Glassware: which glass for which drink

The right glass keeps a drink at the right temperature, holds the right amount of ice and mixer, and shows the drink off. You don't need them all; a few versatile shapes cover almost everything.

Cocktail glasses

• Coupe: a stemmed glass with a shallow, rounded bowl for drinks served 'up' (without ice), such as the Daiquiri and Sidecar. Most IBA recipes simply say 'cocktail glass'; a coupe works for all of them.
• Martini glass: the V-shaped stemmed glass of the Dry Martini.
• Nick and Nora: a small, tulip-shaped stemmed glass for stirred drinks served without ice.
• Rocks or old fashioned glass: a short, heavy tumbler for drinks over ice, such as the Old Fashioned and Negroni.
• Highball: tall and straight, for long drinks with ice and a mixer, such as the Gin and Tonic and Mojito.
• Champagne flute: tall and narrow for sparkling drinks, such as the French 75 and Bellini.
• Wine glass: for the Spritz and Kir.
• Copper mug: the traditional Moscow Mule vessel.
• Julep cup: a metal cup that frosts over in a Mint Julep.
• Hurricane glass: a tall, curvy glass for the Piña Colada and Singapore Sling.

Beer glasses

• Nonic pint: the classic British pub glass with a bulge near the rim.
• Tulip: a stemmed glass that narrows at the top, often used for aromatic and stronger beers.
• Weizen glass: tall and flared, with room for a wheat beer's big head.

In UK pubs, draught beer and cider are sold in thirds, halves and two-thirds of a pint, or in multiples of half a pint (GOV.UK). A pint is 568 ml (NHS).

Hot drinks

• Irish coffee glass: heat-resistant and stemmed, so you can see the cream layer. Warm it with hot water first.
• Heatproof glass mugs: for a Hot Toddy, mulled wine or mint tea.

Looking after glasses

• Chill cocktail glasses before drinks served without ice: a few minutes in the freezer, or fill them with ice and water while you mix.
• For beer, a beer-clean glass matters: bubbles clinging to the sides and a head that won't hold are signs of residue. The Cicerone Certification Program advises against frosted glasses for beer, which can cause foaming and dull the flavour. Erdinger recommends rinsing a wheat beer glass with clean water before pouring.
• Wash delicate stemware by hand and dry it with a lint-free cloth.

See also: cocktail techniques and how to pull the perfect pint.