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Last week I struggled to find the right glass for the Drink of the Week until I eventually just picked a different cocktail. That’s not something I feel good about, so I decided to write a few words about glassware. Having the best glass can sometimes be a challenge—especially when you are exploring new recipes. However, don’t let the glass you are using stop you from trying something new. It’s true that I believe in taking the time to cut the garnish (garnish is part of the recipe, after all) and that I feel better about a photograph if the drink is served in the right glass (some recipes do specify certain glasses). Yet, I recognize that not everyone wants to reserve half of their cabinet space for unique glassware. The trick is having a few essentials and expanding gradually from there.
Does the glass really matter?
While it’s possible to serve a cocktail in just about any vessel that holds liquid, some shapes work better than others. For most cases, the appropriate glass is as much a practical decision as an aesthetic one. For example, rocks glasses, lowballs and old fashioned glasses are perfect for serving drinks on ice, if for no other reason than the thick chunk of glass at the bottom can hold up to dropping in a scoop of ice cubes. In contrast, you probably need to be more careful with delicate V-shaped cocktail or “martini” glasses which are used to serve drinks “up” without ice. Casually drop in a few ice cubes and you’re likely to crack the rim or the stem. In addition to durability, using the right glass can also have a thermal effect. Holding a chilled cocktail glass by it’s slender stem keeps the warmth of your fingers from heating up the drink, especially when that drink is served without ice. Cocktails that are carbonated or that reveal layers of color work well in taller highball and Collins glasses. Some drinks can even be prepared in different ways—up, neat, on the rocks—depending on how you like it. Having a few options will please your guests and you’ll feel like a better host. It doesn’t take much effort or investment to cover most of the possibilities.
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