When creating a home bar, the best cocktail glasses are an essential. Some simple shapes are suitable for a range of cocktail concoctions, but others are very specifically designed to accentuate the flavors of your drink, whilst making it look pretty, of course.
I've been cultivating my home bar for years and have tried the full range of cocktail glass shapes and sizes. If you're short on space, invest in a good martini glass or a premium highball glass, because these suit most cocktails. When you get serious about your home bar, it's worth having an array of shapes and sizes.
Having looked through hundreds of cocktail glasses, I have found the most substantial and yet stylish selection. I've experienced more than my fair share of snapped and shattered glasses, so I made sure that all the glasses wouldn't cause the same problem. If you plan on designing a home bar, you won't want to be without these.
From margaritas and martinis, to whiskey and champagne, this is the best version of every glass you need to complete your cocktail collection.
Best cocktail glasses 2024
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Material: Crystal-cut glass
Capacity: 4.94 fl oz
Dishwasher safe: Yes
+ Versatile
+ Feels premium
- Limited capacity
Known as Nick and Nora glasses, these are great for a range of cocktail mixers (I love NIO's). They're small, but tall, and easy to hold. This set is designed by spirits expert Zane Harris, so you know they're special.
Material: Crystal
Capacity: 10 oz
Dimensions: 2.5 x 6.25 inches
+ Stylish design
+ Versatile
- Sleeve needs maintenance
Although a highball glass is shorter than a collins, they're roughly the same. Perfect for long drinks, like gin and tonics or vodka sodas, this classic shape will showcase your brightest mojito mix.
Material: Crystal
Capacity: 9 fl oz
Dishwasher safe: Yes
+ Feels substantial
+ Looks elegant
- Expensive
Simultaneously stylish and substantial, these glasses are my top pick in our guide to the best martini glasses. Crafted from crystal, they're effortlessly beautiful and the thick rim makes it easy to garnish.
Material: Glass
Capacity: 8.6 oz
Dimensions: 3.8 x 6 inches
+ Timeless
+ Versatile shape
- Only available as a set
Elegant, with a hint of vintage, this is an 'all time favorite' according to its Wayfair reviews. The sharp, clean lines create a sturdy, but not bulky, glass. They're the perfect shape for Manhattan and margarita mixes.
Material: Recycled glass
Capacity: 14 oz
Dimensions: 2.5 x 7 inches
+ Bright design
+ Good capacity
- Tricky to store
If you like your margaritas large (who doesn't?), this is for you. The cobalt blue rim elevates the simple style and looks beautiful in contrast to bright cocktail mixers. They won't fit in a wine glass rack though, so store them carefully.
Material: Crystal glass
Capacity: 6 oz
Dimensions: 1.75 x 4 inches
+ Perfect for whiskey
+ Not as elegant as others
- Expensive
If you like whiskey, Glencairn will be a familiar name to you. The iconic whiskey makers have crafted this whiskey glass to enhance a whiskey's bouquet in the bowl. The tapering mouth is easy to sip from too.
Material: Glass
Capacity: 2 oz
Dimensions: 2.25 x 2.375 inches
+ Elegant
+ Stylish
- Fragile
Shots should always be served in style and Sempli Monti know it. These look surprisingly elegant for shot glasses; they're hand blown from lead-free crystal. The rim is super fine, but that means they're very breakable too.
Material: Crystal glass
Capacity: 6.8 oz
Dimensions: 9.4 x 2.4 inches
+ Timeless
+ Excellent quality
- Only available as a set
Champagne flutes come in all shapes and sizes, from stemless to coupes, but these are my favorites. Classic, elegant, and crafted from crystal, they have a lovely sparkle and they're durable too.
Material: Glass
Capacity: 21.125 oz
Dimensions: 4.875 x 4.875 inches
+ Easy to hold
+ Great capacity
- Not suitable for iced drinks
Crafted as a stemless wine glass, these versatile, stemless bowls have universal appeal. They're the perfect shape for everything from spritzes to sangria, and a French 75. Just don't serve iced cocktails in them, because they warm quickly.
Material: Tritan (shatter resistant)
Capacity: 9 fl oz
Dimensions: 2..5 x 7 inches
+ Durable
+ Almost identical to glass
- Not 'the real deal'
These are my most-used cocktail glass. They're unbreakable, but they still feel as elegant and delicate as my crystal glasses. The only way I tell the difference is by tapping the rim on a solid surface. Use them for non-alcoholic mixers too.
Material: Crystal glass
Capacity: 17.9 oz
Dimensions: 3.5x 7.2 inches
+ Feels luxurious
+ Sturdy rim
- Quite heavy
Shott Zweisel has a monopoly on glass. Perfect for frozen cocktails and pina colada mixes, this poco grande has a thick rim for balancing garnishes on. They're weighty, but elegant and the stem is easy to hold too.
Material: Crystal glass
Capacity: 20 oz
Dimensions: 6 x 3 inches
+ Contemporary design
+ Easy to hold
- Can be too big
Crafted from lead-free crystal, these contemporary glasses are a stem away from the delicate designs of many others. The large bowl is perfect for showing off any special garnishes. The base is really comfortable to hold too.
Complete The Bar
If you're looking to complete your home bar, there are a few other products that it's good to keep in mind. These are three essentials that you'll need before you start shaking and stirring. You can buy a home bar bundle like this Williams Sonoma Signature Set, or, you can search around for the products that the experts recommend.
It's worth keeping some pre-made cocktails to hand for when you don't have the time to bartend. MOTH makes the best, bar-quality cocktails on the market. I highly recommend them.
All home bars start with a shaker and this is the most popular option amongst professionals and amateurs alike. It is easy to use, made from durable stainless steel, and forms a strong seal too.
These fun, mouth-blown, hand-finished glasses are a must-have in your bar. They're not tied to any drink, but add a splash of color to any drinks evening. They look great with colorful cocktails.
This strainer is the perfect size for a Boston shaker and strains out even the smallest fruit fibers and ice crystals.
FAQs
Which glass is best for cocktails?
Either a martini or highball glass: highballs are excellent for icy drinks with lots of mixers, whilst martini glasses suit stronger cocktails.
Does the type of glass matter for cocktails?
Some experts say that good quality glass, especially crystal, will enhance the aromas of your cocktail and keep it at the correct temperature. If you're new to cocktail glasses, I would prioritize good quality, but avoid ultra-delicate glasses, since these are easy to chip and shatter.
Why do people use different cocktail glasses?
The shape of your glass's bowl can enhance the flavors of your cocktail. A wide, bulbous shape will enhance the aroma rich ingredients of some drinks, whilst a slimmer glass will provide a smoother flow.
Final thoughts
Every beautiful home bar should be fitted with a range of cocktail glasses. Some flavor notes and alcohols require a flatter, saucer-style shape, whilst others need bowls or curves to enhance the notes. A sturdy rim will support even the most elaborate garnish and a sturdy stem can save you spilt cocktails or shattered glasses.
When you choose to get creative with your cocktails, having the perfect glass can make all the difference, so choose carefully. If you're in any doubt, start with the unbreakable martini glasses and you can expand your collection from there.
How we test
When we recommend products at Homes & Gardens, we have normally tested them ourselves. However, we didn't manage to take these cocktail glasses to our test kitchen to take them through our rigorous rounds of tests.
In absence of personal experience, I have researched these glasses extensively, reading professional and customer reviews until I know everything you need to. If there's a special benefit or use for these glasses, I'll tell you about it. If you need to be careful holding them or washing them up, I'll let you know about that too. For more information on how we test, you can visit our dedicated page.
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