Stocking the cabinets in your commercial bar or home kitchen with the right kind of glassware can sometimes be a daunting – or at least financially intimidating – task. The sheer variety of different types of beverageware will mean that most establishments won't have the budget or space to keep every single kind of glass on hand. While this is perfectly acceptable, and most customers will understand such limitations and easily forgive a drink occasionally being served in an “inappropriate” glass, there are still a few basics to know about what sort of glassware to use with what sort of beverage. Keeping your bar or kitchen stocked with the following glasses should keep you covered in most cocktail-making situations.
- Beer Glasses: Because the only major concern involved in serving beer usually doesn't extend beyond simply pouring liquid from one container to another, beer glassware tends to be fairly straightforward, although there are several different varieties. For most types of beer, a simple 16 oz. conical pint glass (sometimes called a tapered glass or mixing glass) will suffice. “Nonic” pint glasses (also called "English Pub Glasses") are also a good choice, as the bulge at the top of the glass strengthens the material at the rim, thus reducing the likelihood of chips and nicks as the glasses are repeatedly used, stacked, and moved around. Beer mugs are often used when the beer is meant to be kept very cold, as the thick glass of the mug can be frosted in a freezer beforehand and will retain its temperature for a more extended period of time. Pilsners and other types of pale lagers are often served in a pilsner glass, which has a taller and more slender design that is usually more heavily tapered than a regular pint glass. The broad top of the glass helps to maintain a stronger beer head (foam) that is typically not desired with darker beers and ales. If space is tight, a supply of standard, stackable pint glasses will be appropriate for the large majority of beers on offer.
- Martini Glasses: Martinis, vodka martinis, and other cocktails that consist primarily of still (non-carbonated) ingredients are typically served in a stemmed cocktail glass (also called “martini glasses”). These glasses offer the most obvious presentation advantages, as their contents are displayed prominently by the angled sides of the elevated bowl. The stem also allows the drinker to hold the glass without affecting the temperature of the drink, thus allowing the drink to stay chilled as long as the temperature of the surrounding air will allow. Try to avoid using ice with these glasses when possible, as the slanted sides of the bowl can make it difficult to drink around the ice cubes.
- Old Fashioned Glasses: Sometimes called “rocks” or “lowball” glasses, these short tumblers are typically used to serve spirits over ice, or “on the rocks.” They are also traditionally used to serve smaller cocktails that contain fewer ingredients, such as the Old Fashioned, from which the glass gets its name. Old Fashioned glasses are generally short with a wide brim, straight sides, and a thick base that allows for non-liquid cocktail ingredients to be muddled more easily. For straight liquors with a small amount of ice, a regular Old Fashioned glass will suffice. A double Old Fashioned glass, on the other hand, holds about 1.5 times as much as a standard Old Fashioned glass, making them ideal for larger and more complicated drinks, particularly those with space-consuming solid ingredients such as citrus wedges.
- Highball Glasses: Highball glasses are typically used to serve mixed drinks that contain large proportions of non-alcoholic mixers such as club soda or fruit juices. The added height of the highball glass allows plenty of room for mixing cocktails that have large lists of ingredients, or for recipes that call for a large amount of one particular ingredient. Fizzy drinks are usually best served in tall glasses, as the extra vertical space allows the carbonation more room to rise from the bottom of the glass, helping to distribute the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Collins Glasses: Named after the Tom Collins cocktail, these glasses are very similar to the highball glass, but are typically taller and more narrow than a standard tumbler. The Collins glass is even more ideal for infusing flavors into fizzy drinks, as the narrow profile promotes higher carbonation flow from the bottom of the glass.
- Margarita Glasses: One of the most distinctive elements of any classic margarita is the salted rim of the glass in which it is served. Margarita glasses are specifically designed to have wide rims that allow for a liberal amount of salt, ensuring that the drinker will have a bit of the tasty mineral with every sip.
- Shot Glasses: These small glasses are used for serving small (usually about 1.5 oz.) “shots” of liquor. These glasses are typically used in groups – one customer will often buy a “round” of shots for his or her friends at the bar – but their contents are usually consumed almost immediately, allowing them to be washed and reused shortly after the drinks are ordered. Because the glasses are small, they are typically inexpensive and take up little space on the shelf in comparison to other types of glasses.
- Snifters: Brandy and Cognac should be served in a traditional snifter, or “balloon glass.” These short-stemmed glasses feature a bowl with a wide bottom and narrow top that traps the aroma inside of the glass. The short stem allows for the glass to be easily cupped in the hand to naturally warm the liquor and heighten the flavor. These glasses are typically used to serve aged brown spirits, and although they are most commonly associated with brandy and Cognac, they can also be used to serve aged whiskeys. Unless your bar or restaurant intends to sell a wide variety of fine Cognacs or specialty cocktails that require the glass, keeping just a few snifters at the ready should be sufficient for general operation. The drinks that go in them tend not to sell as quickly as other drinks, and the space that most snifters would occupy on the shelf all evening could most likely be used for other more frequently needed glassware.
- Frozen Cocktails: Frozen cocktails are often served in hurricane glasses. The wide flared rim makes the frozen liquid easier to drink, while the stem allows the cold drink to be held for extended periods of time.
- Wine Glasses: Appropriate wine glasses are an absolute necessity when serving wine at a bar or restaurant. The large, wide bowl of a typical wine glass is tailored to deliver the complex flavors and aromas of the wine to the appropriate areas of the drinker’s palate, while the long stem allows the glass to be held without affecting the temperature of the wine. More so than the other glasses on this list, wine glasses come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and considerations should made for what types of wines will usually be served. For more information on what sort of wine glasses will match your wine selection, refer to our blog post on choosing wine glassware.
- Cordial Glasses: Sherry (and other fortified wines) and cordials should be served in small, 2-3 oz. sherry glasses (usually stemmed). Sherries and cordials tend to have powerful flavors, and it is not common that someone will want to drink more than an ounce or two at a time.
As stated in the opening of this guide, most bars and restaurants are not likely to have enough space to keep a large number of every possible glass on hand at the bar at all times. While having at least a few of each of the glasses listed above is advisable for the occasional unexpected cocktail order, each establishment should tailor its balance of glassware to its highest selling items. Some bars may be able to skip out entirely on certain kinds of glassware, while others may need a little bit of everything to meet the demands of a more varied menu. Additionally, glasses used to serve drinks that take longer for a customer to consume will not be returned as quickly to be washed and later reused. Be sure to also consider the “lifespan” of your most popular drinks when determining how many of each glass to store behind the counter.
Always serving your beverages in the appropriate or expected glassware is an easy way to bolster the appearance of your drinks and increase the reputation of your bar. While stocking up on glassware may seem like a steep initial investment, it is an investment that will almost certainly pay off in the long run. J.E.S. Restaurant Equipment has all of the glassware that you need to either get your bar started or add to the repertoire of your current establishment, so stock up, start mixing, and serve your cocktails with an air of class and preparedness that will keep your customers engaged in the experience and excited to come back on their next evening out.
