Perfect cocktail drink glasses

MAXIMISE YOUR COCKTAIL WITH THE RIGHT GLASSWARE

Tags

Match the Glass to Your Cocktail for A Quality Cocktail Drinking Experience

When choosing the perfect glass for your cocktail, there are four variables to consider. They are the texture and temperature of the liquid, the volume the glass should hold and finally, the appeal to the senses that directly affect the guests desire to drink it. The first three factors have been explored beyond the cocktail industry by people serious about drinking wine and spirits.

However, it is cocktail barmen who push the envelope when it comes to glassware that appeals to the guest. For example, tiki culture has expanded the notion of what can technically be called a glass. In tiki bars, you may see drinks served in shells, figureheads, totems, treasure chests or hollowed-out fruits. But even in elegant, five-star hotel-style drinking establishments, current bartenders use garnishes and glassware to stand out from their illustrious neighbours.

And for a good reason, science has established that mood, sight, sound, touch, smell and emotions work together, subconsciously, to affect our desire to imbibe. Then, the proliferation of social media means that venues need to convey their entire guest experience with one super attractive visual image that screams drink me with all the subtlety of the bottle of potion in Alice and Wonderland. But unlike social media, this is not a new phenomenon. Hollywood and television have a lot to answer regarding glassware whims and fancies.

Texture Determines the Shape of the Glass

While the effect of texture on the senses relates to biology and psychology, the shape of your glass is designed to suit the physics of viscosity. For example, the sides of a wine glass bow inwards towards the rim, whereas a traditional martini glass has sides that flower outwards. The idea is that the shape of the glass concentrates (or not) the invisible flow of alcoholic vapours that affect our sense of smell when the glass is lifted to our face. The intensity of the aromas correlates with the ratio between the diameter of the widest part of the glass to the diameter of the opening. 

We also move our heads differently for different shaped glasses and viscosities in a liquid. For example, to drink runny honey, you may tilt your head all the way back and drip the sticky substance right onto your tongue. To get the same mouthful of a Martini, you’re likely to draw your head forwards towards the glass to slurp your first sip from the lake of liquid in front of you.

To choose the right glass shape, you may want to research the traditional notions of glassware well documented in wine and spirits books versus consideration for your cocktail’s textural qualities.

Temperature Effects the Materials of the Glass

Obviously, glass is the material, but here we’re talking about the specific qualities of the glass. Whether it is thick or thin, stemmed or based, tempered or crystal and so on. There are a couple of measurements to pay heed to; room temperature, the temperature of the liquid when it’s poured, the heat coming from the drinker’s grip, the temperature of glass at the point of service and finally, the temperature of your drink over the period you’re tasting and digesting it. These things will change over time, with different people present, different drink styles and changes in the atmosphere.

If you have a drink that’s meant to be drunk quickly, at frigid temperatures like a Martini, then you need a pre-chilled, stemmed glass with a thin enough vessel for the drinker to enjoy that cold taste. Whereas if you’re making a Mojito, which can stay cold over a longer period due to the amount of ice included in the serve, you can use a handled or thick-based glass, so the drinker’s hand doesn’t get chilblains but also thicker glass to keep the cool inside the glass for longer. Generally, glass is an insulator rather than a conductor, but there are glassware options made from tempered glass, ceramics, copper or even stainless steel, which greatly vary thermal conductivity.

The Liquid Volume Affects the Size of the Glass

It goes without saying that a massive glass makes an average-sized cocktail look tiny. People want to be reassured that they’re not losing out on their bargain with the bartender, so they want to see their monies worth in a brimming glass. However, the reverse is also true: no one wants a spilling glass. It’s the best way to get into a bar fight or ruin a pair of dancing shoes.

The Look of the Glass Appeals to our Senses and Creates Desire

The senses dictate so much of our choices about what to drink, whether conscious or unconscious. Cocktails that look remarkable are memorable. Eighty per cent of our information processing comes from our sense of sight. So drinks that stand out need to be nuanced and bold. Glassware that tells a story allows people to share their experiences succinctly. For example, a shared cocktail served in a treasure chest reminds us of pirates, and therefore rum, but also hidden treasures. It’s a clever narrative that speaks of adventure, bravery, antiauthoritarianism, history, secrets and glamour.

Other surprising elements can include novel shapes, lighting effects, practical features like lids, stands, handles or inbuilt straws. You can take garnishes to the next level using the glassware, too, adding a strip of flavour, like the salt rim on a margarita glass, or a pop of colour by painting the glass with glycerin and food colour. 

The Flavour Blaster relies on good glassware for the stunning cocktail bubbles that garnish cocktails worldwide. To prepare your glass for a Flavour Blaster bubble, you need to make sure the rim of the glass has a rounded edge.

If you’d like to see which glassware we supply to work alongside our aromatic smokes and cocktail bubbles, we have a glassware for cocktail section on the Flavour Blaster website.
Back to All Articles

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.

Explore our related articles

Dry Ice Doesn't Have To Be Scary! How JetChill Is Making Dry Ice Accessible, One Venue At A Time!
Dry Ice Doesn't Have To Be Scary! How JetChill Is Making Dry Ice Accessible, One Venue At A Time!
October 11, 2024 Amy Andrews

Dry Ice Doesn't Have To Be Scary! How JetChill Is Making Dry Ice Accessible, One Venue At A Time!

We have created a safer alternative to dry ice pellets, using patented technology to create a dry ice powder instead! As the powder is so...

Read more
Dry Ice Doesn't Have To Be Scary! How JetChill Is Making Dry Ice Accessible, One Venue At A Time!
Boost Your Restaurant's ROI: How to Use the Flavour Blaster Aroma Gun with Food
Boost Your Restaurant's ROI: How to Use the Flavour Blaster Aroma Gun with Food
October 10, 2024 Amy Andrews

Boost Your Restaurant's ROI: How to Use the Flavour Blaster Aroma Gun with Food

In today’s competitive restaurant landscape, the guest experience goes far beyond taste alone. Diners are increasingly seeking multisenso...

Read more
Boost Your Restaurant's ROI: How to Use the Flavour Blaster Aroma Gun with Food
flavour blaster cocktails and glassware with scented aroma filled bubbles being enjoyed at incognito bar London
Winter Prep For Hospitality Venues: How to Transition Your Venue for Colder Weather
October 1, 2024 Amy Andrews

Winter Prep For Hospitality Venues: How to Transition Your Venue for Colder Weather

As the temperature drops and the nights grow longer, hospitality venues must prepare for the transition from warm summer days to the col...

Read more
Winter Prep For Hospitality Venues: How to Transition Your Venue for Colder Weather
simone caporale with flavour blaster ice cream cone glassware cocktail with multi bubble garnish
It's Not Just A Bubble - Why Our Aroma Garnishes Are So Effective On Food And Drink
September 30, 2024 Amy Andrews

It's Not Just A Bubble - Why Our Aroma Garnishes Are So Effective On Food And Drink

Time and time again, we hear people say "It's just a bubble gun" - but it's so much more than that! ⠀⠀We created the Flavour Blaster Arom...

Read more
It's Not Just A Bubble - Why Our Aroma Garnishes Are So Effective On Food And Drink
Why Jetchill is a Safer Choice Over Dry Ice Pellets
Why Jetchill is a Safer Choice Over Dry Ice Pellets
September 27, 2024 rebecca todd

Why Jetchill is a Safer Choice Over Dry Ice Pellets

For venues where customer safety and staff wellbeing are paramount, the Jetchill Twin Probe is a game-changing alternative to traditiona...

Read more
Why Jetchill is a Safer Choice Over Dry Ice Pellets
flavour blaster pro 2 and mini 2 aroma guns for making smoke filled edible bubbles
Flavour Blaster Pro 2 vs Flavour Blaster Mini 2: Which Aroma Gun Suits Your Venue Best?
September 26, 2024 Amy Andrews

Flavour Blaster Pro 2 vs Flavour Blaster Mini 2: Which Aroma Gun Suits Your Venue Best?

The Flavour Blaster Aroma Gun has become a must-have tool in the hospitality industry, known for adding captivating, aromatic bubbles to ...

Read more
Flavour Blaster Pro 2 vs Flavour Blaster Mini 2: Which Aroma Gun Suits Your Venue Best?
7 Quick and Easy Drink Ideas for Your Upcoming Homecoming Event Menu - Make Your Venue Unforgettable With Flavour Blaster Aromas and JetChill Dry Ice!
7 Quick and Easy Drink Ideas for Your Upcoming Homecoming Event Menu - Make Your Venue Unforgettable With Flavour Blaster Aromas and JetChill Dry Ice!
September 24, 2024 Amy Andrews

7 Quick and Easy Drink Ideas for Your Upcoming Homecoming Event Menu - Make Your Venue Unforgettable With Flavour Blaster Aromas and JetChill Dry Ice!

Homecoming events are the perfect time to impress alumni, students, and guests with drinks that go beyond the ordinary. By incorporating ...

Read more
7 Quick and Easy Drink Ideas for Your Upcoming Homecoming Event Menu - Make Your Venue Unforgettable With Flavour Blaster Aromas and JetChill Dry Ice!
Spooky Halloween Drinks for Kids! Magical, Bubbly Fun for Your Venue's Halloween Nights
Spooky Halloween Drinks for Kids! Magical, Bubbly Fun for Your Venue's Halloween Nights
September 19, 2024 rebecca todd

Spooky Halloween Drinks for Kids! Magical, Bubbly Fun for Your Venue's Halloween Nights

JetChill dry ice machine adds that eerie fog and bubbling effect that will bring the Halloween atmosphere to life.

Read more
Spooky Halloween Drinks for Kids! Magical, Bubbly Fun for Your Venue's Halloween Nights