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Drinking goes beyond just mindless consumption. For many connoisseurs since ancient times, drinking has been an experience.
So why should it be any different for you?
Although it might not seem like it, the glass you use can significantly enhance or negatively impact your drinking experience.
If you ever wondered how you could elevate your date-night with the perfect drinking glass to pair with your expensive liquor, now is your chance!
I have listed out the 37 different types of drinking glass that will take your drinking experience to the next level.
Outline
37 Different Types of Drinking Glasses
1. Flute
Starting off with a glass you’re bound to find in Hollywood movies all the time, the flute is a narrow and tall glass with a small surface area.
The design is meant for drinks that don’t need a lot of aeration, and keep the effervescence in drinks like champagne for longer. If you want to add a hint of glamor in your next party, the flute will do wonders for champagne and champagne cocktails.
2. Red Wine
Wine is a tricky drink to handle, as each variety of wine needs a special method of pouring and drinking to get the absolute best experience.
With that said, red wine glasses suit most red wines and are designed to provide as much aeration as possible. Red wine glasses have a larger bowl and wider brim, as they are best served slightly warm and well-aerated. The stem is long to help you keep your hands off of the bowl.
3. White Wine
Compared to red wine, white wine needs much less aeration. Thus, white wine glasses are shorter with a more tapering rim to decrease the level of oxidation.
White wine glasses fall somewhere between a flute glass and a red wine glass. The structure helps retain the subtle hints of flavor. White wine does better with smaller pours for each drink.
4. Cocktail
Shaped like an inverted cone, a cocktail glass is built to deliver the best experience in terms of both the cocktail’s flavor as well as aroma.
The brim is extremely wide so that your nose is close to the drink as you sip it, giving you the chance to combine both your senses as you drink your cocktail. They can come in both stemmed and stemless variants.
5. Martini
A classic in every film-noir and James Bond movie, the martini glass can be seen as a form of a cocktail glass.
The martini glass was invented because the portion size of vodka had considerably increased with time. Thus, these glasses have a bigger capacity than a cocktail glass, with the bottom of it being way more conical than the latter.
These glasses can also serve cosmopolitans, Daiquiris, Gibsons, and so on.
6. Margarita
Also referred to as a “sombrero glass”, the margarita glass comes in various shapes and sizes to fit the party mood.
Certainly a specialty drinking glass, a margarita glass has a wide brim that narrows down to a second segment that eventually flows into the stem. Shaped like an upside-down sombrero, there is no party that cannot be livened up by bringing out some margaritas in this glass!
7. Coupe
A vintage twist to the cocktail glass, a coupe is also called a champagne saucer. This is because they are a staple in affluent parties for serving straight champagne.
The bowl of a coupe is extremely wide and short, with a tall ornate stem. Although they might be easy to tip over, they are incredibly comfortable to hold and walk around with. If you ever order a Sidecar, Aviation, or Martinez, expect it to come in a coupe glass.
8. Nosing
A glass that is primarily used for taking in every hint of a drink’s aroma, a nosing is usually used to serve whiskey.
Shaped like a human nose, the bottom of the bowl is wide which gets narrower. The brim then flares out a little at the top to give the maximum amount of aroma for when you take a sip. The stem is optional, and is short and wide.
9. Shot
The glass which happens to be the reason behind several memorable (and maybe terrible) nights, the shot glass is a staple at any bar you go to.
Shot glasses are used to take liquor straight-up, with the glass being cylindrical or tapering. The aim of the shot glass is to deliver the drink to you as quickly as possible. They come in various quirky shapes and colors, making them a popular souvenirs.
10. Shooter
Shooter glasses are essentially tall shot glasses. With the same conical or cylindrical structure, they are meant to serve double shots or triple shots of any drink.
Their larger volume means you get the option of customizing your drink like a cocktail and drinking it in one gulp.
11. Lowball
Also called an “old-fashioned glass”, the lowball glass is perfect to hold muddled drinks.
Lowball glasses are short with a wide and thick base. Most people enjoy their drinks neat in this glass, with few ice cubes, and take their time to finish hard liqueurs.
For cocktails, you can always be served the Old Fashioned and Negronis in this glass. They are comfortable to hold and hard to spill drinks from.
12. Highball
Commonly mistaken as the Collins glass, the highball glass falls somewhere in between a Collins and a lowball glass.
Highball glasses are tall but wider and shorter than Collins glass. These are used to serve drinks with a considerably higher mixer portion than alcohol. Drinks in this glass usually come with a tower of ice.
If you ever order a Bloody Mary or a Mojito, chances are you’ll get them in a highball glass.
13. Snifter
The snifter glass is often called the “brandy snifter” glass, as its most popular use is sipping brandy straight-up.
Snifters are short and U-shaped which tapers down to the stem. The design is to help the holder swirl the drink easily, and trap as much of the aroma as possible while drinking.
Aside from brandy, snifters are great for serving any amber-colored liqueur like aged whiskey.
14. Whiskey
Speaking of whiskey, this glass is specifically designed to accentuate the complex flavors of whiskey.
Often used interchangeably as a juice glass, whiskey glasses look a lot like lowball glasses. The glass shows the color and aroma of the whiskey and is tapering down to be more comfortable to hold.
15. Rocks
Similar to whiskey and lowball glasses, the rocks glass is short and holds a small volume of liquor.
They have a wide mouth to put ice in, while short enough to give the option of drinking the entire liquor in one swallow. The rocks’ glass is hard to tip over, even with plenty of whiskey inside it.
16. Hurricane
Invented by Pat O’Brien, a tavern owner of New Orleans, this pear-shaped glass adds an exotic flair to any bar.
The name hurricane glass comes from its design is similar to vintage hurricane lamps. Holding anywhere from 10-20 ounces, you’ll find this glass is used to serve Hurricane and piña coladas.
17. Poco Grande
For the uninitiated, the poco grande glass may look similar to the hurricane glass. However, their differences are more apparent upon closer inspection.
The stem of a Poco Grande is taller, and the bowl is shorter and wider than a hurricane glass. The stem helps the holder’s hand stay away from the bowl and not warm the drink with it.
These glasses are incredibly ornate and look beautiful when used for serving cold beverages.
18. Goblet
Goblets are the epitome of ornate design and style when it comes to drinking.
Although they have a rather simple design, what makes goblets unique is the individual designs each one carries. They are thick in order to control the amount of insulation that affects the drink.
The stem is fairly long while the bowl is deep and usually with a wide mouth.
19. Chalice
People often use chalice and goblet interchangeably, but the truth is that they are way different.
A chalice does not always have an ornate design and is shorter and broader at the base than a goblet. The glass is thin and is mostly used to pour stout beer.
They might be hard to tip over, but they are prone to breaking.
20. Pint
A rather simple design, the pint glass is the default glass you are going to see when you order a pint of beer or water.
Pint glasses are conical and tall and can come in variations such as cylindrical pint glass or tulip glass. They are broad at the top and can hold the foam head of a beer.
21. Collins
The Collins glass gets its name from being used primarily to serve cocktails like the Tom Collins and John Collins.
Although these are used interchangeably with highball glasses, the Collins glass is comparatively narrower and taller. They are cylindrical in shape, and made of regular or frosted glass.
22. Tumbler
A glass that you probably have in your kitchen as we speak, the tumbler is extremely similar to the pint glass. The only difference is the fact that there are flat symmetrical ridges on a tumbler about ¾th of the way down.
They are the most common type of glass, with restaurants and homes using them to pour everything from water to sodas. Tumblers can also come in plastic and colored variants.
23. Irish Coffee
An Irish coffee glass serves its namesake, Irish coffee. However, this glass is perfect for serving hot beverages. Be it hot whiskey or hot cocoa, the Irish coffee glass is a perfect vehicle for both!
The glass itself is thick and heat-resistant, while the handle is located a little toward the bottom of the vessel. This ensures you don’t hurt yourself holding one of these.
The top is usually a little flared up to hold the foam head which comes with an Irish coffee.
24. Tankard
A tankard is made specifically to serve beer. A tankard has a considerably large handle and is made with thick glass to serve as insulation to keep the drink cold for longer periods of time.
Most pubs serve beer in a tankard. There is a variation of the tankard known as the stein, which comes with a lid. This lid can be flipped open with your thumb.
Think back to your favorite fantasy movie, how many steins have you seen?
25. Juice
As the name suggests, juice glasses are meant to serve freshly-squeezed juice. Structurally they are very similar to lowball and rocks glasses but are never more than 5 inches tall.
They are usually cylindrical, and unless you’re a connoisseur of glasses (which you soon will be!), it will be a little difficult to differentiate between these three glasses.
26. Milkshake
Nothing beats the nostalgia trip to the 1950’s diners which comes with the milkshake glass. Milkshake glasses are tall and deep, to accommodate the milkshake, ice cream, spoons, and anything else you can add to it.
They are slightly tapering as they go down, with decorative ridges running down the length of the glass. Milkshake glasses have a wide mouth and a flat stand at the base.
If you ever consider ordering a $5 milkshake, be prepared to see one of these.
27. Zombie
Another specialty glass that was made to serve a particular type of cocktail, the Zombie glass was made to serve its namesake cocktail.
Soon enough, these glasses grew popular for their stylish appearance and size. Zombie glasses are tall and thin, with straight lines running down as the glass gets slightly opaque toward the base. They aren’t usually frosted to show off the drink inside.
28. Sour
Often confused for a chalice, a sour glass is closer to the champagne flute glass. Sour glasses are structurally the same as flute glasses, however, they are shortened vertically.
They are also referred to as Delmonico glasses and serve sour drinks like whiskey sours. The opening of the glass gives you more space to take in the aroma of your drink. If you’re ever in a pinch, just use a smaller flute glass as an alternative.
29. Cordial
Cordial glasses can be seen as the stylish cousin of the shot glass. The cordial glass is used to show off layered drinks.
They have a thicker base, with the top flaring out to provide an easier pour and better aroma. Cordial glasses usually come out after dinner, when people don’t want a lot of a specific drink to end their meal.
30. Grappa
A certainly unusual design, the grappa glasses were made to hold grappa drinks. Since grappa is a uniquely aromatic drink with specific temperature requirements, the structure of the glass is designed to complement that.
This glass has a long stem with a flared top. The middle squeezes in a little, to accentuate the fragrance and give the glass its distinctive characteristic.
31. Liqueur
Liqueur glasses are excellent for serving sweet drinks which are meant to be sipped slowly. They are very similar to grappa glasses structurally, except they have a longer stem and a shorter bowl.
They flare out at the top to give off more of the aroma of the drink. These glasses can shatter easily, so you need to be extra careful with bringing them out at your next dinner party.
32. Thistle
Thistle glasses are structurally similar to tulip glasses, however, these glasses are better for serving drinks like wine.
Thistle glasses have a distinctive curve as they go up from the base. Apart from wine, a thistle glass can also serve Scottish ales.
33. Pokal
The pokal glasses are extremely versatile and can serve pretty much any drink. However, they are mostly used for serving high-gravity beer.
The pokal has a wide bowl that slowly tapers down to meet the stem. The mouth of the glass first tapers up and then flares out slightly to give it a beautifully distinct look. They are a stylish addition to any party.
34. Pilsner
Pilsner glasses are used to serve cold beers like lagers, pale ales, and of course, pilsners.
These glasses are perfect to admire the color and the effervescence of your drink. They can be seen as pint glasses, except they have a curve towards the end and tapers down to the base of the glass.
They are fancier than a beer mug but are not as sturdy.
35. Weizenbier
Weizenbier glasses are similar to pilsner glasses, except they open up just before the mouth and base more than pilsner glasses. The curved part close to the mouth is the same diameter as the base.
Weizenbier glasses are slightly taller than pilsner glasses and are used to serve cocktails with a garnish or slice of fruit for added visual appeal.
36. Sling
Sling glasses follow the same structural cues as the Zombie, however, they taper down a lot sharper than a Zombie glass.
Sling glasses are tall and thin, and used to serve Long Island Iced teas. The foot of the glass is the same diameter as the mouth, making them harder to tip over.
These are excellent for any party as they are comfortable to carry, and can serve pretty much any drink you want.
37. Sake
Usually coming together as a set, sake glasses are undoubtedly the best way to enjoy this alcoholic drink.
The set includes a pitcher along with four identical glasses. These glasses look similar to miniature bowls. The proper way to drink sake is to pour it into each cup in small amounts. Sharing is an essential part of the sake experience.
How to Clean Drinking Glasses
While using a dishwasher may seem like a no-brainer, remember that dishwashers are best only for plates and not glassware. Drinking glasses need to be washed by hand gently, to ensure there is no soapy residue left. This also helps in making sure you don’t leave behind any food particles from your previous drink.
Storing Drinking Glasses
Most glasses on this list are top-heavy. For this reason, glassware is usually stored upside-down.
In this way, glasses like the margarita glass are not as susceptible to being knocked over. This also prevents water from forming at the base of the glass, leaving behind a noticeable mark.
Now that you know the different types of drinking glasses, you are all set to make your own bar in the comfort of your own home! Be the talk amongst your friend circle at the next dinner party you host.
