Types of Cocktail Glasses for Your Home Bar

• Very thin types of glassware, especially very thin martini glasses, can break easily, so hold and handle with care.
• Stainless steel cocktail glasses are unlikely to break and are useful for picnics and other outdoor occasions.
• Store cocktail glasses upside down to prevent dust from accumulating in them. Put them away fully dry to avoid water spots.
• Consider a stemware rack for displaying the glasses and ensuring they don’t fall over.
• Some types of barware shatter easily. Consider plastic versions of cocktail glasses if safety is your main concern.

Different types of cocktail glasses serve a variety of purposes, so you can get the most out of your experience.

Cocktail Glasses: 3-6 oz. glasses with inverted cones on narrow stems, with smaller, narrower bowls than martini glasses. Great for serving drinks with no ice, such as Cosmopolitans, Brandy Alexanders and Kamikazes.

Highball Glasses: 8-12 oz. glass tumbler for “tall” cocktails; slightly shorter and wider than the Collins glass. Excellent for serving mixed drinks over ice that include a high proportion of non-alcoholic mixers, such as Gin & Tonics, Bloody Marys and Mojitos.

Margarita Glasses: 6-20 oz. glasses with large bowls and wide rims for salt or sugar. Useful for serving frozen or unfrozen Margaritas, with or without ice.

Martini Glasses: 4-7 oz. glasses with inverted cones on narrow glass stems with larger, wider bowls than traditional cocktails glasses. These are best for serving traditional Martinis and other cocktails.

Moscow Mule Mugs: 16-20 oz. mugs, usually made of copper, designed to promote carbonation or "fizz" and keep beverages cold. Great for serving Moscow Mules and other cold mixed drinks with vodka or rum.

Shot Glasses: Small glasses for 1-1 1/2-oz. shots, made to be sturdy, thick and typically shatterproof if slammed down on a table after drinking. Made for serving straight shots and mixed shooters; also convenient for a home bartender to measure mixed drinks.

Whiskey Glasses: 7-12 oz. short glass tumbler comparable to lowball or rocks glass; also refers to specialty glasses for cordials, brandy and more. Primarily for serving whiskey over ice as well as mixed drinks such as Whiskey Sours and Old Fashion’s.