You don't have to be a professional bartender to serve a drink that will impress your guests. Knowing which glass pairs with what liquor or cocktail can significantly upgrade your at-home bartending game. Learn more about several types of glasses for drinks—including shots, cocktails, and wine. With this bartender-friendly guide, you'll have a well-stocked liquor cart and an impressive home bar glassware collection in no time.
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Cocktail Glass (aka Martini Glass)
Yeji Kim
Sometimes called a martini glass, a cocktail glass is best for aromatic mixed, strained drinks served "up" (without ice). Use this type of bar glass for martinis, Cosmopolitans, and other ice-less mixed drinks.
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Coupe Glass
Yeji Kim
A coupe glass has a shape similar to the martini glass, but it has a shallow bowl at the top of its long stem, which helps prevent heat from your hand from affecting the drink. This type of cocktail glass is typically used for frothier beverages such as a gin fizz but also works great for a Manhattan and other classics.
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Collins and Highball Glass
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Both of these glasses can be used interchangeably and are great all-purpose drinking glasses. A highball is typically used for tall mixed drinks like mojitos or gin and tonics and generally holds 10 to 12 ounces of liquid. A Collins glass is a little larger, holding 12 to 14 ounces.
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Delmonico Glass
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The Delmonico is a smaller version of the Collins glass with a slight flare at the top. It's the smallest of the highball glass family, holding about 6 to 8 ounces of liquid. It's ideal for drinks like amaretto sours.
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Champagne Flute
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Despite some attempts to push it out of popularity, the flute still reigns as the ultimate sparkling wine glass (and cocktail glass for champagne cocktails). With a tapered rim, the Champagne flute's design helps bubbles last longer. You can also use a flute for drinks like the French 75 or a Bellini.
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Champagne Tulip
Like the flute, a Champagne tulip glass has a long stem to prevent body heat from affecting the drink's temperature. Unlike the flute, though, this glass flares out instead of tapering in, stopping it from keeping the bubbles in your drink. Use it for mixed Champagne cocktails and sparkling wines.
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Champagne Saucer
Also called a coupe glass, the Champagne saucer has a rounder bowl and flatter rim. Serve Champagne and sparkling wines in this glass. It's also perfect for cocktails garnished with fresh fruit.
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Nick and Nora Glass
Yeji Kim
The Nick and Nora glass is a combination of the martini and the Coupe glass. The name comes from the fictional characters Nick and Nora Charles of The Thin Man movies. While it's a versatile bar glass, it is normally used for cocktails like the Sidecar or to serve Champagne.
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Rocks Glass (aka Old Fashioned Glass)
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A rocks glass (sometimes called an old-fashioned glass) is designed for drinks made in the glass, like a Negroni or the namesake old-fashioned. This type of glass is also ideal for straight liquors on the rocks or for serving a whiskey neat (no ice).
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Snifter (aka Brandy Glass)
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The short, wide nature of a snifter glass (also referred to as a brandy glass) is perfect for serving heady after-dinner spirits. Standard drinks served in a snifter include brandies like Armagnac and Cognac, bourbon, whiskey, and aged rums.
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White Wine Glass
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This glass is a little taller and narrower than a red wine glass. It's perfectly OK to serve sparkling wine in this glass, too, as well as wine cocktails, and those with ice are best served in a white wine glass.
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Red Wine Glass
Yeji Kim
Red wine glasses are usually larger than white wine glasses. These wine glasses have a bowl-like shape, which allows for aeration and smoothing of the tannins. The size makes these glasses an excellent pick for a classic sangria, too.
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Margarita Glass
While you can certainly serve a margarita in other cocktail glasses, a margarita glass is specifically designed for this fun drink. A long stem helps keep your drink cool and away from your body heat, while the wide rim is perfect for adding salt—a staple of classic margaritas.
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Hurricane Glass
A hurricane glass is tall with a shorter stem and has plenty of space for a large, cool cocktail. Serve frozen daiquiris, piña coladas, and, of course, hurricane cocktails in this glass. Just add sunglasses and a bathing suit for a relaxing at-home vacation with your delicious drink.
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Moscow Mule Mug
The namesake of this bar glass is best served chilled on the rocks, which is why a copper mug is perfect. The metal keeps your Moscow mule drink cool so you can enjoy it on a warm day. You can also serve a variety of other refreshing cold drinks in this mug.
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Julep Cup
This metal cup is ideal for serving cold drinks with ice, like a mint julep. With beautiful details around the bottom, a julep cup is a wonderful addition to your home bar glassware. Bring it out on hot summer days for a refreshing cocktail.
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Sour Glass
Akin to a white wine glass, a sour glass is made for enjoying small drinks. Holding 3 to 6 ounces of liquid, use this specialized cocktail glass for serving whiskey sours and other simple cocktails. Plus, the long stem helps keep the drink cold.
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Bodega Glass
Durable and versatile, this short cocktail glass will work for various drinks, including punch, wine, and mixed cocktails. Because it's short, it's an easy-to-hold glass, but this makes it so the drink's temperature will be affected if held for a long time.
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Gin Goblet
The large bowl of a gin goblet allows the powerful aromas of gin to infuse your taste buds, while its long stem helps the drink stay cool. Plus, with its large size, you can easily add ice to the goblet for chilled cocktails, like a gin and tonic.
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Glencairn Whiskey Glass
Shaped like a tulip, the Glencairn whiskey glass is easy to hold and helps trap your drink's aromas. Use this glass for drinks like Scotch, bourbon, and whiskey.
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Beer Mug
Beer mugs work great for drinking beer without affecting the drink's temperature. They vary in size and typically hold anywhere from 10 to 14 ounces of liquid. Plus, since they're easy to carry, it's the perfect glass for tailgate parties.
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Pint Glass
Another way to serve beer is in a tall pint glass, which usually holds a bottle's worth of beer. Try chilling a pint glass in your freezer before serving to help a room-temperature beer chill faster.
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Pilsner Glass
Also common for drinking beer, pilsner glasses are often used for lagers. Their fluted shape gives this beer glass a more sophisticated look, making it a perfect addition to your home bar.
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