Bar Glassware 101

Posted by Rachel Schwartz on 8/11/2020 to Bars

row of mixed drinks, cocktail shaker, and liquor bottles on bar top

It's important for any bar or restaurant to stock a variety of glassware in order to serve a diverse crowd. The presentation of the drink is just as important to customers as the drink itself. These glasses are an introduction to the array of bar glassware most commonly used.

Often called a martini glass after the drink most often served in this conically shaped glass, this cocktail glass is great for 3-6oz drinks. This glass can be found in several styles including frosted, painted, and various stem shapes. While stemless cocktail glasses have become increasingly popular, the stem on this glass serve an important purpose as it allows the drinker to hold the glass without warming the drink through body heat which is imperative in keeping non-iced cocktails colder for longer. However, the stem and conical shape of this glass does make it easier to accidentally tip over. Many classic cocktails, a variety of martinis, and other short drinks are most often served in this glass without ice.

Hi-ball glasses tend to hold anywhere from 8-16oz of liquid but usually average around 10oz. These glasses are usually a bit stouter than a Collins glass, although the two glasses can and are used interchangeably. Both glasses are used for tall mixed drinks with a lot of ice. Drinks such as a bloody Mary, gin fizz, gin and tonic, and other tall drinks are often served in a hi-ball glass. it's not uncommon for drinks to be mixed directly in hi-ball glasses by pouring the ingredients on top of ice in the glass and stirring everything together.

An Old Fashioned is not the only drink that can be served in an old fashioned glass. Also called a rocks glass, this short tumbler is used for short mixed drinks that are served over ice including old fashioneds, White Russians, and simple combinations like vodka on the rocks. This short glass typically holds 6-8oz of liquid while a double old fashioned glass can hold 10-12oz.

Shot glasses come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Due to this, many find shot glasses fun to collect when they travel. These tiny glasses can be used to serve straight shots, mixed shooters, or to measure out hard liquor for a taller mixed drink. The average shot measures around 1.5oz while a short shot is 1oz. Most shot glasses are made of a thicker glass than other glasses because they are designed to withstand being slammed onto the bar top after downing a shot. Because these are used often and some do inevitably get broken over time, it's always a good idea for bars or restaurants to keep extra on hand.

Named after the drink primarily served in this glass, margarita glasses are distinctive and can come in a variety of sizes ranging from 6 to 20oz. The large bowl shape and wide rim make this glass easy to identify. The wider rim also makes adding salt or sugar along the rim easy.

Synonymous with fancy affairs and special occasions, champagne glasses are tall, thin glasses with a tapered rim specifically designed to keep bubbles in the glass longer. Available in several shapes, champagnes glasses can typically hold 7-11oz.

There are a ton of different shapes and styles of wine glasses but the basic wine glass will work for any type of wine. A basic red wine glass typically has a rounder, smaller bowl while a basic white wine glass is a bit taller with a more open bowl. Wine glasses are also good for wine cocktails although a white wine glass is best for any wine cocktails with ice.

As with wine glasses, there are a multitude of beer glasses, mugs, and pints. These glasses can all be used interchangeably and can be found in many sizes and shapes. Pint glasses usually hold around 16oz and are best when pulled straight from the freezer when being served. Pint glasses can also be used as a mixing glass when needed. Like the purpose of the stem in cocktail and wine glasses, beer mugs allow drinkers to hold their beer without warming it too quickly. Beer mugs can hold 10-14oz of beer and allow for a shorter pour.

While not as popular or used as often, having tall specialty cocktail glasses are good to have on hand in any restaurant or bar. These types of glasses include hurricane glasses, brandy snifters, and Irish coffee glasses. Hurricane glasses, named for their similar appearance to vintage hurricane lamps, hold 10-12oz of liquid and are often used for hurricane cocktails and pina coladas. Brandy snifters are large glasses, despite the standard pour for brandy being just 2oz. This is done purposely so that the drinker can enjoy all the different aspects of the drink. The footed glass most often used for Irish coffee is made with heat-resistant glass and can hold 8-10oz.

Like the tall specialty cocktail glasses, short specialty cocktail glasses are not used often but good to keep a few on hand. Short specialty glasses include the sour glass and cordial glass, among others. Sour glasses are small glasses designed to hold 3-6oz and used for simpler sour drinks such as whiskey sour. Cordial glasses are even smaller, holding just 2-3oz, and traditionally used to sip cordial straight--a practice that is not overly common now.

Bar Glassware 101

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Bar Glassware 101

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