Beautiful glassware is the new status symbol
Make at-home date nights feel special by elevating your cocktail of choice with bartender-approved glassware
“The most important thing to consider when it comes to selecting glassware is that it should make you feel good,” says Kyle Ferreira, co-owner of Hamilton’s Bar Sazerac, who stocks his bar with unique crystal pieces scored at estate sales. So, invest in a little something special and let the perfect vessel elevate your next cocktail. The utilitarian option: Rocks glasses
“They’re pretty much a catch all — they’re often the most used glass in the repertoire — and it doesn’t take much to dress them up or dress them down. They’re great for something that needs to be on ice, or something as simple as an Old Fashioned or a penicillin. A good rocks glass is a bit heavier and thicker: it gives you that feeling that you’re about to [enjoy] an alcoholic beverage, and the weight in your hands makes you feel fancy.”
MacLean cut-crystal double old-fashioned glasses, $115 for a set of four, williams-sonoma.ca
The flavour-enhancing option: Tasting glasses
“The Glencairn glass has kind of become the international standard for tasting. It’s what we use at the bar when we get new bottles of liquor because it gives you enough room in the glass to swirl and has a fairly narrow opening to direct the aroma towards your nose. Even if you don’t know much about the spirit you’re drinking, a tasting glass will help you appreciate it.”
The Glencairn whiskey glass, $11 each, crateandbarrel.ca
The whimsical option: Hurricane glasses
“The hurricane glass was originally designed for Bourbon Street in New Orleans — the original intent was that if you left the bar holding it, everyone would say, ‘Where did you get that?’ Since you see it and think of being at a party or on the beach, this is glassware that you can use to have fun with cocktails and there’s even room to add elaborate garnishes.”
Cuba hurricane glass, $12 each, coctailemporium.com
The cocktail option: Coupes
“When we think about cocktails, we’re usually picturing a martini glass or a coupe — just look at the emojis on your phone. They’re usually a large bowl-shaped vessel and your nose goes directly into it, so the aroma enhances the flavour. (We’ll spritz rosewater over top of some cocktails to enhance the floral components of the drink.) I prefer coupes because liquids [splash more] out of a cone-shaped martini glass.”
Crafthouse by Fortessa Tritan Coupe, $100 for a set of four, bedbathandbeyond.ca
The fizzy drinks option: Flutes
“Flutes are great for champagnes or fizzy drinks. There’s less surface area for the bubbles to rise and dissipate, which means your drink will stay fizzier longer. There’s nothing worse than drinking flat champagne and a flute will actually help you appreciate the aromatics of a drink a bit more.”
Waterford Lismore toasting flute, $239 for a set of two, waterford.com