The Essential Cocktail Glasses Every Home Bar Needs, According to Experts

The right glass can change how a cocktail smells, looks, and even tastes. Two drinks experts share the few they actually reach for, plus a couple worth adding.

The holidays are fast approaching, and if you’re planning celebrations that call for cocktails, here’s a handy guide to the glasses you’ll need and which cocktails they’re for. Experts say a few well-chosen glasses can make your favorite drinks look and taste better.

In fact, the glass you choose has a lot to do with how your cocktail will taste. “Every detail of the craftsmanship of the glass affects the temperature and ultimately the taste of the cocktail,” says Regan DeBenedetto, wine director and sommelier at Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas. A glass’s design can bring out a drink’s aroma, temperature, color, and flavor, and it plays a part in presentation too, especially with layered drinks.

If you’re starting a home bar, take a cue from DeBenedetto, who calls rocks glasses, coupes, and highballs “the true workhorses” of the bar’s cocktail program. Fernando Sousa, national beverage director of Diageo North America, also recommends a classic martini glass, a Nick and Nora, and an all-purpose wine glass. Here’s what each one is best for.

The Rocks Glass: For Spirits and Classic Cocktails

Also known as an old-fashioned or lowball glass, the rocks glass is short and sturdy with a thick base. It’s commonly used for whiskey, bourbon, or scotch, whether neat or over ice, as well as classics like the old-fashioned and the Manhattan. The wide base is especially useful for muddling herbs like mint right in the glass.

The Highball: For Tall, Bubbly Drinks

This tall, narrow glass is ideal for drinks with a sparkling element, says Sousa. It’s versatile enough for a wide range of cocktails, from gin and tonics and Dark and Stormys to Bloody Marys. It’s also convenient, since bartenders often build these drinks right in the glass.

The Coupe: For Shaken Drinks Without Ice

This broad, shallow stemmed glass, also known as a sour glass, was originally designed for Champagne, but it’s also become a favorite for modern craft cocktails. Use it for a Sidecar, an Aviation, a daiquiri, or an espresso martini.

The Martini Glass and the Nick and Nora: For Martini Lovers

A classic martini glass has a wide surface at the top that allows the aroma of the gin to come through, says Sousa. There’s also a reason it has a long stem. It helps keep the warmth of your hand away from the drink

The smaller, egg-shaped Nick and Nora was introduced as a martini glass in the 1930s and named after the famous martini-loving detectives from the film “The Thin Man.” It holds about 6 ounces and is best for ice-cold drinks served straight up, like a martini or a Sazerac. Some purists suggest chilling it in the fridge or freezer before pouring.

The All-Purpose Wine Glass: For Wine and Bubbles

If you plan to host a formal dinner party, you might want a red wine glass, says Sousa. But he prefers to keep things practical, using one all-purpose glass for sparkling, red, and white wine. For a lovely presentation, he likes to pour a standard 5-ounce serving into a 15- or 17-ounce glass. These glasses also work well for wine-based drinks like sangria and spritzers.

The Flute and the Margarita Glass: Nice to Have

The margarita glass has a wide rim and a narrow stem, and it’s designed to show off the drink’s bright colors and garnishes, like salt, sugar, or Tajín, says DeBenedetto. It isn’t essential, since you can also serve margaritas in a rocks glass at casual gatherings. But if you do have one, it can double as a dish for serving shrimp cocktail or dips.

Of course, these glasses and their uses aren’t set in stone. As Sousa says, “If you want a martini in a juice glass, then live your life, it’s a judgment-free zone!” But if you want your parties to feel more curated, go ahead and build your home bar with this guide in mind.