You Only Need 4 Cocktail Glasses (Here's Which Ones)
In this article
A collins, a martini glass, a rocks glass and a flute. With those four, you can serve almost every cocktail properly.
There are thousands of glass shapes out there, and bartending books list dozens. You don't need them to start. A cocktail takes time and a bit of skill to make, so it deserves a decent glass, but "decent" doesn't mean "a cupboard full".
The 4 glasses that cover most cocktails
| Glass | Capacity | What it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Collins | 24 to 40 cl | Long drinks with soda, tonic or juice: Mojito, Tom Collins, Gin & Tonic |
| Martini | 20 cl | Drinks served cold without ice: Martini, Cosmopolitan, Manhattan |
| Rocks (whisky) | 27 to 32 cl | Drinks on ice or built in the glass: Old Fashioned, Negroni, Caipirinha |
| Flute | 17 cl | Champagne cocktails: French 75, Bellini, Kir Royal |
Collins. A tall, straight glass named after the Tom Collins. The highball is a close cousin, slightly shorter and wider, with the same capacity. A 35 cl glass is enough for most drinks, and it holds a standard 33 cl bottle of soda or beer. Many bartenders prefer a 40 cl for extra room for ice.
Martini. The classic V-shaped glass. It shouldn't hold more than 20 cl: a real Martini warms up before you can finish a bigger one. Keep it in the fridge or freezer.
Rocks. Also called the old-fashioned or whisky glass. Look for a thick, heavy base and a straight rim. Toughened versions are ideal because you can muddle fruit directly in them.
Flute. Its narrow, tall shape keeps champagne bubbles alive longer. Chill it before use.
If you only own these four, you're covered for the vast majority of recipes. Everything else is a nice upgrade.
The upgrades worth adding next
Coupe (20 cl). Rounder and more relaxed than the martini glass, and today's favourite for drinks served "straight up" (cold, without ice). Many modern bars use it in place of the martini glass.
Nick & Nora (17 to 18 cl). A smaller, elegant stemmed glass from the 1930s, named after the cocktail-loving detective couple in Dashiell Hammett's The Thin Man. It's perfect for stirred drinks at a sensible size.
Sour glass (9 to 15 cl). A small glass that's narrow at the base and flares out. Made for sours served straight up.
Copper mule mug (35 cl). The traditional cup for the Moscow Mule. Today, almost any cocktail with ginger beer carries "Mule" in its name.
The specialists (nice to have, never essential)
| Glass | Capacity | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Margarita | 24 cl | Margaritas, salt rim ready |
| Hurricane tulip (poco grande) | 40 cl | Piña Colada, frozen drinks |
| Hurricane | 60 cl | The Hurricane cocktail, and little else |
| Sling | 32 cl | Singapore Sling, can replace a collins |
| Tiki mug | 41 to 65 cl | Ceramic mugs for tiki drinks |
| Julep cup | 35 to 38 cl | Mint Julep on crushed ice, usually metal |
| Toddy | 25 cl | Hot drinks like Irish Coffee, heat-resistant |
| Cognac (snifter) | 35 cl | Aged spirits and rich cocktails |
| Copita | 12 to 13 cl | Nosing spirits, narrows to concentrate aromas |
| Shot glass | 6 cl | Shots and layered drinks |
| Boston glass | 48 cl | Half of a Boston shaker, or a mixing glass |
| Absinthe | 24 to 33 cl | Has a line marking the 3 to 3.5 cl dose |
| Teacup | 18 to 24 cl | A nod to Prohibition-era drinks hidden in teacups |
| Wine glass | 32 cl | Spritzes, and your wine |
How to chill a glass (and why it matters)
Drinks served without ice, like those in martini glasses, coupes and flutes, start warming the second they hit the glass. A cold glass buys you several minutes of a properly cold drink.
Best method: the freezer. About 20 minutes chills a glass properly. If you entertain often, keep two or three martini glasses in there permanently.
Quick method: ice and water. Fill the glass with ice (crushed if you have it) and top up with water. Leave it while you make the drink, then tip it out just before you pour. It's faster than the freezer but noticeably less effective.
For hot drinks, do the opposite. Put a spoon in the glass and fill it with hot water. Pour the water out, add the drink, then remove the spoon. The spoon absorbs the thermal shock and protects the glass.
Glass etiquette that makes a difference
These small habits are what guests notice, even if they can't say why:
- Check every glass for chips, smudges and lipstick before you use it.
- Hold glasses by the base or stem, never the bowl. Fingerprints on the glass look careless and warm the drink.
- Never put your fingers inside a glass.
- Dry with linen towels washed hot, without fabric softener, for streak-free glass.
- Fill the glass with ice when a drink is served on ice. A full glass keeps the drink colder and the ice melts more slowly than a few lonely cubes.
Professional service, including how you handle and present a glass, has a whole module in the SHAKR Academy cocktail course. It's the part that makes a home drink feel like a bar experience.
The coupe and Marie-Antoinette: a myth
You've probably heard that the first champagne coupes were moulded on Marie-Antoinette's breast. It's a lovely story. It's also impossible: the coupe was invented in England in 1663, more than a century before she was queen.
Stories like this are part of the fun of cocktails. A good bartender can tell them while making the drink. There's a full history module in the SHAKR Academy course if you enjoy this side of things as much as I do.
Frequently asked questions
What glasses do I need for a home bar? A collins, a martini glass (or coupe), a rocks glass and a flute cover most cocktails.
What's the difference between a coupe and a martini glass? Both hold about 20 cl and serve drinks without ice. The coupe has a rounded bowl, the martini glass a V shape. The coupe is more forgiving and spills less.
How long does it take to chill a glass in the freezer? About 20 minutes.
What's the difference between a collins and a highball? The highball is slightly shorter and wider. Capacity is about the same.
Serve it like you mean it
The right glass, properly chilled and handled, is the last 10% that makes a cocktail feel finished. Pair it with the right home bar setup and you're most of the way there.
The SHAKR Academy cocktail course takes you the rest of the way: 57 lessons across 8 modules, from history and professional service to the classic cocktails and your own creations, with a PDF manual of every recipe, an audiobook version, and a certification exam at the end. Discover the course.