Step By Step Cocktails

Glassware Guide

Every cocktail deserves the perfect vessel. Discover the different types of glassware used in professional bartending and learn when to use each glass for optimal presentation and experience.

Beer Mug

Beer Mug

Thick-walled glass mug with a handle designed to keep beer cold and provide a sturdy grip.

Commonly used for:

Beer, Beer Cocktails, Micheladas

Chalice Glass

Chalice

Stemmed glass with a wide bowl and ornate design, perfect for ceremonial drinks and special occasions.

Commonly used for:

Wine, Champagne, Special Occasions, Ceremonial Drinks

Collins Glass

Collins

Similar to a highball but taller and narrower, perfect for tall drinks with carbonation.

Commonly used for:

Tom Collins, Long Island Iced Tea

Copper Mug

Copper Mug

Copper vessel designed for the Moscow Mule. The copper conducts cold well, keeping drinks icy.

Commonly used for:

Moscow Mule, Kentucky Mule, Dark & Stormy

Cordial Glass

Cordial

Small stemmed glass with a rounded bowl, designed for liqueurs and cordials served neat.

Commonly used for:

Liqueurs, Cordials, Digestifs, After-Dinner Drinks

Coupe Glass

Coupe

Stemmed glass with a wide, shallow bowl that is more stable than a martini glass.

Commonly used for:

Manhattan, Sidecar, Daiquiri

Flute Glass

Flute

Tall, narrow stemmed glass designed to preserve carbonation and showcase the bubbles.

Commonly used for:

Champagne, Prosecco, Mimosa, Bellini

Half Pint Glass

Half Pint

Small, straight-sided glass holding 8-10 ounces, perfect for smaller beer servings or beer cocktails.

Commonly used for:

Half Pints Of Beer, Small Beer Cocktails, Shandy

Highball Glass

Highball

Tall, narrow glass perfect for drinks served with ice and mixed with carbonated beverages.

Commonly used for:

Gin & Tonic, Vodka Soda, Rum & Coke

Hurricane Glass

Hurricane

Tall, curvy glass named for its resemblance to a hurricane lamp, perfect for tropical drinks.

Commonly used for:

Hurricane, Piña Colada, Zombie, Mai Tai

Irish Coffee Glass

Irish Coffee

Stemmed glass with a handle designed for hot coffee cocktails. The handle prevents burns.

Commonly used for:

Irish Coffee, Hot Toddies, Coffee Cocktails

Lowball Glass

Lowball

Short, wide-mouthed glass designed for drinks served with ice, perfect for muddling and mixing.

Commonly used for:

Old Fashioned, Whiskey on the Rocks, Negroni

Margarita Glass

Margarita

Stemmed glass with a wide, shallow bowl that flares outward, often featuring a salted rim.

Commonly used for:

Margarita, Frozen Margarita, Tequila Sunrise

Martini Glass

Martini

Iconic stemmed glass with a wide, shallow bowl, best for drinks served up without ice.

Commonly used for:

Martini, Cosmopolitan, Lemon Drop

Nick & Nora Glass

Nick & Nora

Small stemmed glass with a rounded bowl, perfect for smaller cocktails served up.

Commonly used for:

Martini, Manhattan, Daiquiri, Aviation

Pilsner Glass

Pilsner

Tall, tapered glass with a narrow base that widens toward the top, often used for beer cocktails.

Commonly used for:

Beer Cocktails, Micheladas, Shandy

Pint Glass

Pint

Standard beer glass holding 16 ounces, typically straight-sided or slightly tapered, perfect for beer and beer cocktails.

Commonly used for:

Beer, Beer Cocktails, Shandy, Micheladas

Pokal Glass

Pokal

Stemmed glass with a wide bowl and short stem, often used for beer to enhance aroma appreciation.

Commonly used for:

Beer, Beer Cocktails, Aromatic Beers

Poco Grande Glass

Poco Grande

Large, bowl-shaped glass similar to a margarita glass but bigger, perfect for frozen drinks.

Commonly used for:

Frozen Margarita, Piña Colada, Large Frozen Drinks

Red Wine Glass

Red Wine

Larger bowl-shaped stemmed glass designed for red wines. The wide bowl allows wine to aerate and develop.

Commonly used for:

Red Wine, Sangria, Mulled Wine

Rocks Glass

Rocks

Shorter version of the old fashioned glass, perfect for drinks served on the rocks with ice.

Commonly used for:

Whiskey On The Rocks, Scotch, Neat Spirits

Shot Glass

Shot

Small glass designed for single servings of straight spirits or layered shots, typically one ounce.

Commonly used for:

Straight Shots, Layered Shots, Measuring

Shooter Glass

Shooter

Small glass designed for quick shots, typically 1-2 ounces and often taller than a standard shot glass.

Commonly used for:

Shots, Layered Shots, Jello Shots

Sherry Glass

Sherry

Small stemmed glass designed for fortified wines, typically with a narrow bowl and wider rim to concentrate aromas.

Commonly used for:

Sherry, Port, Madeira, Dessert Wines, Fortified Wines

Sling Glass

Sling

Tall, narrow glass similar to a Collins glass, perfect for long drinks with plenty of ice.

Commonly used for:

Singapore Sling, Gin Sling, Long Drinks

Stemless Martini Glass

Stemless Martini

Martini glass without a stem, featuring the same wide, shallow bowl. More stable and modern than the classic martini glass.

Commonly used for:

Martini, Cosmopolitan, Drinks Served Up

Snifter Glass

Snifter

Short-stemmed glass with a wide bowl and narrow opening, designed to concentrate and enhance aromas.

Commonly used for:

Cognac, Brandy, Whiskey, Aged Spirits

Tiki Mug

Tiki Mug

Decorative ceramic or glass vessels featuring tiki or tropical motifs, perfect for tiki cocktails.

Commonly used for:

Zombie, Mai Tai, Scorpion, Tiki Cocktails

Tulip Glass

Tulip

Stemmed glass with a flared rim that curves inward, designed to concentrate and enhance aromas.

Commonly used for:

Cognac, Brandy, Aromatic Cocktails

Tulip Whiskey Glass

Tulip Whiskey

Tulip-shaped glass specifically designed for whiskey. The shape concentrates aromas and allows the spirit to breathe.

Commonly used for:

Whiskey, Scotch, Bourbon, Neat Spirits

White Wine Glass

White Wine

Smaller, narrower bowl than red wine glasses. The narrower opening helps preserve the delicate aromas of white wine.

Commonly used for:

White Wine, Spritzer, Wine Cocktails

Zombie Glass

Zombie

Large, tall glass similar to a Collins but wider, designed specifically for the Zombie cocktail.

Commonly used for:

Zombie, Scorpion, Large Tiki Cocktails