The 15 Best Cocktail Glasses, According to Bartenders

Best Nick and Nora Glass

Riedel Nick and Nora Cocktail Glasses

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There’s just something magical about a cocktail served in a dainty and sophisticated Nick and Nora glass. Whatever it is, the Riedel Nick and Nora glass will make your cocktail night at home feel like an outing at a swanky bar, and they are one of our favorites. The thin nature of the egg-shaped bowl and the slight curve inwards at the top of the glass are two subtle but exceptional features that make this glass feel so good on the lips.

Nick and Nora glasses are also extremely versatile. Christian Almonte is the co-owner of Republic Latin Fusion in Brooklyn, New York, and he is in charge of creating new cocktails and specialty beverages at the restaurant. Almonte says, “The upside to a Nick and Nora glass is they can also function as the perfect glass to enjoy cold aperitifs, or chilled spirits neat. The smaller opening allows for one to receive a more direct punch of aroma and also removes the hand from direct contact, in turn, keeping your neat pour colder for longer, cold Sake is perfect for this.”

• Capacity: 5 ounces
• Material: Crystal
• Number of glasses: 2

Best Coupe

Riedel Veritas Coupe Glasses, Set of 2

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The coupe glass was once only used to serve Champagne, but this stylish cup gained popularity in France in the mid-16th century as a multipurpose cocktail vessel. This lovely set from Riedel has all the charm and grace one expects from a set of coupes: a wide bowl with a tall, elegant stem and a durable base. They’re perfect for serving cosmopolitans, Manhattans, and espresso martinis — but no need to limit your options, as there’s a plethora of cocktails fitting for the coupe.

“I am familiar with the Riedel brand, and am a big fan of their pieces,” says Bob Moore, general manager at Miller & Lux, Chef Tyler Florence’s dining destination in San Francisco. Moore is starting to incorporate Riedel glassware at Miller & Lux, in addition to his current favorites.

• Capacity: 8.5 ounces
• Material: Crystal
• Number of glasses: 2

Best Martini Glass

Schott Zwiesel Martini Glass

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To find the best martini glasses, we searched high and low to narrow down our favorites. The Universal Classico Martini glass is made by Schott Zwiesel, a well-known glassware maker in the food and drink industry and whose glassware can be found in restaurants and wineries worldwide. As the name suggests, this glass offers classic features with some bonuses. It has a quintessential martini glass shape with a robust stem and durable base; plus, it’s made from chip- and break-resistant crystal.

Cocktail glass shape matters, “especially for drinks like martinis and Manhattans,” says Shiva Thapa, experienced mixologist and head bartender at Miller & Lux. As the head of the cocktail program at Miller & Lux, Thapa also says glassware like this is “important for presentation, too.”

• Capacity: 9 ounces
• Material: Crystal
• Number of glasses: Sold individually

Best Collins Glass

Rona Classic Mix Drink Glass

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Almonte says, “Rona, just like Riedel, is seen in many upscale dining establishments.” And the clean, sleek design of the glass allows the cocktail to do all the talking. These glasses are simple, sophisticated, and sturdy—everything you need in a Collins glass, which is suitable for favorites like the mojito, Tom Collins, gin & tonic, and Long Island iced tea. The tall, thin style feels great in the hand and its weighty bottom makes it very stable.

These glasses can also be used as beer glasses. Almonte says you can “keep a few in the fridge or freezer, as these can also act as the perfect glass to enjoy a nice cold beer.” And Moore says, “We use Rona glassware at Miller & Lux for all of our cocktails.”

• Capacity: 11 ounces
• Material: Crystal
• Number of glasses: 6

Best Highball Glass

Riedel Drink Specific Glassware Highball Glass

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These lanky glasses hold 11 ounces and feature a slightly wider mouth than others in its category; this makes room to use large-format or spherical ice — always a plus in our book. There’s also a 2-ounce pour line feature, which makes crafting carbonated mix drinks a breeze; simply add your chosen spirit to the 2-ounce pour line, fill ice to the top, then top with your carbonated beverage to complete the perfect ratio every time.

This duo of glasses also features the elegant, etched style for which many of Riedel’s cocktail glasses are known. They are sophisticated, well-made, and loved by bartenders across the country. In our long-term testing of the Riedel highball glasses, we liked their weight and overall versatility.

“The highball is one of my personal favorites,” Almonte says. “They're a workhorse behind any bar. The benefit to every highball glass is the tall and narrow design, this allows for any carbonated beverages such as club soda or ginger beer to keep their carbonation for longer as the gas has less room to escape — nothing worse than getting a drink with flat soda.”

• Capacity: 11 ounces
• Material: Crystal
• Number of glasses: 2

Best Rocks Glass

Spiegelau Perfect Serve Glass Set of 4

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For versatile cocktail glasses, the rocks glass wins every time. Form and function combine with a balanced size and weight. The best part about rocks glasses is that “any cocktail looks great it in and it is easy to garnish,” Thapa says. Moore agrees: “The rocks glass is the most versatile. It is a ubiquitous vessel.”

From the Old Fashioned to the ever-popular Negroni, this glass fits the bill with its sleek design and wide mouth for aeration and large-format ice. Almonte says, “The heavy base and elegant design Spiegelau went with here just elevates the entire drinking experience making sipping even the finest of whiskeys even better.”

• Capacity: 10 ounces
• Material: Glass
• Number of glasses: 4

Best Margarita Glass

West Elm Recycled Mexican Drinking Glass Sets

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Thick walls, wide rims, and slight curves make these recycled glass vessels perfect for classic margarita recipes. They are thick in design and offer quite a bit of insulation. They are hand-crafted in Mexico in collaboration with Diego Olivero, a Guatemalan-born industrial designer, and they are made from sustainably sourced, recycled glass. For this reason, each set of margarita glasses is unique and offers an artistic component that most glassware lacks. We have also found that they are a versatile glassware option for everyday pours such as water, juice, iced coffee, and tea.

• Capacity: 12 ounces
• Material: Recycled glass
• Number of glasses: 4
  

Best Double Rocks Glass

Riedel Drink Specific Glassware Double Rocks Glass

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The glassware-specific line from Riedel is tried and true, and we reach for these sets often from our home glassware collection. Their crystal construction and etched design give them an elevated look for cocktails at home and their capacity is significant for larger cocktails. The heavy weighted bottom makes them sturdy and very well-made, which should give them a long life in your growing collection of drinking glasses.

"These glasses are ideal for large-format ice,” says Thapa. Large-format ice has been a growing cocktail trend for good reason. “The ice melts at a slower rate and stays colder for a longer period,” Thapa says. And that means less dilution of your carefully crafted cocktail. Almonte adds, “The double rocks can serve so many classic drinks,” making this pick a staple in any barware collection or a great gift for cocktail lovers.

• Capacity: 13 ounces
• Material: Crystal
• Number of glasses: 2
  

Best Whiskey Glass

Glencairn Whisky Glass Set

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Grab your whiskey decanter — filled with your finest whiskey, of course — and get ready to fill these fashionable whiskey glasses for an evening of fine sipping. The Glencairn whiskey glass was crafted with whiskey connoisseurs in mind; while the size of the mouth is small, the base is wide, giving this glass excellent aeration and bringing that to the imbiber’s attention when sipping. The size allows for neat sipping only and in small volumes, as should always be the case when enjoying your finest whiskey.

“For all the whiskey heads out there this glass is perfect!” says Almonte. Pro tip: “You never want to pour past the curvature of the glass as the long body keeps the whiskey away from your nose. If you pour too high, you'll get more ethanol fumes from the alcohol than the rich enticing aromas whiskey is known for,” Almonte adds.

• Capacity: 6 ounces
• Material: Glass
• Number of glasses: 2

Best Tumbler

Rona Handy Tumbler Glass

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If you’re just getting started with your glassware collection, take Almonte’s advice. He says, “Out of all the glasses, this should be a priority as it acts as a jack of all trades.” These glasses are simply designed and highly functional for all kinds of purposes, whether you are making craft cocktails at home or looking for a reliable collection of all-purpose cups.

Their simplicity makes them ideal for dinner and cocktail parties where other decorations are going to be front and center — think holiday feasts with beautiful wintery centerpieces and elegant holiday serveware. You can’t go wrong with these affordable, well-made tumblers. “You can use it for everything,” Almonte says.

• Capacity: 11 ounces
• Material: Crystal
• Number of glasses: 6

Best Moscow Mule Mug

Advanced Mixology Moscow Mule Copper Mugs

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This is a great starter set of four Moscow Mule mugs and accessories if you’re a fan of the cocktail. With the cups, straws, a shot glass for measuring, coasters, and a copper-cleaning brush, this set has everything you need to throw that Moscow mule party about which you’ve been dreaming. They’re sturdy and stylish with their dappled design. Copper tarnishes, so you’ll want to hand wash and dry these cups after use, and clean them frequently to keep the copper shining.

“The copper helps conduct the cold and keep the Mule extremely cold and that in turn helps mellow out that pungency of the ginger,” Almonte says. “You can't go wrong with what advanced mixology has done with their design, a classic through and through.”

• Capacity: 19 ounces
• Material: Copper
• Number of glasses: 4

Viski Angled Crystal Hurricane Glasses

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This hurricane glass is a must-have for every tropical cocktail lover. Because tropical cocktails include a ton of ingredients (just take a look at the namesake hurricane or zombie cocktails), hurricane glasses have a large liquid capacity. They have plenty of room for multiple spirits, juices, and syrups. Their slim design and flared-lip style give the shape a desirable edge, and they’re tall enough to add a lengthy straw from which to sip — always a plus when you’re sipping a delicious, fruity cocktail.

“I like how Viski designed the top lip here, giving you more room to go all out on garnish as most tropical drinks are known for,” Almonte says. Classic garnishes for tropical cocktails are typically over-the-top with pineapple fronds, orange wheels, edible flowers, and paper umbrellas.

• Capacity: 14 ounces
• Material: Glass
• Number of glasses: 2
  

Best Julep Cup

Barfly Julep Cup

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Simply put, this Julep cup is fun. It’s a completely different shape and material than most other glassware, and because of its stainless steel construction, it’s highly unbreakable. “Barfly makes some of the best bar tools known today,” Almonte says. The ribbon-style design at the top and bottom of the cup, as well as the subtly tiered base, are nice touches, giving this Julep cup an overall chic look.

“In a world where most cocktails are typically presented in glassware, this cup adds a unique touch to the drink's presentation,” says Jon Bamonte, head bartender at the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia's Vernick Fish. “I believe that cocktails with a larger volume shine when served in this cup, especially when paired with crushed ice and a fresh garnish as a julep should be served.”

• Capacity: 12 ounces
• Material: Stainless steel
• Number of glasses: Sold individually

Best Shot Glass

JoyJolt 10-Pack Heavy Base Shot Glass Set

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These are the kind of shot glasses that can take a hard set down after a robust shot of your favorite spirit—they’re strong with a heavily weighted bottom and thick walls. The design here is simple and classic. These shot glasses are dishwasher safe and are sure to jumpstart your fete.

“What would a party be without shots?” Almonte asks. “The 2oz square-base design of this one gives you just enough room to leave a lime on edge for those doing tequila shots. Or even better a mixed shot like a green tea shot or lemon drop. This 2-ounce shot glass has all the room you need to get the party started.”

• Capacity: 2 ounces
• Material: Glass
• Number of glasses: 6