A home bar does not need a cupboard full of glassware. Most classic cocktails are served one of three ways, over ice, long with a mixer, or “up” with no ice at all, and one good glass for each covers most of what you will make. The rest are specialists you add as your drinking habits ask for them.
This guide lists the glass types worth owning in the order we would buy them, explains the job each one does with reference to the International Bartenders Association’s official recipes and Difford’s Guide, and names one well-made set for each type. For a wider choice within each shape, see our main guide to the best cocktail glasses.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant bar looks for in glassware, the makers’ own specifications on their Amazon listings, and published bar references, which we name.
Quick verdict: the best cocktail glasses to have first
Buy in this order: a rocks glass for drinks over ice (our pick is Spiegelau’s Perfect Serve double old fashioned), a tall highball glass for Palomas and anything with soda (Luigi Bormioli Top Class), and a coupe for drinks served up (Libbey Capone). Difford’s Guide says a Collins, a coupe and an old fashioned or rocks glass cover most of the cocktails it lists. After that, add a margarita glass, a Nick & Nora, a martini glass, caballitos for tequila and flutes, in whatever order fits the drinks you make.
The first five glass types compared
The first five glass types to buy, with our pick for each and the capacity and count each maker states. All eight types are covered in full below.
| Glasses | Glass type | What it serves | Capacity & count | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocks / double old fashioned | Old Fashioned, Negroni, margarita on the rocks | 12.5 oz, 12 glasses | View on Amazon | |
| Highball | Paloma, ranch water, mixed drinks with soda | 11.75 oz, 6 glasses | View on Amazon | |
| Coupe | Daiquiri, margarita served up, sours | 8.6 oz, 4 glasses | View on Amazon | |
| Margarita | Salt-rimmed and frozen margaritas | 16 oz, 4 glasses | View on Amazon | |
| Nick & Nora | Small stirred drinks: Manhattan, martini | 5.25 oz, 4 glasses | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Capacity and count are as stated on each maker’s listing; check the listing before you buy.
Our picks for the best cocktail glasses to have, in buying order
Each section below explains one glass type: the drinks it is made for, the size that works, and why it sits where it does in the buying order. We then name one set for that type from a maker that publishes its specifications. The order assumes a household that makes a few cocktails a week, including the agave drinks we know best; if you never drink martinis, skip that step and move on.
1. Spiegelau Perfect Serve Double Old Fashioned Glasses, Case of 12 – The Rocks Glass Comes First
The job: a short, wide tumbler with a heavy base, for any drink built over ice. The IBA’s Old Fashioned is muddled and stirred right in the old fashioned glass, and the same glass serves a Negroni, a margarita on the rocks, a whiskey with one big cube or a mezcal with a splash of soda. Difford’s Guide gives 9 to 11 ounces for a rocks glass and 12 to 16 for a double old fashioned, and advises a “luxuriously large glass with a thick heavy base”. It comes first because it is the glass you will use most, and it doubles as an everyday tumbler.
Our pick: Spiegelau’s Perfect Serve double old fashioned holds 12.5 ounces, enough for a large cube with room to spare. Spiegelau developed the Perfect Serve line with mixologist Stephan Hinz, and its own listing for this glass (item 4500176, set of four) says it is made from lead-free crystal in Europe. This listing is the foodservice case of 12 (item 4508016), sold through Libbey, which distributes Spiegelau in the United States; it is the same glass as Spiegelau’s retail set of four, which was on back-order when we last checked. It is dishwasher safe; Spiegelau adds that you should avoid harsh detergents and rinse well, or hand wash and polish for the best finish.
Why we like it
- 12.5 oz, in Difford’s double old fashioned range
- Heavy base, as Difford’s recommends
- Lead-free crystal, European-made, per Spiegelau
- Designed with mixologist Stephan Hinz
Key specifications
| Model | 4508016 (Perfect Serve, foodservice case) |
|---|---|
| Material | Lead-free crystal glass (Spiegelau) |
| Capacity | 12.5 oz |
| Count | 12 glasses |
| Dimensions | Not stated |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (Spiegelau) |
| Made in | Europe (country not stated) |
| Care | Mild detergent, rinse well; hand polish for best clarity |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone setting up a bar from scratch. A rocks glass handles stirred drinks, drinks on the rocks and spirits with ice, and when it is not holding a cocktail it is a good water glass.
Skip it if you only want a few glasses or already own sturdy tumblers. Any heavy-based 10- to 13-ounce glass does this job, so spend the money on step two instead.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The most-used cocktail glass
- Room for large ice
- Dishwasher safe crystal
Cons
- Sold only as a case of 12
- Dimensions not stated
2. Luigi Bormioli Top Class Highball Glasses, Set of 6 – A Tall Glass for the Paloma
The job: a tall, narrow glass for drinks lengthened with soda, tonic or juice. The IBA’s Paloma, tequila, lime, a pinch of salt and pink grapefruit soda over ice, is built in a highball glass, and so are a ranch water, a Cuba libre and a gin and tonic. Difford’s Guide puts a true highball at 6 to 10 ounces and calls anything bigger, usually 12 to 14 ounces, a Collins; either does the job at home.
Our pick: Luigi Bormioli’s Top Class highball sits between the two at 11.75 ounces, a size that suits a measured pour of spirit with plenty of ice and mixer. The listing gives the size as 2.6 inches across and 5 inches tall, and says the glasses are stackable for storage. They are made from Luigi Bormioli’s SON.hyx lead-free crystal glass, with laser-cut rims the maker says are reinforced, and they are dishwasher safe.
Why we like it
- 11.75 oz, a useful middle size
- Stackable, per Luigi Bormioli
- Reinforced laser-cut rims
- Lead-free crystal glass, set of six, dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | 12635/01 (Top Class) |
|---|---|
| Material | SON.hyx lead-free crystal glass |
| Capacity | 11.75 oz |
| Count | 6 glasses |
| Dimensions | 2.6 in diameter, 5 in tall |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (Luigi Bormioli) |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Care | Dishwasher; stack to store |
Why we recommend it
It is the second glass because long drinks are the easiest cocktails to make well at home: pour, add ice, top up. A set of six covers a small gathering and everyday iced tea.
Skip it if you like very tall, generous drinks with lots of crushed ice, such as a mojito; a 14-ounce Collins gives more room.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Six glasses per set
- Stacks to save space
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Short for a Collins-style drink
- Origin not stated
3. Libbey Capone Coupe Glasses, Set of 4 – The Stemmed Glass That Does the Most
The job: a stemmed glass for drinks shaken or stirred with ice and then strained, served with no ice in the glass. The IBA strains its daiquiri and its margarita into a chilled cocktail glass, and the stem keeps your hand from warming the drink. Difford’s Guide calls the coupe a good place to start because it can also serve drinks usually presented in martini, Nick & Nora or margarita glasses, and notes that it has largely displaced the V-shaped martini glass.
Our pick: Libbey’s Capone coupe has a vintage look with a diamond-cut pattern, holds 8.6 ounces and comes as a set of four. Libbey calls the glasses sturdy and says they are dishwasher safe, which matters for a glass you will use often. The maker suggests them for sidecars, daiquiris and espresso martinis, and the wide bowl suits sparkling wine as well.
Why we like it
- One glass for most drinks served up
- 8.6-oz bowl with room for a shaken drink
- Diamond-cut vintage pattern
- Dishwasher safe, per Libbey
Key specifications
| Model | 56727 (Capone) |
|---|---|
| Material | Glass |
| Capacity | 8.6 oz |
| Count | 6 glasses |
| Dimensions | Not stated |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (Libbey) |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Care | Dishwasher; chill in the freezer before use |
Why we recommend it
With a rocks glass and a highball, a coupe completes the three-glass kit Difford’s Guide describes. It turns a shaken margarita or daiquiri into a drink that looks the part.
Skip it if spills worry you: a wide coupe is easier to slop than a narrow Nick & Nora, so consider step five first if you carry drinks across a room.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Most versatile stemmed glass
- Dishwasher safe
- Vintage cut pattern
Cons
- Wide bowl spills more easily
- Plain glass, not crystal
4. Dos Sueños Hand-Blown Margarita Glasses, Set of 4 – Mexican Glass for the Margarita
The job: the stepped or wide-bowled glass whose broad rim holds a ring of salt, as Difford’s Guide notes. A coupe or a rocks glass can serve a margarita, and the IBA itself only asks for a chilled cocktail glass, so this is a want rather than a need. In a household that makes margaritas often, though, it is the fourth glass we would buy, and the first glass guests ask for on a margarita night. A larger bowl also suits a frozen margarita.
Our pick: Dos Sueños makes these by hand in Mexico from recycled glass, with a cobalt blue rim. Each glass holds 16 ounces and stands about 7 inches tall and 4.5 inches across, and because they are hand-blown, every piece varies a little in size and color. The listing says the glass is lead free. Its title recommends hand washing while the features call the glasses sturdy and dishwasher safe; we would hand wash, the cautious choice for handmade glass. We cover more margarita styles in the best margarita glasses.
Why we like it
- Hand-blown in Mexico from recycled glass
- Wide rim for salt; 16-oz bowl for frozen drinks
- Cobalt blue rim, each glass unique
- Lead free, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 1025901487 |
|---|---|
| Material | Recycled glass, hand-blown, lead free |
| Capacity | 16 oz |
| Count | 6 glasses |
| Dimensions | About 7 in tall, 4.5 in diameter (each varies) |
| Dishwasher safe | Listing conflicts: title says hand wash recommended |
| Made in | Mexico |
| Care | Hand wash recommended |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if margaritas are your house drink and you want glassware with a sense of where the drink comes from. Hand-blown Mexican glass has a weight and color that pressed glass does not.
Skip it if you want identical glasses or everything in the dishwasher. A 16-ounce bowl is also generous: a classic margarita served up will look small in it, so this glass suits frozen and on-the-rocks margaritas best.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Handmade in Mexico
- Recycled glass
- Roomy for frozen margaritas
Cons
- Hand washing recommended
- Sizes vary glass to glass
- Large for a drink served up
5. Bormioli Rocco Bartender Novecento Nick & Nora Glasses, Set of 4 – Small, Steady and Hard to Spill
The job: a small stemmed glass with a tall, narrow bowl, for stirred drinks such as a Manhattan or a martini and for small shaken drinks. Bartender Dale DeGroff brought the shape back at New York’s Rainbow Room in 1987 from a 1930s design called the “Little Martini”, and named it after Nick and Nora Charles of The Thin Man. Difford’s Guide gives it 4 to 6 ounces and says it can hold any drink served in a coupe; the higher sides make it harder to spill.
Our pick: Bormioli Rocco’s Bartender Novecento glass holds 5.25 ounces, right in the classic range. It is made in Italy, with a thin laser-cut rim, and the maker says the bowl and stem are formed from one piece, with no seam, which makes the stem more flexible and durable. It belongs to Bormioli Rocco’s Bartender collection of vintage-style glasses.
Why we like it
- Classic 5.25-oz Nick & Nora size
- Seamless one-piece bowl and stem, per Bormioli Rocco
- Thin laser-cut rim
- Made in Italy
Key specifications
| Model | 122113GRS021990 (Bartender Novecento) |
|---|---|
| Material | Glass (type not stated) |
| Capacity | 5.25 oz |
| Count | 6 glasses |
| Dimensions | Not stated |
| Dishwasher safe | Not stated |
| Made in | Italy |
| Care | Hand wash until confirmed; chill before use |
Why we recommend it
Add it once you are making stirred drinks regularly. The small size keeps a drink cold to the last sip and keeps the pour modest, and the narrow bowl makes it the easiest stemmed glass to carry full.
Skip it if you mostly make long or frozen drinks; you will rarely reach for it. The listing also does not say whether it is dishwasher safe.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Classic size and shape
- Seamless stem
- Made in Italy
Cons
- Dishwasher safety not stated
- Too small for big shaken drinks
6. Schott Zwiesel Basic Bar Martini Glasses, Set of 6 – A Right-Sized V for Martini Drinkers
The job: the V-shaped stemmed glass of the Dry Martini, which the IBA strains into a “chilled martini cocktail glass”. It suits a martini or a cosmopolitan and little else that a coupe cannot do, which is why it sits in sixth place. Difford’s Guide advises keeping it to 7 ounces or less, so the drink is finished before it warms.
Our pick: Schott Zwiesel’s Basic Bar martini glass, from the barware line designed with bartender Charles Schumann, is a contemporary take on the V with a slightly angular bowl. The listing gives 7.6 ounces, 5.1 inches tall and 4 inches wide, and says it is made in Germany from Tritan crystal, which Schott Zwiesel describes as a non-lead material made of titanium and zirconium oxide. It is dishwasher safe, and the listing says it will not etch, cloud or discolor. At 7.6 ounces it sits just over Difford’s 7-ounce guide, so a standard pour fits with room to carry it. For more options, see our guide to the best martini glasses.
Why we like it
- V-shaped martini glass at a sensible 7.6 oz
- Lead-free Tritan crystal, made in Germany, per Schott Zwiesel
- Dishwasher safe
- Set of six
Key specifications
| Model | 0029.115839 (Basic Bar) |
|---|---|
| Material | Tritan crystal (non-lead, per Schott Zwiesel) |
| Capacity | 7.6 oz |
| Count | 6 glasses |
| Dimensions | 5.1 in tall, 4 in wide |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (Schott Zwiesel) |
| Made in | Germany |
| Care | Dishwasher; chill before use |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if a martini is your drink and you want the classic look from a long-established German glassmaker. A coupe or Nick & Nora can do the same job, so buy this for the shape you enjoy.
Skip it if you have only a few shelves: a wide, sloped bowl on a stem takes space and spills more easily than any other glass here.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Made in Germany
- Dishwasher safe
- Classic shape
Cons
- Single-purpose
- V-shape spills easily
7. PINYAS Hand-Blown Conical Caballitos, Set of 4 – A Small Glass for Sipping Tequila
The job: the caballito is the tall, narrow Mexican glass for tequila or mezcal served neat. It is not a cocktail glass, but in a home bar that pours agave spirits it earns its place, and a small glass encourages sipping rather than shooting. Our guide to the best tequila glasses covers caballitos, copitas and tasting glasses in depth.
Our pick: PINYAS’s conical caballitos are hand-blown by Mexican artisans from recycled glass, with a cobalt blue rim. Each holds about 2.5 ounces (75 ml) and is about 4 inches tall and 1.75 inches wide, according to the listing, which also calls them lead-free and dishwasher safe. As with any handmade glass, each piece varies slightly.
Why we like it
- Traditional caballito shape for tequila or mezcal
- Hand-blown by Mexican artisans
- Recycled glass, lead-free
- Dishwasher safe, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | Not stated |
|---|---|
| Material | Hand-blown recycled glass, lead-free |
| Capacity | About 2.5 oz (75 ml) |
| Count | 6 glasses |
| Dimensions | About 4 in tall, 1.75 in wide |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (listing) |
| Made in | Mexico |
| Care | Dishwasher |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you keep a bottle of good blanco or reposado and like to sip it the Mexican way, perhaps with a sangrita alongside. It is an inexpensive way to give agave spirits their own glass.
Skip it if you want to nose an aged tequila closely: our tequila glass guide covers tulip-shaped tasting glasses made for that.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Handmade in Mexico
- Small pour encourages sipping
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Not for cocktails
- Sizes vary slightly
8. Schott Zwiesel Forté Champagne Flutes, Set of 6 – For French 75s and Brunch
The job: a tall, slim glass for sparkling wine and the cocktails topped with it. The IBA’s French 75 is strained into a Champagne flute and topped with Champagne, and Difford’s Guide says the flute’s shape helps maintain the wine’s fizz. Difford’s lists flutes as optional, which is why they come last; a coupe can stand in.
Our pick: Schott Zwiesel’s Forté flute holds about 8 ounces and stands 8.8 inches tall and 2.7 inches across, according to the listing. An effervescence point in the base gives the bubbles a place to form. It is made in Germany from Tritan crystal glass, comes as a set of six, and is dishwasher safe. Mimosas and wine on its own are just as at home in it as a French 75.
Why we like it
- Effervescence point in the base
- Six flutes per set
- Lead-free Tritan crystal, made in Germany, per Schott Zwiesel
- Dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | 0007.111989 (Forté) |
|---|---|
| Material | Tritan crystal (non-lead, per Schott Zwiesel) |
| Capacity | About 8 oz (size field: 7.7 oz) |
| Count | 6 glasses |
| Dimensions | 8.8 in tall, 2.7 in diameter |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (Schott Zwiesel) |
| Made in | Germany |
| Care | Dishwasher |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you host brunches or celebrations, or like sparkling cocktails. Six flutes covers a small table.
Skip it if you open sparkling wine only a few times a year; your coupes will do.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Keeps bubbles lively
- Set of six
- Made in Germany
Cons
- Single-purpose
- Tall to store
How to build a glass collection that gets used
The buying order above is a starting point, not a rule. These four ideas decide what belongs in your cupboard.
1. Buy for the drinks you actually make
Write down the five drinks you make most and how each is served: over ice, long, or up. If they are Palomas and margaritas on the rocks, you need tumblers and tall glasses long before a martini glass. Difford’s Guide’s three-glass core, Collins, coupe and old fashioned or rocks, is a good default only because it matches the way most cocktails are served.
2. Keep sizes modest
Oversized glasses invite oversized pours. Difford’s Guide gives brim capacities of about 7 ounces for a coupe or martini glass, 4 to 6 for a Nick & Nora and 9 to 11 for a rocks glass. A glass sized to the drink keeps it cold and keeps the strength in check.
3. Buy four to six of each
Two of a glass is enough for a couple; four to six covers friends at dinner. Most of the sets above come in fours or sixes, so you can add a second set of the type you reach for most.
4. Check the care label
Spiegelau, Luigi Bormioli, Libbey and Schott Zwiesel say their glasses here are dishwasher safe. The Dos Sueños listing recommends hand washing, and the Bormioli Rocco listing does not say. Glasses that need hand washing tend to stay in the cupboard, so weigh that before buying.
How we chose these eight glass types
We built the list of glass types from the International Bartenders Association’s official recipes, which name the glass for each drink (the old fashioned glass for the Old Fashioned, a highball for the Paloma, a chilled cocktail glass for the daiquiri and margarita, a martini cocktail glass for the Dry Martini and a Champagne flute for the French 75), and from the capacities and minimum set in Difford’s Guide’s cocktail glassware guide. The order reflects how many common drinks each glass serves, with the margarita glass and caballito moved up for a household that drinks agave spirits. For each type we chose one set from an identifiable maker, sold on Amazon in the United States and in stock when we checked, with specifications on the brand’s own listing; where a listing leaves something out, the table says “Not stated”. We deliberately chose different products from our main best cocktail glasses guide, so the two pages give you more options. We have not used these products ourselves.
Questions about the cocktail glasses to own
What cocktail glasses should every home bar have?
A rocks glass, a tall highball or Collins glass, and a stemmed glass such as a coupe. Difford’s Guide says that trio covers most of the drinks it lists. Add the others when you find yourself making the drinks they suit.
Do I need a margarita glass for margaritas?
No. The IBA serves the margarita in a chilled cocktail glass, so a coupe or Nick & Nora is correct for one served up, and a rocks glass for one on the rocks. A margarita glass adds the wide rim for salt and, in larger sizes, room for a frozen margarita; see frozen versus on the rocks margaritas.
What is the difference between a highball and a Collins glass?
Size. Difford’s Guide puts a highball at 6 to 10 ounces and a Collins at 12 to 14. Both are tall and narrow, for drinks lengthened with soda or juice.
Is a boxed set better than buying glass by glass?
A mixed set gets you several types at once, which suits a first bar or a gift. Buying by type lets you choose the size and quality of each and buy more of the glasses you use most. Our guide to the best cocktail glasses set covers the boxed route.
How many of each glass should I own?
Four to six of your main glasses, the rocks glass, tall glass and coupe, and two to four of the specialists.
A word on pours
Small glasses help keep drinks sensible. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines a US standard drink as about 14 grams of pure alcohol, the amount in 1.5 ounces of 40 percent spirits, and many classic cocktails contain more than one. Measure with a jigger, offer a non-alcoholic drink in the same good glass, and never drink and drive.
Where to start your glass collection
Buy a set of rocks glasses, a set of highballs and a set of coupes, and you can serve almost any classic cocktail properly. Then follow your own habits: a margarita glass and caballitos for an agave household, a Nick & Nora and a martini glass for a stirred-drinks one, flutes for brunch. For more choice within each shape, see the best cocktail glasses, and for the shaker that goes with them, the best cocktail shaker.
Learning your way around agave? Our guide to tequila types explains blanco, reposado and añejo. And if you would rather leave the mixing to us, see the drinks at Julia’s or call to order.