10 Best Types of Cocktail Glasses for Your Home Bar
Coupe glasses and Nick and Noras are just a few of the unique options.
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When it comes to cocktails, presentation is almost everything. But before you add to or revamp your home bar, it's good to understand the various types of cocktail glasses for enjoying your favorite cocktails and mocktails. Everything from margaritas and mojitos to Shirley Temples and booze-free mimosas all need the right cocktail glasses.
But the process of picking must-have types for your glassware collection may seem overwhelming, especially if you can't tell the difference between martini glasses, coupes, single rocks and Nick and Noras. "Most glasses are designed to accentuate the type of drink that's being served in them," says Nicole Papantoniou, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, who has extensive professional experience testing glassware. "The material, shape of the opening, the design of it, the base and the stem all affect that." And while the perfect cocktail glass doesn't exist, there are classic, unique and vintage options that have various uses. Take the highball and collins glasses, for example. According to Renee Pettiford, CEO of Sister.ly Drinkware, "these glasses are great for serving drinks like gin and tonic, whiskey soda, or rum and coke." Other popular cocktail glass types, like tiki glasses, are commonly used for Mai Tais and piña coladas, "but you can also use them for mocktails like fresh-pressed juices or smoothies," Pettiford notes.
No matter what beverage you serve, there's a cocktail glass specifically suited to match. So browse through our detailed explanations on each type of cocktail glass below. Cheers!
Coupe Glasses
"You do not often see the words sexy and glass in the same sentence, but coupe glasses have become synonymous with chic, glamour and high society, and are undeniably sexy," Pettiford says. These glasses, known for their round bowl and straight stem, were stylish champagne vessels in France during the 1700s, but are now commonly used for martinis or other cocktails that are shaken or stirred without ice. If you have to choose one cocktail glass for any occasion, it will probably be the coupe glass. "If you're looking for something that will feel at home in any setting — from a formal dinner party to a casual barbecue — this is the way to go," Pettiford says.
This coupe glass has all of the features that make this glassware so sexy. It features an elegant, vintage design that holds 8.6 oz. of your favorite cocktail. "From their stylish aesthetic to their smooth rounded bowl, it’s no wonder the coupe has made a triumphant resurgence," says Pettiford.
Pour classic cocktails, like the martini, cosmopolitan, Manhattan and gimlet into these gorgeous and timeless Art Deco-style coupe glasses. With its retro shape and saucer-like design, these glasses hold 5 to 6 oz. of drinks in style.
Bring a tropical twist to your home bar with these tiki-inspired coupe glasses, beautifully made with amber stems and classic wide rims. Those interested in crafting warm-weather cocktails, like a tequila sunrise or a mojito, can gladly use these 8 oz. glasses for any celebration.
Traditional Martini Glasses
Next to the coupe, martini glasses are Pettiford's favorites. She finds the shape classy, elegant and functional, as the stem prevents your hand from warming up the drink. "The shape also helps keep the drink cold and prevents ice cubes from melting too quickly," she says. When choosing this type, consider V-shaped designs that'll easily pour the drink into your mouth at the slightest tilt.
Elixir Glassware's martini glasses exhibit all of the qualities that make this type so versatile and favored. "They have a cone-shaped top for easy sipping, a slim stem for a graceful hold and the capacity to hold 9 oz. of liquid. Plus, the classic design can be used for any occasion. "One of the best things about martini glasses is their versatility — they can be used for so many other drinks besides martinis," Pettiford explains. "They're great for whiskey sours, scotch on rocks, Manhattans and even desserts!"
Orren Ellis' Yasin square martini glasses may not have the usual shape or hold of the classic type, but they're just as unique and impressive. These square-shaped glasses have strong and sturdy bases that make them great for any cocktail bar. They hold 8 oz. and are also ideal for presenting desserts, like a mouth-watering tiramisu or mousse chocolate pudding.
The gold-tone plated finish of these martini glasses exudes a luxurious feel that'll make sipping your cocktails or mocktails a truly classy experience. Whip them out during more special occasions, like weddings, birthdays or romantic dinners. They hold 8 oz. of liquid — just enough to get the celebration started.
Single Rocks Glasses
Single rocks glasses are between 8 to 10 oz. They're another suitable pick for any occasion, especially if you want to enjoy whiskey, scotch or other boozy choices like a gin and tonic or vodka soda. "The shape of the single rocks glass is designed to keep the drink at the top of the glass, where you can enjoy it without having to reach into your beverage every time you take a sip," Pettiford explains. "This makes it easy to savor the flavors and aromas of your drink."
"Single rocks glasses are a great choice for someone who wants to enjoy their favorite cocktail in a classic glass," Pettiford says. That's why the sleek and cylindrical shape of this glass is a great addition to your barware collection — especially since it holds 9 oz.
Rocks glasses come in various designs, including a diamond-style architecture, as seen in this 8 oz. set. Add ice cubes or whiskey stones before pouring in your scotch whiskey, vodka, tequila or rum.
Double Rocks Glasses
Unlike single rocks glasses, double rocks are about two ounces bigger, holding up to 12 oz. of liquid. Pettiford recommends them for whiskey on the rocks, but there's a catch. "The more liquid in your glass, the more diluted it will be — so if you really like your drink strong and straight-up, you might want to stick with a single rocks glass," she says.
Enjoy 10 oz. of your preferred whiskey and cocktails in Frasera's lowball glass. It's an inexpensive pick if you're on the lookout for a budget-friendly glass that's a bit fancier than a regular design due to the ridges.
Stack these 10 oz. CB2 glasses to save space in your home bar cabinets. The gray color and detailed arches give them an eye-catching and sophisticated vintage feel.
Customers gave this 11 oz. double rocks glass positive reviews for its heavy weight and chic design. "They’re made of thick glass, are sturdy and should be perfect for our bar," writes Kenny, a verified business professional who gave it five stars on Wayfair's site.
Highball and Collins Glasses
These may be two different glass types, but we're counting them as one because they're so similar. Both are tall and cylindrical and are ideal for sparkling and specialty cocktails like Tom Collins or Jim Collins. According to Pettiford, the main difference is the width of their top rim. "The highball glass's top rim is wider than the collins'— so if you want to serve a drink in one type of glass but not the other, you could choose based on this difference," she says.
Similar to this cut-lined design, highball glasses are "super versatile if you just want to buy one all-purpose type of glass," says Good Housekeeping Institute's Nicole Papantoniou. The 12 oz. Manhattan glass has the right amount space to mix your cocktails, while the linear lines are meant to contribute to the additional glints of light.
The splashy mint and blue stripes of these 12 oz. highball glasses make them vibrant additions to your glassware collection. The smooth surface and artistic design evoke a museum-worthy appeal.
These clear 11 oz. glasses are heat resistant and durable enough to hold beer, water or tea. You'll find the origami style suitable for formal and more warm-weather events, like a backyard barbecue or a beach party.
Nick and Nora Glasses
Nick and Nora glasses are named after the detective couple Nick and Nora Charles from Dashiell Hamett's 1934 novel, The Thin Man. Similar to martini glasses, this type has an inverted bowl for straight-up drinks (aka chilled).
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community, a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.
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