Choices in glassware can get kind of haphazard for the amateur, at-home bartender. The difference between a wine glass and a champagne flute is pretty clear, but once we get into the more nuanced distinctions, all hope is lost. Before we know it, we’ve thrown a cosmopolitan into a tumbler and called it a day. But did you know there’s a method to the madness?
Wine
Wine is all about the aroma. “If you can’t stick your nose in the glass, it’s probably not a good glass,” Gizmodo revealed. Ever noticed that red wine glasses tend to be larger and rounder than white wine glasses? That’s because red wines are bolder and require more room—a larger bowl—for their flavors and aromas to be fully enjoyed. And that long, delicate stem is there for temperature control—keeping your hand away from the wine and preserving your drink’s chilled nature.
Martini/Cosmopolitan
Don’t hate yourself for spilling these drinks every time you order them, because the flat cone shape is pretty much designed for it. Supposedly, this glass was originally created so people in the ’20s could easily toss their drinks when the police arrived to bust a party. As with the wine glass, the stem helps maintain the chilled temperature of the drink, though some bartenders, like Brooklyn’s Ivy Mix, think the wide top surface does just the opposite. Want a change of pace? Mix suggests swapping your martini glass for a Nick and Nora, which will preserve the temperature and help you keep your drink in its glass.
Champagne
The champagne flute is designed for one thing and one thing alone: temperature control. The moment your drink gets warm, the bubbles go flat, and that’s no fun for anyone. Because champagne doesn’t have the same aromatic strengths as wine, the size of the mouth can be smaller. No one’s trying to smell their Canard-Duchene, after all.
Old-Fashioned (Rocks Glass)
This one’s pretty straightforward: The rocks glass is designed to hold large cubes of ice. And its short and stout form helps it accomplish this aim with ease. Plus, the steep sides and open mouth make it perfect for stirring. Thinner or more curved glasses would obscure the purpose of the rocks glass, so in this case, simple is better.
Mojito (Collins/Highball Glass)
Cocktails in these glasses are often served with soda water. So, like the champagne flute, the long narrow shape is all about temperature control and bubble preservation. The simple shape also makes stirring easier, which is important when all the alcohol settles at the bottom and the mixer rises to the top, as they are apt to do.
Moscow Mule
As with many other glasses, the copper cup used to create the perfect Moscow Mule helps control the drink’s temperature. Some believe the copper enhances the flavors of the ginger beer, vodka, and lime, as well. But when it comes down to it, do we really care? There’s nothing quite as badass as sipping alcohol from a copper cup, after all.