Cocktail glass types and when to use them
Rocks, highball, coupe, Martini, Nick & Nora and tiki glasses: capacities, classic drinks and the essential starter set for a cocktail bar.
In short
Choose a cocktail glass to match the serve: a low rocks or old fashioned glass for short drinks over ice, such as Negroni and Old Fashioned; a highball or Collins for long drinks such as Gin and Tonic and Mojito; and a coupe, Martini or Nick & Nora for drinks served without ice. A bar can start with four shapes: rocks, highball, coupe and a generous wine glass for Spritz.
In a bar, the glass is part of the recipe. It helps control temperature and ice volume, and signals the drink before the first sip. The basic rule is simple: drinks over ice in tumblers, drinks without ice in stemmed glasses, so the hand does not warm the cocktail.
Tumblers: drinks with ice
| Glass | Typical capacity | Typical drinks |
|---|---|---|
| Low tumbler / old fashioned / rocks | 25–35 cl | Negroni, Old Fashioned, Americano, spirits on the rocks |
| Double old fashioned | 35–45 cl | Short drinks with large ice cubes, Caipirinha |
| Highball | 30–40 cl | Gin and Tonic, Cuba Libre, Paloma, long drinks |
| Collins | 35–45 cl | Tom Collins, Mojito, drinks with soda |
| Shot | 3–6 cl | Shots and spirit tastings |
Stemmed glasses: drinks without ice
| Glass | Typical capacity | Typical drinks |
|---|---|---|
| Coupe | 15–25 cl | Daiquiri, Margarita served up, shaken cocktails |
| Martini (V-shaped) | 15–25 cl | Martini, Cosmopolitan |
| Nick & Nora | 12–18 cl | Stirred cocktails, Martinez, Manhattan |
| Generous wine glass | 45–60 cl | Spritz, Hugo, wine and sparkling wine cocktails |
| Copa balloon | 60–70 cl | Spanish-style Gin and Tonic with plenty of ice |
Coupe or Martini glass?
The V-shaped Martini glass is iconic but spills easily and warms the drink quickly. Many bartenders prefer a coupe or Nick & Nora: more stable, easier to carry to the table and less prone to breakage.
Specialist glasses
- Tiki mug: decorated ceramic for tropical drinks such as Mai Tai and Zombie. Best reserved for a tiki drinks menu.
- Copper mug: for Moscow Mule and its variations. Copper keeps the drink very cold.
- Hurricane: a curved, lamp-shaped glass for tropical and frozen drinks.
- Julep cup: a metal cup for Mint Julep, served with crushed ice.
The essential starter set
- Rocks glass: the bar's most-used glass, also suitable for spirits and short soft drinks.
- Highball: for all long drinks.
- Coupe: for drinks served without ice.
- Generous wine glass: for Spritz and sparkling cocktails. Your wine glass can serve both purposes; see the wine glass guide.
These four shapes cover almost any classic drinks list. Add specialist glasses when the menu needs them.
What to check when buying
- Thick bases on tumblers for stability and use with a muddler.
- Stackability on highballs to save space under the bar.
- Toughened glass for busy, fast service; crystalline glass for presentation-led mixology.
- Fill lines when serving a declared measure.
For shakers, jiggers, strainers and mixing glasses, browse bar and cocktail preparation. If you are setting up from scratch, start with the bar equipment checklist.
Find the products
The items mentioned in this guide, in the Misee catalogue.
Frequently asked questions
Which glass is used for a Negroni?
A low tumbler, also called an old fashioned or rocks glass, with ice. There is also a version served without ice in a coupe, but the classic serve is in a rocks glass.
Which glass is used for a Spritz?
A generous wine glass or a large tumbler, with ice. The wine glass is now the most common presentation.
What is the difference between a highball and a Collins glass?
Both are tall glasses for long drinks. A Collins is usually taller, narrower and slightly larger. In practice, many bars use one tall glass for both.
Which glasses do you need to open a cocktail bar?
Start with rocks glasses, highballs, coupes and generous wine glasses. Add Nick & Nora, Martini, tiki mugs or copper mugs when the drinks menu requires them.
Need advice on your supplies?
Our customer service helps you choose sizes, quantities and materials for your venue.