Yes, my friends, Glassware DOES matter!

However, glassware matters in ways that you may not think at first. Different glassware is recommended for different drinks. For example, you use your highball glasses for about 80% mixed drinks, such as: the Cape Codder (vodka), Screwdriver (vodka), Fuzzy Navel (liqueur), Madras (vodka), Blue Hawaiian (rum), Zombie (rum), Fog Horn (gin), Alabama Fizz (gin), Cherry Fizz (brandy), Limestone (bourbon), Scotch Rickey (scotch), Shady Lady (tequila), and Whiskey Orange (whiskey). The highball is the most common type of glass used in bars. Another popular glass along with this is the collins glass, which is used for low-alcohol drinks, drinks ordered tall or double, or even for drinks that carry a good amount of mixers and condiments.

Other types of glassware include the lowball glass (also called old-fashioned glass and rocks glass), which is used in drinks such as Mexican Madras (tequila), Black Russian (vodka), and straight alcohol drinks with ice (Scotch on the Rocks, etc).

Cocktail glasses are for the martini recipes and other cocktails.

For more types of glassware, go to this and this page.



Yes, since I've given you a not-to-long introduction to glassware, I want to talk about what I think is important (and is NOT important) in selecting glassware for your bar.

While it's important that you have your own unique style in your glassware, it's important to keep the art to the drink, not the glassware. Basically, you don't have to go all out on your glassware to interest you friends, customers, or whomever. You want the people you serve to appreciate and pay homage to the drink, NOT the glass.

Keep your glassware simple. A little decoration is okay now and then, but always keep nice, clear glasses available; and this goes for ALL types of glassware, from beer pilsners to champagne flutes, from cocktail glasses to lowball glasses, from collins glasses to hurricane glasses, and everything else in between.

You don't want over-the-top designs. First of all, you have to think about what drink you're going to serve. Would you serve a Bloody Mary in a highball or lowball that was decorated with flowers or fruit? Maybe to a friend, but definitely not in a professional setting. Keep your decorative glasses for seasonal parties or theme parties, and nothing more. Be sure to save stuff like this for your poker party, and nothing more.

Also, you don't want glasses with oblique, modern designs. An example of this is here. Things like this might not only prove awkward for the old-fashioned bar-dweller, but for the bartender as well.

Another thing to stray from is over-elaborated coloring of the glasses. Remember, clarity is simplicity, and it allows your drinkers to see the color and design of the drink, which is what they should be focused on. By any means, please astray for using glassware such as this (yes, I do realize that that design is crystal, but with no doubt I will tell you that there is glassware similar to this out in stores everywhere).

So what IS acceptable? Well, as I said before, classic clear glassware NEVER goes out of style. When building a bar, simple glassware does just fine, stay away from crystal. Crystal belongs in your fancy cabinet, not your bar. It's much easier to replace a $1.00 broken glass lowball than replace a $7 crystal one. Glasses such as this and this and this.

So basically I'm saying glassware has to be boring, right? No! Just because your glassware is not overwhelming and dramatic, doesn't mean it has to be boring. For some edge to your glassware, a design like this is a good idea. Classic, yet somewhat different from the regular classic glass. Another good example is this (minus the fact that it's crystal, but I'm sure you'll be able to find glassware that's similar to this). A simple tint of color or dot or swirl is not a bad thing on glassware, as long as it doesn't overrule the entire color of the drink. I have seen cocktail glasses with a narrow swirl that goes upward all around the glass, which is another good idea if you can find it in a store. I've often seen those designs in bars and restaurants where they serve specialty cocktails.

Keep in mind, that even if the classic glassware might seem boring to you, you can always decorate it with other things too. A classic margarita always requires putting salt on the rim. Do this practice more often with other drinks (with some, consider sugar instead of salt), and don't forget to garnish. Together with garnishing, rim decoration, and the drink itself, the glassware will serve the one purpose of holding the drink, and holding the drink with class.

Are there ANY exceptions to this? Not in most cases, but I must say that with the traditional shot glass, it's more acceptable to have designs on them. However, always keep simple, clear shot glasses handy, for some shooter recipes call for layering the ingredients, in which a bartender would want the drinker to be able to see for effect. However, because shot glasses are not only a drinking tool, but are also a collector's item, more and more shot glasses have designs on them, such as the poker shots I linked above. So is it shameful to have a whole bunch of decorative shot glass? Absolutely not! But when it comes to professional barkeeping, try to keep those glasses for the theme nights.

Also, like I said before, sticking to cheaper, classic glassware is not only an ease on your wallet, but also proves much easier and cheaper to be replaced, especially when the design is simple. Glassware is also cheap enough to astray from plastic, which is something I would NEVER recommend for a bar. Plastic might not break, but it's very unprofessional to serve people alcoholic drinks in plastic. Leave the plastic cups for the fast food places.



Now that I've ended my discussion on glassware, one might ask a good place to buy glassware? Well there are a few places:

Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Bed, Bath, and Beyond gives a wide selection of barware and glassware, and was kind enough to provide the good and bad examples of glassware that I discussed.

Linens 'n Things
Linens 'n Things is similar to Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and is reasonably priced. I actually own these glasses, and enjoy them very much.

Cost Plus World Market
This store remains my favorite when it comes to home decor. There's less selection on the website, so I recommend finding a store near you and actually going. They offer many selections of different glassware in each store. If you love import stores, wave goodbye to Pier 1 and check this store out. The prices are more reasonable, and the merchandise is far more interesting. And, if you're a wine connoisseur, then this is the place for you!