape and surface area

The easiest example of shape influencing a drink’s quality is champagne, typically served in the iconic champagne flute. Tall and slim glasses such as flutes minimize the liquid’s contact with air and prevent the loss of all-important carbonation. Any drink that’s carbonated or includes a fizzy mixer will benefit from a tall glass, rather than a wide one.

On the other hand, drinks that rely on smell as much as direct flavor works best in wide-rimmed glasses. Allowing fragrant liquors and bitters contact with the air helps release those critical aromatics and prepare your palate for a powerful flavor every time you raise the glass to your lips.

Cocktail glass material

Simple glass is the most common material, but it’s not the only one. If you have rambunctious kids or pets or plan to enjoy beverages outside a lot, plastic is worth considering. It rarely delivers the same high-quality experience as glass, but it’s practically unbreakable. If it does break, you won’t find yourself cleaning innumerable glass shards from your lawn, patio or pool area.

Then there are crystal glasses. Despite the name, crystal glasses aren’t made from actual crystal, but instead, a subtype of glass with a chemical such as a metal oxide added to the mix. Crystal behaves quite differently from glass.

Crystal glasses usually have higher density but lower thickness than common glasses, because the material melts at a lower temperature and remains strong even when very thin. Don’t mistake that strength for durability, though, because high-end crystal is typically much thinner and therefore more brittle than common glass.

Crystal also tends to look fancier than standard glass, due to the way it refracts light. Since crystal is worked at lower temperatures than glass, it can hold more intricate designs and patterns. Those patterns, coupled with the refraction crystal offers, can make for spectacular, even prismatic effects when light plays off the glass and beverage.

If you love fancy cocktails, it’s worth investing in a set of crystal glasses. Be warned, though, that they require care to keep from breaking and can’t go in the dishwasher. You also might be surprised just how big of an investment you have to make to get the most high-end crystal cocktail glasses.

Best cocktail glasses for home bars

Libbey Z-Stem Martini Glasses

Whether you make yours with gin or vodka, these novel glasses ensure your favorite martini looks great.

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