From coupes to collins, tumblers to Martini glasses – the perfect vessel for every drink and shelf space to spare. Cheers to that!

Even the most perfectly crafted drink can be made average by the wrong glass. Glassware is important, particularly if you fancy yourself the host with the most. When it comes to cocktail glasses, just like cocktails themselves, the limit does not exist! But what you put in your cupboards should match what you like to serve. If you love a Moscow Mule, the copper mugs designed to hold them are a worthy investment. Martini glasses are a classic choice, and can hold much more than just Martinis, but for a condensed home bar, a Martini glass is interchangeable with a classic Champagne coupe. Both can be used for Negronis, Daiquiris, Cosmopolitans, Sours or a Hanky Panky (look it up, you won’t regret it).

It’s all about getting the glassware you’ll really get wear out of, and for that, you need to know all your options. Ahead, an extensive list of the essentials and the only cocktail glassware guide you’ll ever need to reference.

Our top 10 types of cocktail glassware:

Martini glasses
Coupes
Nick & Nora glasses
Margarita glasses
Shot glasses
Pitchers and punch bowls
Highballs and Collins glasses
Short tumblers (single rock, double rock and Old Fashioned glasses)
Specialty glasses
Bonus: Mixing glass

Martini glasses

If Martinis are your MO, you deserve a great Martini glass – it adds to the crisp, cool vodka (or gin) taste. Yes, they can be notoriously hard to sip from – but damn, they look fine. If you’re sipping from a Martini glass on a first date, the same rules apply as to your spaghetti – approach with caution. These iconic V-shaped glasses have fallen out of vogue as coupes had another moment in the sun, but we feel they’re due for a comeback. Other than Martinis, they are great holders for Daiquiris, Sours or a Negroni, and in the ‘90s the Sex and the City cast drank Sosmos (also due for a comeback) out of Martini glasses exclusively.

Coupes

Coupe glasses are very versatile, and an Instagram favourite, hence their extreme popularity in recent times. The wider rim lends itself to full garnish displays, if that’s your thing, and they hold a civilised amount of cocktail, about 175mls. They are used for cocktails shaken or stirred and served without ice (there is no room for it), so an Espresso Martini, Gimlet or even a Frosé. The fact that you hold these by the stem means your hands won’t warm up the drink – it also means you need a coupe with a strong stem. This can sometimes mean the less expensive coupes are better, because they tend to have thicker, sturdier stems.

Nick & Nora glasses

The Nick and Nora glass looks like a small, bell-shaped wine glass with an oversized base. They are becoming more and more common in cocktail bars (knocking the coupe off its perch). It is a very cool option for stirred cocktails, dessert wine or port. They often have a super thin drinking rim, which seems to minimise as much of what’s between you and the drink as possible. They might seem a little more obscure, but they are the kind of thing that once you own, you’ll find so many uses.

Margarita glasses

Margaritas get put into everything from coupes to tumblers these days, mainly because the specified double bowl Margarita glass has gone out of fashion, seeming a bit too “schoolies” or “Balinese nightclub”. They are also fairly bulky and harder to store, but if you’re mixing Margs on the reg, there’s nothing better to drink them out of. The wide rim provides ample space for a salty edge. Or spicy. Or chocolatey — people do amazing things with Margs. There’s also room for however you like your Margarita: on the rocks, frozen, strained or with the lime carcass in.

Shot glasses

The shot glass has its negative connotations, but there are certain drinks that are 100% improved by the tiny format. Many a bartender has gotten creative mixing mini combos of delicious drinks, designed to be enjoyed in small quantities. And they’re a must if you’re the type who likes to sip a high quality tequila the way they do in Mexico.

Of course they come in all different designs (some trashier than others), but these days you can find some truly beautiful and creative examples – think smoked glass, curved edges, and deco detailing. The traditional style – made of thick glass with a doubly thick bottom (a reinforcement to stop them from shattering when slammed down on a bar) are still worth having. Any shot glass can hold straight spirits or mixed shooters, they don’t take up much room in your cupboard, and they double as a jigger when you need to measure ingredients for cocktails.

Pitchers and punch bowls

Essential for making drinks in batches, which is essential for hosting a party and not getting stuck making drinks all night. Both a great punch bowl and pitcher will serve you well time and time again. When summer hits and occasion calls, you’ll be glad you invested wisely. Use them for holding a big batch of a cocktail with lots of garnish: whole raspberries, slices of lemon, rosemary sprigs and lots of big ice cubes. Not only do they hold a big, fruity, Pimms or punch, but they almost double as decor. Nothing says “garden party” like a glorious punch bowl in the middle of the table. Extra points if you find a set with matching glasses and ladle.

Highball and Collins glasses

Tall and narrow, these glasses are for cocktails that have more mixer than alcohol. Think a gin and tonic, a mojito or a bloody mary (which is actually more garnish than drink). Highball and collins glasses are technically different things – a highball is tall and skinny, while a collins is just a tall glass – regardless, they are also your go-to for a big glass of water, juice or soft drink. Super versatile, these are good glasses to have some fun with as there’s less need to stick to tradition. Coloured or rippled glass is a nice option and makes for the perfect show (or BBQ) stopper.

Short tumblers

Like the teapot, these glasses are short and stout. With straight sides and a wide brim, they are usually made with a thicker glass and a heavy bottom ideal for strong drinks you tend to nurse. Like whiskey, no matter how you take it – neat, on the rocks with a splash of water, the tumbler holds it all. In fact, there are different types of tumblers designed for specific types of drinks (if you want to get that deep into the weeds). Explore the world of single rocks, double rocks, Old Fashioned and double Old Fashioned glasses. Traditionally the top end glasses are made from crystal, but there are plenty of less costly dupes.

Specialty cocktail glasses

If we wanted to get into every type of cocktail glass out there, we’d be here all day. Perhaps even all week. Beyond the above (which we count in our essentials), there’s a plethora of specialty glassware designed to house very specific drinks. Often laden with weird and wonderful history and coming in all shapes and sizes, you can find all manner of dedicated glassware to fit your drink of preference. Below, a few of the most iconic specialty cocktail glasses:

Hurricane glass (used for the Hurricane cocktail, Piña Coladas, and other frozen drinks)
Sling glass (famous for the Singapore Sling, can be used in place of a Collins glass)
Sour glass (it’s all in the name, these can be used for cocktails like an Amaretto Sour or Whisky Sour when you want them ‘straight up’ – sans ice)
Tiki mugs and glasses (tall ceramic mugs embellished with Tiki idols, used for drinks like Mai Tais and Jungle Birds)
Copper mugs (the iconic vessel of choice for a Moscow Mule)
Mint Julep cup (typically made of silver, pewter or stainless steel)

Bonus: Mixing glass

Okay so this one’s not for serving, but for making. Part of any good cocktail kit, the mixing glass (which can be either glass or metal) is a container used in the preparation of cocktails to quickly chill drinks by stirring them with ice before straining into the final glass. It makes sense right? If not a pour-over, cocktails are either shaken or stirred. A cocktail shaker shakes, and a mixing glass stirs, it’s just not as showy as a shaker so gets a little less attention. Rest assured though, if you’re serious about cocktails, the humble mixing glass is an MVP. The key to crafting exceptional cocktails is precision. So while you can use your shaker or pour straight into the glass, to really achieve perfection it takes the right tool for the job.