When you think of a cocktail glass (or "martini" glass as some people prefer), the image of an elegant, tall, thin-stemmed glass with a v-shaped bowl comes to mind. That is the standard cocktail glass, but as you can imagine, they are available in a variety of shapes, styles, and sizes. Some are very sophisticated, some have a bit of whimsy. They can be short, tall, and extra tall, and the bowls can range from 1 1/2 ounces up to 10 ounces or more. There are even a plethora of painted cocktail glasses that fit any theme, from holidays, special occasions, to sports and almost any hobby or interest you could think of.
While there are countless cocktail glass designs available, those below represent some of the standard adornments that you will find. Each are beautiful in their own way and this list should give you a good idea of options available as you acquire your cocktail glass collection.
Photo Courtesy: © PriceGrabber.comEtched glass is simply stunning and I love the subtlety of this look. The graphics etched into glasses range from the abstract such as the Romanian Crystal from the Afterglow Collection that is pictured to etchings of palms, animals, and almost anything else you could want.
Photo Courtesy: © PriceGrabber.comStained glass cocktail glasses are stunning as this Romanian crystal Milano Design illustrates. The beauty of these glasses are a wonder to behold, especially when your favorite drink is inside. Again, many of these are hand-crafted and some will have a variety of color while other are a solid color glass.
Photo Courtesy: © PriceGrabber.comIf you are looking for a cocktail glass with a specific theme or decoration there are no shortage of painted glass options. Most of these are hand-decorated with permanent, water-proof paint. I see these everywhere, from the drug store gift section to the sports store. They're fun though many are not what I would consider universal to a variety of occasions nor overtly elegant. These are likely going to be your fun novelty glasses.
Photo Courtesy: © PriceGrabber.comStemless cocktail glasses are becoming more popular. Some, like the Riedel pictured, have a stem in a sense, but you will notice the drink goes into the stem. Others have no stem at all, just the cocktail glass bowl with a flat bottom. A favorite stemless in my personal collection has a large ball for the base, which is great for holding the glass without warming the drink.
That is the major drawback to the stemless glass and the reason why many styles of glassware (i.e. cocktail and wine glasses) have stems because you hold the stem instead of the glass where your body temperature naturally warms the drink. With no ice to keep the drink cool as the majority of drinks in a cocktail glass are served, you can see the problem.
Photo Courtesy: © PriceGrabber.comUnlike the stemless glass, mini cocktail glasses do have a stem and are simply a pint-sized version of the standard style. In actuality, these are close to the original style of cocktail glass that was used prior to the onset of oversized cocktails. I find the best miniature glasses in antique shops. The stout little vintage glass is adorable and the ideal size (2-3 ounces) for a Martini or any other drink that consists almost solely of alcohol.
Photo Courtesy: © PriceGrabber.comWe go from short or no stem to long stem here. Glasses like this Ravenscroft are very tall, this one in particular is 11 1/2 inches. Though they are rare, long stem cocktail glasses are very elegant and make a stunning display at the dinner table. The center of gravity is a bit off, however, and it is even easier to knock one of these over than it is a standard cocktail glass.
Photo Courtesy: © PriceGrabber.comThe z-stemmed cocktail glasses are a lovely and fun addition to a cocktail glass collection. The one pictured is from Libbey, a fine glass maker with many other great designs. This style of stem is hip and modern and can be used for informal or elegant occasions.
Photo Courtesy: © PriceGrabber.comThe curve stemmed cocktail glasses are my personal favorite and I use my set all of the time. Again, Libbey makes this particular one. The curve stem adds just a touch of sophistication and I enjoy the balance this glass has, especially when holding onto it because with the off-center stem it seems to be easier to avoid spilling.
Photo Courtesy: © PriceGrabber.comWhen it comes to the style of stem a cocktail glass can have, the possibilities are endless and this Libbey Omega design is one of my favorites of the creative stems you will find. Others include a stack of glass balls, olives or geometric shapes, colored stems, crystal filled stems, even short glasses with olives.
Photo Courtesy: © PriceGrabber.comMartini chilling sets like this from Ravenscroft are neat and has both advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, your Martini stays nicely chilled for the duration because when you are not drinking it the glass lays in a bowl of ice. The aspect I particularly dislike is that outside of the chiller the glass does not sit on its own and is not easy to hold. This is a great glass for sitting at a table over a long conversation with a friend, not so great for the cocktail party when you're roving from group to group with drink in hand.
