10 Types of Cocktail Glasses Every Home Bar needs

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

OK, you’ve stocked your home bar with all the basic spirits – great job! You’ve armed yourself with the essential bartending tools, including a cocktail shaker, jigger and a Hawthorne strainer. Nice! You now look like a proper home bartender! But there’s one more thing you need before you can make cocktails just like the ones you’d order at a bar. The right glassware. 

So, what type of glass should you use for cocktails? Errrr, if only it were that simple! First, have you ever wondered why a cocktail is served in a particular glass and why different cocktails are served in different glasses? It’s not just for looks, although that’s important. There are actually several key reasons why specific drinks are served in specific glassware.

You see, every cocktail has its ideal serving glass, and choosing the right one is crucial for creating great cocktails. Why? It’s simple. Because the right glassware elevates the overall drinking experience.

Why is choosing the right cocktail glass important?

The right glass will enhance a drink’s aroma, ensuring you get the full bouquet of your drink. The right glass will also accommodate your chosen garnish(es), whether it’s a citrus twist, a sprig of mint, or even a playful paper umbrella. 

The right glass should maintain the perfect temperature. Think about when you’re sipping a Negroni – you wouldn’t want to drink it from a long, slender glass filled with ice cubes. Not only would it be impractical to drink from, but your drink would also become very watery very quickly.

Does the glass really change the taste of a drink?

Your choice of glass can also influence the taste and the way you sip your cocktail. For instance, the wide rim of a Martini glass allows the Gin’s botanicals to shine, while a Highball Glass will help accentuate the minty freshness of your Mojito.

As Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan – Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassadors – often says, we drink not with our mouth but with our eyes and our nose too. In fact, the nose plays a big part in what we taste. If you’re a fan of Mojitos, you’ll know what we mean. 

The fresh mint leaves in a Mojito play a key role in the drinking experience. As Rico explains, “The flavor of the mint actually comes from the mint sprig that’s next to the straw because aroma is eighty percent of flavor and mint is nothing more than an aroma.”

Choosing the right glass for your cocktail

While it’s true that every cocktail has an ideal glass, sometimes there are exceptions. For example, if you make a traditional Amaretto Sour with egg white, you’ll get a drink with a big frothy, creamy head. In this case, a cocktail glass is perfect for showcasing that frothy top.

However, if you make an Amaretto Sour without egg white (or Aquafaba), it’s going to lack that signature foaminess and look strange if you serve it in a cocktail glass. That’s why Rico, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador, suggests serving egg-free sours in a Rocks Glass for a more fitting presentation. “Do it straight up. Make it simple. Serve it on the rocks.” 

So, what are the different glasses for cocktails? We’re so glad you asked! Below we’ll explain the different types of cocktail glasses you need for your home bar.

Martini Glass
If you’ve ever asked, “What are cocktail glasses called?”, there’s a pretty good chance you were thinking of a Martini Glass.  In fact, the names Cocktail Glass and Martini Glass are often used interchangeably. 

The long stem and cone shape both play a role in controlling temperature, while the wide mouth enhances aroma with each sip. Sophisticated and stylish,

Martini Glasses are perfect for shaken or stirred Martinis, but also great for Cosmopolitans and Espresso Martinis. A Martini Glass typically holds between 120 to 180 ml (4 to 6 oz).

Come on, everything looks better in a Martini Glass!

Explore our list of drinks that are served in a Cocktail Glass.

Mule Mug
There are several cocktails lucky and iconic enough to demand their own signature vessel. The Moscow Mule is one of them.

The Mule Mug is traditionally made of copper, although aluminum is also common. The Copper Mule Mug is stylish and distinct with a sturdy handle and solid, weighty construction. A Mule Mug typically holds about 475 ml or 16 oz.

The copper material helps keep the drink icy cold, enhancing the refreshing taste, presentation and overall drinking experience of this classic cocktail. Plus, it looks super cool (pun intended) to drink from a Copper Mule Mug. In fact, if you see someone drinking from one at a bar, it’s likely you’ll experience cocktail envy.

See our list of cocktails that are served in a Mule Mug. 

Rocks Glass
Also known as an Old-Fashioned, a Lowball Glass, a Tumbler and a Whiskey Glass, a Rocks Glass is perfect for short drinks or drinks served on the rocks (hence the name).

Short and sturdy, timeless and versatile, a Rocks Glass has a thick base and straight sides and typically holds 6-10 ounces (175-300 ml).

The wide mouth is perfect for sipping spirit-forward drinks like the Old Fashioned, Negroni, and Whiskey Sour. The thick base provides stability and a comfortable grip, while also helping to keep the drink cold.

Check out our list of cocktails and drinks served in a Rocks Glass.

Coupe Glass
When you see someone get served a cocktail in a Coupe Glass, it exudes elegance and instantly makes whatever that person ordered seem more refined than your own drink. 

A Coupe Glass features a shallow, broad bowl atop a slender stem. It’s both elegant and functional. Its wide rim allows for a full appreciation of a cocktail’s aroma, while the stem helps keep the drink chilled by preventing heat transfer from your hand.

A Coupe Glass typically holds around 180-240 ml (6-8 oz). A Coupe Glass is the ideal glass for the Manhattan and the French 75.

Most places serve a French 75 in either a Flute Glass or a Coupe Glass. Rico prefers serving his in a Coupe. “I like to get the full aroma in my face as I drink,” he says.

Highball Glass
The Highball Glass is probably the most commonly used type of cocktail glass… and for good reason – they’re the most versatile. 

Tall, sleek, and straight-sided, it’s perfect for a wide range of drinks, from a Skinny Bitch to a Mojito. In fact, if you’ve ever heard someone ask, “What are Mojito glasses?”, they were, in fact, asking about a Highball Glass. 

Its generous size allows plenty of room for ice, mixers, and garnishes, keeping your drink cool and flavorful, not to mention perfect for showcasing the vibrant colors of your drink. A Highball Glass typically holds between 240 to 350 milliliters (8 to 12 ounces).

Explore drinks that are served in a Highball Glass.



Shot Glass
As the saying goes, good things come in small sizes. The Shot Glass is the smallest glass in the family and is often referred to as a Shooter and a Pony Glass. A Shot Glass typically holds 1.5 ounces, which is approximately 44 milliliters.

In addition to the Bloody Mary Shot, Lemon Drop Shot, Kamikaze, and Apple Pie Shot, this glass also works perfectly for that all-important shot of Champagne that’s traditionally served with a Pornstar Martini.

Discover drinks served in a Shot Glass.

Hurricane Glass
With its tall, curvy, hourglass shape, shorter stem but ample bowl space, a Hurricane Glass is a great glass to accommodate a large drink. A Hurricane Glass typically holds around 440-590 ml (15-20 oz).

This glass can hold plenty of ice and colorful garnishes, while its flared top is ideal for showing off vibrant layers and exotic ingredients. You guessed it – a Hurricane Glass is the perfect glass for a Piña Colada, a classic Daiquiri or a Mai Tai.

Coupette Glass
Here’s another example of a cocktail so legendary and beloved that it has its own glass. The Coupette Glass aka Margarita Glass is the perfect glass for – you guessed it – a Margarita. 

The Coupette is a fiesta in glassware form. Its iconic, wide bowl and narrow stem allows plenty of room for ice and those delicious citrus-heavy Margarita flavors to mingle. 

Perhaps most importantly, it’s also the perfect glass for the drink’s iconic salted rim. With a Coupette, you get all that salty and zesty goodness in every sip.

A Coupette Glass glass typically holds about 350-475 ml (12-16 oz).

So now that we’ve got you dreaming about Margaritas, the only question is which is it gonna be? A classic Margarita, Frozen Margarita, Mango Margarita or Bubble Margarita?

Wine Glass
A Wine Glass is not only perfect for serving wine, it’s also ideal for certain cocktails. Be it an Irish Coffee, Sangria, or a classic Spritzer, Wine Glasses are great for classic and modern cocktails, especially frozen drinks, wine coolers, or bubbly cocktails. A standard Wine Glass typically holds about 150-200 ml (5-7 oz).

Explore our list of cocktails served in a Wine Glass.

Nick & Nora Glass
A favorite among bartenders, the Nick & Nora glass is something in-between a Coupe and small Wine Glass and is perfect for serving straight-up cocktails.

The Nick & Nora Glass gained popularity in the late 1980s when a savvy bartender allegedly had several made for a New York restaurant after the design was found in a catalog from the 1930s.

The Glass features a long stem, a high-sided bowl, a narrow mouth, and typically holds about 150 ml (5 oz).