Glasses Basics

Most common glasses and their uses

Beer Pilsner
A pilsner glass is used for light beers, including pilsner. Generally smaller than a pint glass, in 200 ml, 250 ml, 300 ml, 330 ml or 400 ml sizes. Tall, slender and tapered. The slender glass will reveal the colour, and carbonation of the beer, and the broad top will help maintain a beer head.

Beer Mug
A pilsner glass is used for light beers, including pilsner. Generally smaller than a pint glass, in 200 ml, 250 ml, 300 ml, 330 ml or 400 ml sizes. Tall, slender and tapered. The slender glass will reveal the colour, and carbonation of the beer, and the broad top will help maintain a beer head.

Martini/Cocktail Glass
A cocktail/martini glass is mainly used to serve cocktails. The stem allows the drinker to hold the glass without affecting the temperature of the drink. The wide bowl places the surface of the drink directly under the drinker's nose, ensuring that the aromatic element has the desired

Red wine glass

They have rounder, wider bowl, which increases the rate of oxidation. As oxygen from the air chemically interacts with the wine, flavor and aroma are subtly altered.

White wine glass

For lighter, fresher styles of white wine, oxidization is less desirable as it is seen to mask the delicate nuances of the wine. To preserve a crisp, clean flavor, many white wine glasses will have a smaller mouth, which reduces surface area and in turn, the rate of oxidization.

Champagne Flute
Champagne flutes are characterised by a long stem with a tall, narrow bowl on top. The shape is designed to keep sparkling wine desirable during its consumption. Additionally the flute design adds to the aesthetic appeal of champagne, allowing the bubbles to travel further due to the narrow design, giving a far more pleasant visual appeal.

Brandy Snifter
A snifter/balloon is mostly used to serve aged brown spirits such as brandy and whisky. The large surface area of the contained liquid helps evaporate it, the narrow top traps the aroma inside the glass, while the rounded bottom allows the glass to be cupped in the hand, thus warming the liquor.

Margarita glass
Margaritas may be served in a variety of glasses, most notably the stereotypical margarita glass, a variant of the classic Champagne coupe; The glass is also used for dishes such as guacamole or shrimp cocktails.

Hurricane glass
A Hurricane Glass is typically used for frozen and blended cocktails. The distinct pear-shaped curve of this glass is reminiscent of vintage hurricane lamps and holds between 10 and 12 ounces.

Highball glass
A highball glass, a glass tumbler, contains 8 to 12 fluid ounces (240 to 350 ml). It is used to serve highball cocktails and other mixed drinks. A highball glass is taller than an Old Fashioned glass, and shorter and wider than a Collins glass.

Collins Glass
A collins glass is a glass tumbler which typically will contain 10 to 14 fluid ounces (300 to 410 ml). It is used to serve mixed drinks, especially Tom Collins cocktails. It is cylindrical in shape and narrower than a highball glass.

Irish Coffee cup

As the name suggests it is used to serve Irish Coffee.

a compilation by Zalak Upadhyay