Types of Cocktail Glasses

Not all cocktails belong in the same glass. A tall highball works beautifully for a refreshing Gin and Tonic, while a Martini calls for something altogether different. Understanding the different types of cocktail glasses can help you choose the right one for your favourite drinks.
In this guide, we'll explore the most popular cocktail glasses, what makes each one different and which cocktails they're best suited to.

Types of Cocktail Glasses for Every Occasion

Highball Glasses

Highball glasses are tall, straight-sided glasses that are ideal for long, refreshing cocktails served with plenty of ice and a mixer. Their generous size leaves room for soda water, tonic or lemonade, making them a popular choice for drinks such as a Gin and Tonic, Mojito or Cuba Libre.

The Borgonovo Biconic Highball Glasses are a great option for serving your favourite long drinks, while the Borgonovo Biconic Double Old Fashioned Highball Glasses offer another choice for cocktails served over ice.

Lowball Glasses

Lowball glasses, also known as rocks glasses or Old Fashioned glasses, are short, wide glasses with a sturdy base. They're ideal for cocktails served over ice with little or no mixer, including favourites such as the Old Fashioned, Negroni and White Russian. Their wide opening also leaves plenty of space for large ice cubes and garnishes.

These versatile glasses are a handy addition to any home bar, particularly if you enjoy shorter, stronger cocktails. You can also use them for whisky and other spirits, either neat or over ice. 

Martini Glasses

With their long stems and distinctive V-shaped bowls, martini glasses are one of the most recognisable cocktail glass styles. They're a classic choice for serving chilled cocktails without ice, including the Dry Martini, Cosmopolitan and Espresso Martini. The long stem lets you hold your drink without warming it, helping your cocktail stay cool for longer.

Their wide opening also makes it easy to add the finishing touches, whether that's an olive in your Martini, a twist of citrus or a few coffee beans on top of an Espresso Martini. Their distinctive shape makes even a simple garnish stand out. 

Shot Glasses

Small but versatile, shot glasses are designed for serving individual measures of spirits and other drinks. They're a traditional choice for tequila, vodka and whisky shots, but they're also ideal for layered shooters and miniature cocktails such as the B-52 or Baby Guinness.

Whether you're hosting friends, putting together a home bar or serving drinks professionally, a good set of shot glasses is useful to have on hand. Browse the range to find a style that suits your drinks setup. 

Champagne Flute

Champagne flutes are tall, narrow glasses with long stems, traditionally used for champagne and sparkling wines. Their slim shape helps preserve the bubbles, making them ideal for sparkling cocktails such as the French 75, Bellini and Mimosa.

Champagne flutes suit everything from a celebratory toast to a relaxed brunch with Mimosas. Explore the range of champagne barware at Chabrias for preparing and serving your favourite sparkling drinks.

Elixir Glasses

Elixir glasses come in several styles, including tall highball designs and shorter tumblers. The shorter double Old Fashioned design works well for drinks served over ice, including a Whiskey Sour or a spirit with a mixer. With a comfortable shape and plenty of room for ice and garnishes, they're a practical choice for a variety of mixed drinks.

The Double Old Fashioned Elixir Glasses at Chabrias have a 350ml capacity and come in a pack of four. Their clear glass design shows off colourful cocktails while also making them a great everyday choice for spirits and other drinks.

Drinking Jars

For something a little different, drinking jars bring a relaxed feel to cocktail serving. Inspired by traditional mason jars, these glasses typically have a wide opening and sturdy base. They're particularly popular for colourful cocktails packed with ice, fresh fruit and garnishes, including Mojitos, Pimm's cocktails and fruity punches.

Chabrias' Original Mason Drinking Jars come in a set of four, with a generous 480ml capacity for all your favourite ingredients. They're a fun choice for summer cocktails, garden parties and barbecues, and work just as well for smoothies, homemade lemonade and other cold drinks.

Wine Glasses

Wine glasses aren't just for wine. Their rounded bowls and stems also make them suitable for refreshing mixed drinks. The bowl allows the aromas of the drink to develop, while the stem helps prevent your hand from warming it. Popular cocktails served in wine glasses include Sangria, Aperol Spritz and white wine spritzers.

Larger wine glasses are especially useful when you want to add plenty of ice, fresh fruit and mixers. There's room for orange slices, berries or a sprig of fresh herbs, making them a lovely option for colourful cocktails at parties or relaxed evenings at home.

Coupe Glasses

Coupe glasses have a timeless look, with a long stem and a shallow, rounded bowl. Originally used for champagne, they're now a popular choice for classic cocktails served chilled without ice. 
Drinks such as the Daiquiri, Sidecar and Manhattan look particularly elegant in a coupe glass, while the stem helps keep your cocktail cool as you enjoy it. Add a citrus twist or cocktail cherry for a finishing touch, and you've got a beautifully presented cocktail.

Gin Glasses

If you enjoy a Gin and Tonic, a dedicated gin glass is a great addition to your collection. Also known as Copa glasses, traditional gin glasses have large, balloon-shaped bowls and long stems. Their generous size leaves plenty of room for ice, tonic water and garnishes, while the rounded bowl helps bring out the aromas of the gin's botanicals.

The Borgonovo Rococo Stemmed Gin Glasses at Chabrias have a generous 539ml capacity and come in a set of four. The set also works well for an Aperol Spritz or other mixed drinks served in a large, stemmed glass. 

Cocktail Essentials at Chabrias

The right glassware and equipment make preparing and serving cocktails even more enjoyable. At Chabrias, you'll find a great range of practical cocktail essentials to suit different drinks and budgets, whether you're building your home bar or stocking up for professional use.

Discover our cocktail sets, cocktail shakers and cocktail strainers, or take a look at our guide to cocktail essentials for more tips. Shop now at Chabrias to find everything you need to prepare and serve your favourite drinks.