All Cocktail Glasses Explained

Whether you're a budding mixologist or simply love entertaining at home, having the right cocktail glasses is important. It can elevate your drinking experience from ordinary to extraordinary. At Double Dutch we admit to having a guilty passion for perfect glassware … maybe you share it?

Classic Glasses

We’ve listed all of the classic cocktail glasses you’ll come across:

Highball Glass: Tall and Sophisticated

The highball glass is a staple in any well-stocked bar. This tall, narrow vessel is perfect for long drinks like Double Dutch Ginger Beer with whisky or bourbon. As well as classic drinks such as Gin and Tonics, Mojitos, and Long Island Iced Teas.

Professional bartenders particularly favour these glasses as they allow for building drinks directly in the glass. Similar to Collins glasses (their taller, thinner cousin), most experts agree they're interchangeable for home use.

Lowball Glass: The Sturdy Classic

The lowball glass or old-fashioned glass, is a shorter, wider vessel that is essential for vintage cocktails. It's the go-to choice for classics like the Old Fashioned and Negroni.

Why? Because its solid base makes it ideal for muddled drinks, where releasing and binding flavours is crucial. The weight and stability of these glasses also make them perfect for spirit-forward drinks served neat or on the rocks.

Martini Glasses: Iconic glassware

No collection of cool cocktail glasses would be complete without the iconic martini glass. With its distinctive V-shaped bowl and long stem, this glass has been turning heads since the early 1900s. Perfect for Cosmopolitans, classic Martinis, and Manhattans, its steep sides prevent ingredient separation while keeping drinks perfectly chilled. For a modern twist, consider stemless versions, which offer greater stability while maintaining the classic silhouette.

Champagne Flutes: The Elegant Essential

These sophisticated vessels aren't just for champagne. Their tall, slender design makes them perfect for cocktails like Bellinis, Mimosas, and French 75s. They maintain carbonation while creating a visually striking bubble effect.

Contemporary Glasses

Coupe Glass: The Bartender's Choice

Among unusual cocktail glasses, the coupe has become a modern favourite among mixology professionals. Its saucer-like design offers both elegance and practicality, making it less prone to spills than traditional martini glasses. Ideal for serving Daiquiris, Boulevardiers, and Gin Sours, it's a versatile addition to any collection.

Copper Mug: A Distinctive Choice

Another of those unusual cocktail glasses, this copper mug stands out for its unique purpose. Essential for the perfect Moscow Mule, or the Double Dutch Kyiv Mule. Its copper construction keeps drinks delightfully chilled while its curved handle prevents unwanted heat transfer.

The Rise of Alcohol-Free Sophistication

The growing popularity of alcohol-free cocktails has sparked a revolution. While traditional cocktail glasses work perfectly well, there's an emerging trend of using distinctive glassware. These glasses celebrate these drinks in their own right.

Double Dutch's premium mixers have been at the forefront of this movement. Proving that non-alcoholic drinks deserve the same attention to presentation as their spirited counterparts.

Look for contemporary variations of classic shapes - such as mason jars. These shorter-stemmed coupes or geometric highballs - that bring modern elegance to alcohol-free serves.

Serving alcohol-free cocktails

When serving alcohol-free cocktails, presentation is everything. Use the same care in glass selection as you would for traditional cocktails:

Highballs

Use for longer, refreshing drinks like virgin mojitos

Decorative stemware

Use for alcohol-free 'martini' alternatives

Beautiful rocks glasses

Use for complex, spirit-free alternatives to classics.

The right glass not only enhances the drinking experience but ensures non-drinking guests feel equally valued. Improving the and included in social occasions.

Tips for Building Your Cocktail Glass Collection

When starting your collection:

• Start with versatile pieces that work for multiple drinks
• Focus on quality over quantity
• Consider storage space and durability
• Choose dishwasher-safe options if practicality is important
• Build your collection gradually, adding speciality pieces over time
• Include options suitable for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic serves.