A cocktail glass has a job beyond holding the drink. A stem keeps a warm hand away from a drink served without ice, a heavy base stands up to a big cube and a muddler, and a tall, narrow glass keeps the bubbles in a Paloma or a highball. The right shape also tells you how much to pour, which matters more than most people think.
This guide covers the glasses behind most classic drinks, from the Nick & Nora and the coupe to the rocks glass, the highball, the martini glass and the margarita glass, and names a well-made set from an identifiable maker for each. If you are starting a home bar from nothing, our guide to the cocktail glasses to have first puts them in buying order.
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: which cocktail glasses to buy
For most home bars, the best cocktail glasses to start with are the Riedel Nick & Nora Large glasses for shaken and stirred drinks served up, paired with Riedel’s Drink Specific Double Rocks glasses for anything over ice. Both come from Riedel’s bar line, designed with spirits specialist Zane Harris, and Riedel says both are dishwasher safe. Add a tall glass such as the Zwiesel Glas Paris long drink glass and you can serve most classic cocktails properly. On a tight budget, a dozen Libbey Gibraltar rocks glasses covers the basics.
Five cocktail glasses compared
Our five standout picks side by side, one for each kind of drink, with the capacity and count each maker states. All nine sets are reviewed in full below.
| Glasses | Best for | Style | Capacity & count | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Riedel Nick & Nora Large Glasses, Set of 2Best overall
|
Drinks served up: daiquiri, Manhattan, margarita | Stemmed crystal, tall narrow bowl | 6.7 oz, 2 glasses | View on Amazon |
Riedel Drink Specific Double Rocks Glasses, Set of 4Best rocks glass
|
Old Fashioned, Negroni, margarita on the rocks | Crystal tumbler, 2 oz mark | 12.5 oz, 4 glasses | View on Amazon |
Zwiesel Glas Paris Long Drink Glasses, Set of 6Best tall glass
|
Paloma, Collins, mojito, sodas | Tritan crystal, thick base | 16.5 oz, 6 glasses | View on Amazon |
| Sours, daiquiris, sparkling drinks | Stemmed lead-free crystal coupe, vintage style | 7.5 oz, 2 glasses | View on Amazon | |
| Everyday drinks, parties, a first set | Heavy-base faceted glass tumbler | 10 oz, 12 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
These nine sets cover the glass shapes behind nearly every classic drink: two stemmed glasses for drinks served up, a martini glass, a margarita glass, two tumblers for drinks over ice, a tall glass for long drinks, a balloon glass for spritzes and a flute for sparkling cocktails. They come from makers that publish their specifications, mostly German and Italian crystal-glass houses plus Libbey, the American maker whose glasses fill restaurant bars. Each pick says who it suits and one honest reason to skip it.
1. Riedel Nick & Nora Large Glasses, Set of 2 – One Stemmed Glass for Most Drinks Served Up
If you buy one stemmed glass, make it a Nick & Nora. The shape has a long stem, a high-sided bowl and a narrow mouth, and it came back into bars when Dale DeGroff revived a 1930s “Little Martini” design for New York’s Rainbow Room in 1987, naming it after the detective couple in The Thin Man. The taller, tighter bowl is harder to spill than a wide martini glass and, as Difford’s Guide notes, it can hold any drink you would otherwise serve in a coupe.
Riedel’s version is part of its Drink Specific Glassware bar collection, created with spirits specialist Zane Harris. This is the “Large” model: Riedel lists it at 6.7 ounces, a little bigger than the classic 4 to 6 ounces Difford’s gives for the style, which leaves room for a shaken daiquiri or a margarita served up with its bit of foam, without filling to the brim. The bowl carries a light optic pattern, and Riedel describes it as machine-made from clear crystal and dishwasher safe. Riedel says that since 2015 it has made only crystal glass that does not use lead oxide as a principal ingredient; we found no explicit lead-free statement from the maker.
Use it for anything stirred or shaken and strained without ice: a Manhattan, a daiquiri, a classic margarita, a gimlet. Keep a pair in the freezer, as Difford’s Guide recommends, so the glass is cold when the drink goes in.
Why we like it
- Classic Nick & Nora shape: tall, narrow bowl that resists spills
- 6.7-oz capacity leaves headroom for shaken drinks
- Machine-made crystal, dishwasher safe, according to Riedel
- Designed with spirits specialist Zane Harris for Riedel’s bar line
Key specifications
| Model | 6417/08 (Drink Specific Glassware) |
|---|---|
| Material | Machine-made crystal glass |
| Capacity | 6.7 oz |
| Count | 2 glasses |
| Dimensions | Not stated |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (Riedel) |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Care | Dishwasher; chill in the freezer before serving |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone who makes drinks served up more than once in a while and wants one stemmed glass that handles most of them. The narrow bowl is kinder to a full drink being carried from the kitchen than a wide coupe or a V-shaped martini glass.
Skip it if you need a party-sized set. It comes as a pair, and Riedel does not list its height or diameter, so measure your cabinet shelf against a glass you already own.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Versatile shape for drinks served up
- Harder to spill than a wide bowl
- Dishwasher safe crystal
Cons
- Only two glasses per box
- Dimensions and origin not stated
- Larger than a classic Nick & Nora
2. Riedel Drink Specific Double Rocks Glasses, Set of 4 – Room for a Big Cube
The second glass every home bar needs is a short, wide tumbler for drinks built over ice. The International Bartenders Association’s Old Fashioned recipe is built directly in the old fashioned glass, and the same glass serves a Negroni, a whiskey on the rocks or a margarita over ice.
Riedel’s Double Rocks glass is the companion to the Nick & Nora above, from the same Drink Specific Glassware line. Riedel sizes it for large-format ice, the big single cubes many bars now use, and gives it a visible mark at 60 ml, or 2 ounces, so you can pour a measured base spirit without a jigger. The listing for this four-glass set gives the capacity as 12.5 ounces; Riedel’s two-glass listing of the same Double Rocks glass says 13 ounces and 4.05 inches tall, so treat it as roughly 12 to 13 ounces.
The glass is machine-made crystal and Riedel says it is dishwasher safe. As with the Nick & Nora, Riedel says its crystal glass does not use lead oxide as a principal ingredient; we found no explicit lead-free statement from the maker. A rocks glass takes more knocks than any other glass in the cupboard, from muddling sugar for an Old Fashioned to a heavy cube dropping in, so durability matters here more than a thin rim.
Why we like it
- Sized for large-format ice, per Riedel
- Built-in 2-oz (60 ml) measure line
- Machine-made crystal, dishwasher safe
- Set of four, from the same line as the Nick & Nora
Key specifications
| Model | 5417/07 (set of 4) |
|---|---|
| Material | Crystal glass, machine-made |
| Capacity | 12.5 oz (Riedel’s 2-pack listing says 13 oz) |
| Count | 4 glasses |
| Dimensions | About 4.05 in tall (2-pack listing) |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (Riedel) |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Care | Dishwasher; space glasses so they do not touch |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you drink spirit-forward cocktails over ice and like a big clear cube. The 2-ounce line is a small, useful detail: it keeps the base spirit honest, which keeps the drink balanced and the strength predictable.
Skip it if you want a glass for tall mixed drinks. At about 12 to 13 ounces it is too short for a Paloma or a highball with plenty of soda.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Measure line for a 2-oz pour
- Fits large-format ice
- Four glasses per set
Cons
- Capacity differs between listings
- Country of manufacture not stated
- Crystal costs more than plain glass
3. Zwiesel Glas Paris Long Drink Glasses, Set of 6 – A Tall Glass for Palomas
The third shape is the tall glass. The IBA’s Paloma, tequila with lime, a pinch of salt and pink grapefruit soda, is built in a highball glass over ice, and so are most drinks topped with soda, tonic or ginger beer. Difford’s Guide draws a line between the two tall glasses: a true highball holds 6 to 10 ounces, and anything bigger, typically 12 to 14 ounces, is a Collins glass.
By that measure the Paris long drink glass, at about 16.5 ounces, is a generous Collins. Zwiesel Glas lists it at 6.3 inches tall and 2.8 inches across, with clear lines and a thick base. The extra room is useful in a home bar: a Paloma, a mojito with crushed ice and mint, or a long agua fresca all fit with space for ice, and the same glass works for water at dinner.
It is made in Germany from Tritan crystal glass, which Zwiesel Glas says is strengthened by its Tritan Glass Protect technology, and it is dishwasher safe.
Why we like it
- 16.5-oz capacity fits ice, soda and a garnish
- Thick base for stability
- Tritan crystal, dishwasher safe
- Made in Germany, set of six
Key specifications
| Model | 0017.956069 (Paris) |
|---|---|
| Material | Tritan crystal glass |
| Capacity | About 16.5 oz |
| Count | 6 glasses |
| Dimensions | 6.3 in tall, 2.8 in diameter |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (Zwiesel Glas) |
| Made in | Germany |
| Care | Dishwasher |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if tall, fizzy drinks are your thing: Palomas, ranch waters, rum and Coke, gin and tonics. A set of six also covers everyday water and iced tea, so it earns its cupboard space.
Skip it if you want a classic small highball. At 16.5 ounces it takes a lot of mixer to fill, and a drink can taste thin if you top it up to the rim.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Roomy for ice and soda
- Made in Germany
- Six glasses, everyday use too
Cons
- Larger than a true highball
- Easy to over-dilute a drink
4. Viski Beau Cocktail Coupe Glasses, Set of 2 – A Vintage-Style Coupe in Lead-Free Crystal
The coupe is the wide, shallow stemmed glass you see in most cocktail bars, and Difford’s Guide says it has largely displaced the V-shaped martini glass. It is the more forgiving choice of the two: the curved bowl holds a drink better than straight sloping sides, and it suits sours with a foam top, daiquiris and sparkling cocktails alike.
Viski’s Beau coupe takes its silhouette from vintage coupe glasses, with a ribbed bowl and what the maker calls an Art Deco look. Viski lists it at 7.5 ounces, close to the 7-ounce brim capacity Difford’s gives for a coupe, so a standard shaken drink fills it to a sensible level. The set has two glasses, so buy two sets to serve four.
Viski describes the glass as lead-free crystal made for “a high-end sipping experience”, and suggests it for martinis, Champagne and other drinks served up. The listing does not say whether it is dishwasher safe, where it is made or give dimensions, so wash it by hand to be safe.
Why we like it
- Classic coupe shape, 7.5-oz capacity
- Vintage-inspired ribbed bowl
- Lead-free crystal, per Viski
- Works for sours, daiquiris, espresso martinis and sparkling drinks
Key specifications
| Model | 11385 (Beau coupe) |
|---|---|
| Material | Lead-free crystal |
| Capacity | 7.5 oz |
| Count | 2 glasses |
| Dimensions | Not stated |
| Dishwasher safe | Not stated |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Care | Not stated; hand washing is the safe choice |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you like the look of a classic cocktail bar and serve sours, daiquiris or sparkling drinks. If you already own Nick & Noras, a coupe is the second stemmed glass worth adding.
Skip it if you want everything in the dishwasher: Viski’s listing does not say it is dishwasher safe, and the wide bowl spills more easily than a Nick & Nora. You also need two boxes for four guests.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Classic 7.5-oz coupe
- Lead-free crystal
- Very versatile
Cons
- Dishwasher use not stated; sold in pairs
- Wide bowl spills more easily
- Origin and dimensions not stated
5. Luigi Bormioli Optica Martini Glasses, Set of 4 – A Smaller, Lead-Free Martini Glass
The IBA’s Dry Martini is stirred and strained into a chilled martini cocktail glass, and the V-shaped glass is still the one most people picture. Its weak points are well known: a wide bowl that spills, an oversized pour and a thin stem that snaps. Luigi Bormioli’s Optica is a good answer to the first two, because it is smaller than most martini glasses and its bowl has a flat base.
The glass is made from Luigi Bormioli’s SON.hyx lead-free crystal glass, which the listing describes as blown, break resistant and dishwasher safe. The listing gives the capacity as 7.4 ounces, and a 25-year guarantee covers rim and foot chipping and discoloration from dishwashing. It does not give the height or width.
At 7.4 ounces this is close to what Difford’s Guide likes for a martini; it advises no more than 7 ounces so the drink is finished before it warms. Most of the listing’s own copy talks about wine, so take the title’s word that this is the martini glass in the range. For more choices, including smaller glasses, see our guide to the best martini glasses.
Why we like it
- Close to the 7 ounces Difford’s Guide advises
- 25-year guarantee on rim and foot chipping
- Lead-free SON.hyx crystal glass
- Dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | 13168/02 (Optica) |
|---|---|
| Material | SON.hyx lead-free crystal glass |
| Capacity | 7.4 oz |
| Count | 4 glasses |
| Dimensions | Not stated |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (Luigi Bormioli) |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Care | Dishwasher |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you want a stemmed martini glass in a sensible size, for a martini or a cosmopolitan that stays cold to the last sip. The guarantee on the rim and foot covers the two most common places a stemmed glass chips.
Skip it if you want a glass that is easy to carry full, or a big shaken drink. A stemmed martini bowl spills more than a Nick & Nora, and 7.4 ounces leaves little room.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Sensible size
- Long guarantee
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Dimensions not stated
- Stemmed bowl spills easily
- Listing copy is mostly about wine
6. Libbey Margarita Party Glasses, Set of 12 – The Classic Shape for a Crowd
The IBA strains its margarita into a chilled cocktail glass, so a coupe or Nick & Nora works. Still, the stepped margarita glass, with its wide rim for salt, is the shape most people want for a margarita night, and Difford’s Guide notes that the rim is designed for exactly that.
Libbey’s party set gives you twelve of them. Each glass holds 9 ounces and measures 4.5 inches across by 6.125 inches tall, according to Libbey, which suits a margarita served up or a modest frozen one. Libbey describes the glasses as sturdy, free from lead and BPA, and dishwasher safe. Twelve matching glasses is the practical number for a party.
We cover this set, hand-blown Mexican glass, stemless styles and shatterproof options in more detail in the best margarita glasses.
Why we like it
- Twelve classic stepped margarita glasses
- Wide rim that holds a salt rim
- Lead- and BPA-free, per Libbey
- Dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | 8429YS12A |
|---|---|
| Material | Glass, lead- and BPA-free |
| Capacity | 9 oz |
| Count | 12 glasses |
| Dimensions | 4.5 in diameter, 6.125 in tall |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (Libbey) |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Care | Dishwasher |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if margaritas are the drink you make most, or if you host. It is the shape guests expect, and twelve glasses covers a full table.
Skip it if you have little cupboard space. A margarita glass does one job well, and a coupe or rocks glass can stand in for it.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Twelve glasses in one set
- Wide rim for salt
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Single-purpose shape
- Bulky to store
7. Spiegelau Gin and Tonic Glasses, Set of 4 – A Big Balloon for Spritzes
The balloon glass is a large stemmed bowl, like an oversized wine glass. Spiegelau sells this one as a gin and tonic glass and also suggests it for spritzers and mocktails. Its size is the point: there is room for plenty of ice, a long pour of tonic or soda, and garnishes you can smell as you drink.
Spiegelau’s version holds 21 ounces. The maker credits the design to Johann Willsberger, describes the glass as lead-free and European-made, and says the wide mouth leaves room for lemon slices, lime wedges, mint and orange peel. It is a good home for a mocktail too, since the big bowl makes a non-alcoholic drink look like an occasion.
The listing does not say whether the glasses are dishwasher safe, so hand wash them until you can confirm it with Spiegelau.
Why we like it
- 21-oz bowl with room for ice and garnish
- Lead-free, European-made, per Spiegelau
- Works for gin and tonics, spritzes and mocktails
Key specifications
| Model | 4390179 |
|---|---|
| Material | Lead-free crystal glass |
| Capacity | 21 oz |
| Count | 4 glasses |
| Dimensions | Not stated |
| Dishwasher safe | Not stated |
| Made in | Europe (country not stated) |
| Care | Hand wash until confirmed |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you drink gin and tonics, Aperol-style spritzes or long mocktails in warm weather. It is the one glass on this list built for drinks that are mostly ice and mixer.
Skip it if storage is tight. A 21-ounce stemmed bowl takes up a lot of shelf space, and it is a third or fourth glass, not a first.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very roomy bowl
- Good for mocktails as well
- Lead-free glass
Cons
- Dishwasher safety not stated
- Bulky to store
8. Zwiesel Glas Pure Champagne Flutes, Set of 4 – Keeps the Bubbles in a French 75
Sparkling cocktails need a flute. The IBA’s French 75, gin, lemon and sugar shaken and topped with Champagne, is strained into a Champagne flute, and Difford’s Guide explains why: the tall, slim shape helps keep the wine’s fizz.
Zwiesel Glas’s Pure flute is a modern, angular take on the shape. It holds 7.1 fluid ounces and stands 9.9 inches tall and 2.8 inches across, according to the listing, and an effervescent point in the bowl gives the bubbles a spot to rise from. The glasses are made in Germany from Tritan crystal glass and are dishwasher safe.
Beyond the French 75, a flute serves a mimosa at brunch, a Kir royale or a sparkling wine on its own.
Why we like it
- Effervescent point in the bowl
- Tritan crystal glass, dishwasher safe
- Made in Germany
- Modern angular shape
Key specifications
| Model | 0026.117936 (Pure) |
|---|---|
| Material | Tritan crystal glass |
| Capacity | 7.1 fl oz |
| Count | 4 glasses |
| Dimensions | 9.9 in tall, 2.8 in diameter |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (Zwiesel Glas) |
| Made in | Germany |
| Care | Dishwasher |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you make sparkling cocktails or host brunches. A flute does one thing, keeping the bubbles lively, and this one does it from a maker that supplies restaurants and hotels.
Skip it if you rarely open sparkling wine. A coupe can serve a French 75 at a pinch, and at nearly 10 inches tall these flutes need a tall shelf.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Keeps sparkling drinks lively
- Made in Germany
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Single-purpose shape
- Nearly 10 inches tall
9. Libbey Gibraltar DuraTuff Rocks Glasses, Set of 12 – Bar-Tough Glass on a Budget
If you would rather spend on what goes in the glass, Libbey’s Gibraltar is the faceted, heavy-based rocks glass found behind countless bars. Libbey says the design is trusted by restaurants and bars, and its DuraTuff treatment adds resistance to thermal and mechanical shock, the kind of sudden temperature change and knock that a glass meets between a hot dishwasher and a cold drink.
Each glass holds 10 ounces, inside the 9 to 11 ounces Difford’s Guide gives for a rocks glass, and the set has twelve. That is enough for Old Fashioneds and margaritas on the rocks at a party, and the glasses work as everyday tumblers for water and juice. They are dishwasher safe.
Why we like it
- Twelve 10-oz rocks glasses
- DuraTuff resistance to thermal and mechanical shock
- Heavy faceted base for grip and stability
- Dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | 15232 (Gibraltar DuraTuff) |
|---|---|
| Material | Glass with DuraTuff treatment |
| Capacity | 10 oz |
| Count | 12 glasses |
| Dimensions | Not stated |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (Libbey) |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Care | Dishwasher; handle with care, per Libbey |
Why we recommend it
Choose it for a first set of bar glasses, for parties, or for anyone who would rather not worry about breakage. Twelve sturdy glasses cover most drinks over ice.
Skip it if you want a thin rim and crystal clarity. This is working bar glass: thick-walled and heavy, built to last rather than to impress.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Twelve glasses per set
- Built for bar use
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Thick rim, not crystal
- Dimensions not stated
How to choose cocktail glasses for home
You do not need a glass for every drink. Difford’s Guide suggests that Collins, coupe and old fashioned or rocks glasses cover most of the drinks in its database, with flutes as an option for Champagne cocktails. Start there, and let these five questions guide the rest.
1. Up, on the rocks or long?
Every cocktail is served one of three ways. Drinks served “up”, with no ice in the glass, want a stem so your hand does not warm them: a Nick & Nora, coupe or martini glass. Drinks on the rocks go in a short, heavy tumbler. Long drinks topped with soda go in a highball or Collins glass. Look at the drinks you make most and buy for those first.
2. Capacity
Bigger is not better. Difford’s Guide gives brim capacities of about 7 ounces for a coupe or martini glass, 4 to 6 for a Nick & Nora, 9 to 11 for a rocks glass and 12 to 14 for a Collins. An oversized stemmed glass lets the drink warm before you finish it, and an oversized tumbler makes it easy to pour more spirit than you meant to.
3. Crystal or glass
Most of the makers here use lead-free crystal glass, which allows thinner rims and better clarity: Schott Zwiesel and Zwiesel Glas use Tritan, Luigi Bormioli SON.hyx, and Spiegelau its own lead-free crystal. Riedel uses its own crystal glass, which it says does not use lead oxide as a principal ingredient. Ordinary soda-lime glass, like Libbey’s, is thicker and cheaper, and the Gibraltar’s DuraTuff treatment makes it tougher. For a household with children or a busy dishwasher, plain glass is the practical choice.
4. Dishwasher or hand wash
Check the listing, not the box photo. Riedel, Zwiesel Glas, Luigi Bormioli and Libbey say their glasses on this list are dishwasher safe, while neither Spiegelau’s balloon glass listing nor Viski’s coupe listing says either way. Where it is not stated, wash by hand and hold the glass by the bowl rather than twisting the stem.
5. Storage
Stemmed glasses take the most space. Measure your shelf height before buying flutes or martini glasses; several on this list stand over 7 inches, and the Zwiesel flute is nearly 10.
How we chose these nine sets
We started from the glass shapes classic cocktail recipes call for, using the International Bartenders Association’s official recipes (Old Fashioned, Paloma, Dry Martini, Daiquiri, Margarita and French 75) and the capacities in Difford’s Guide’s cocktail glassware guide. We then looked for sets from identifiable glassmakers, including Riedel, Zwiesel Glas, Spiegelau, Luigi Bormioli, Viski and Libbey, that are sold on Amazon in the United States and were in stock when we checked. Specifications come from each brand’s own Amazon listing; where a listing leaves something out, the spec table says “Not stated”, and where two listings disagree, the review says so. We left out sellers with no identifiable maker, commercial cases of 24 or 36 glasses, and listings showing low stock. We have not used these products ourselves; the descriptions of how each shape works come from the bar references named above.
Cocktail glass questions, answered
What are the best cocktail glasses for home?
A set of stemmed glasses for drinks served up (a Nick & Nora or coupe), a set of rocks glasses and a set of tall glasses. That covers most classic cocktails. Our guide to the best cocktail glasses to have explains what to add after that, and if you would rather buy one boxed collection, see the best cocktail glasses set.
What are the best cocktail glasses brands?
For crystal bar glass, Riedel and Spiegelau, Schott Zwiesel and Zwiesel Glas, and Luigi Bormioli and Bormioli Rocco all publish detailed specifications, and the Zwiesel glasses on this list are made in Germany. Viski makes design-led crystal for home bars. Libbey is the American maker whose glass is common in restaurants, and Cocktail Kingdom sells bar-grade glassware, much of it in six-packs or commercial cases.
Is a coupe or a martini glass better?
For most people, the coupe. Difford’s Guide notes that the coupe has largely displaced the V-shaped martini glass, because its curved bowl is less likely to spill. A Nick & Nora is narrower again. Keep a martini glass if you love the look.
What glass is a margarita served in?
The IBA recipe strains a margarita into a chilled cocktail glass, with an optional half salt rim, so a coupe or Nick & Nora is correct. The stepped margarita glass is traditional for parties, and a rocks glass is used for margaritas on the rocks. Our guide to frozen versus on the rocks margaritas explains the difference.
How do you chill a cocktail glass?
Put it in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes, as Difford’s Guide recommends, or fill it with ice and water while you mix and pour that out just before straining in the drink. The freezer works better.
Glasses, pours and serving responsibly
A well-chosen glass also helps you keep track of what you drink. In the United States a standard drink contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol, which the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism equates to 1.5 ounces of 40 percent spirits. Many classic cocktails contain more than that, so a modest glass and a measured pour, like the 2-ounce mark on the Riedel rocks glass, keep strength predictable. Offer a non-alcoholic option in the same glass, and never drink and drive.
The glasses we would buy first
Start with Riedel’s Nick & Nora and Double Rocks glasses, or Libbey’s Gibraltar rocks glasses if the budget is tight, and add a tall glass such as the Zwiesel Glas Paris for Palomas and highballs. That trio serves most of the drinks in any cocktail book. Add a margarita glass, a coupe, a flute or a martini glass as your drinking habits ask for them.
Related guide: Best coupe glasses.
Related guide: Best highball glasses.
For the rest of the home bar, see the best cocktail shaker and the best cocktail shaker set, and for agave spirits served neat, the best tequila glasses. Our guide to tequila types helps you choose what to pour. And if you would rather someone else mixed the drinks, see the drinks at Julia’s or call to order.