The best glasses for cocktail hour

Thanks to lockdown, many of us have become expert bartenders. And what better way to wow guests than serving up one of your homemade cocktails in some pretty glassware? While there are certain drinks that should be served in specific glasses, the right style of cocktail glass is a matter of personal taste. We’ve put together an edit of bartending’s top 10 most popular glasses to make sure you find glassware that fits perfectly in your home

Essential for any special occasion flutes are perfect for serving up champagne or prosecco (or maybe even a champagne based cocktail like a French 75). Toast in style with one of these pretty flutes

Crystal Champagne Flutes, £89 for 3, Antiques Boutique - Buy it now

Mauricio Glass Champagne Flute, £32.99 for 4, Wayfair - Buy it now

Roebling Champagne Flutes, £152 for 4, Harrods - Buy it now

Becoming incredibly popular over the past couple of years, the coupe glass is a stemmed glass featuring a broad, shallow bowl, able to hold about six ounces. This long, thin stem is perfect for drinks that are served up, meaning that they are served chilled, without ice. The wide brim also makes it the perfect glass for garnish enthusiasts.

Vita Cocktail Coupes, £20 for 2, Nordic House - Buy it now

Rialto Salmon Coupe Set, £60 for 2, Fy - Buy it now

Tutu Coupe Glass, £14.99, Soft Store - Buy it now

Yali Glasses, £490 for 2, Matches Fashion - Buy it now

Nick and Nora glasses are somewhere between a coupe and a wine glass used for serving stirred or shaken cocktails. Named after a boozy, sociable couple in the 1934 novel The Thin Man, these glasses are the perfect example of prohibition style glassware.

Timeless Vintage Nick & Nora, £2.40, Cater Supplies Direct - Buy it now

While this is pretty self-explanatory, make sure you have both white and red wine glasses. White wine glasses have smaller, less curved bowls than red wine glasses. The wide bowls of red wine glasses aerate the wine, much like a decanter.

Golden Edge Glass, £33.90, The Decor House - Buy it now

Belgravia Red Wine Glass, £38 for 4, The White Company - Buy it now

Flor Pink Wine Glasses, £32.50 for 4, Oliver Bonas - Buy it now

Retro White Wine Glass, £6, Fenwick - Buy it now

Shaken or stirred? The Martini glass is one of the most iconic glassware of all time, so it’s definitely a must have for your home. The iconic V-shaped glass is also great for other cocktails like Cosmopolitans, Manhattans, and Negronis.

Gin Connoisseur Martini Glasses, £15.02 for 2, Wayfair - Buy it now

Flat Martini Glasses, £70.99 for 4, The Trouvailles - Buy it now

The history of the margarita glass is somewhat of a mystery - some think it was a manufacturing error while others believe Marie Antoinette commissioned the shape after breast so that her court could toast to her health by drinking out of bosom-shaped glassware. Nevertheless, these glasses are great for margaritas served up, or even frozen!

Vintage Margarita Glasses, £21.46 for 2, Archi Products - Buy it now

Margarita Cactus Glasses, £84 for 6, Maison Margaux - Buy it now

Lowball glasses, sometimes called rocks or old-fashioned glasses, are the perfect glass for serving up any spirit neat or on the rocks.

Mila Glass Tumblers, £37.95 for 4, Willow & Wild - Buy it now

Ribbed Whiskey Glasses, £49.99, The Trouvailles - Buy it now

Isadora Painted DOF Glass, £12, Anthropologie - Buy it now

Nude Chill Whisky Glass With Marble Base, £64.95, My Whisky Stuff - Buy it now

The tall, thin silhouette of the highball glass makes it the perfect shape for serving up any mixed drink over lots of ice. It’s also the most versatile of the cocktail glassware, so feel free to leave them out in your kitchen or pantry for any non-alcoholic drinks throughout the week.

Tank High Ball Glasses, £85 for 2, Tom Dixon - Buy it now

Zomi High Ball, £48 for 4, Kalinko - Buy it now

Tuscan Luxury Glass, £20.99, The Trouvailles - Buy it now

A classic must have for any beer loving household. Enjoy a pint with Sunday lunch or a mid-afternoon summer shandy.

Krosno Pint Glasses, £29.99 for 6, Amazon - Buy it now

Shot glasses are great for a sip of your favourite spirit, or for measuring ingredients when left without a jigger. Make sure you get a shot glass big enough that won’t leave you having to clear up after a hearty cheers!

Milk Glass Marbled Green Shot Glass, £49.56 for 4, Etsy - Buy it now

Mid Century Striped Shot Glasses With Carafe, £67, Vinterior - Buy it now

Tillie Shot Glass Set, £32.50 for 3, Nordic House - Buy it now