Find The Perfect Cocktail Glass For Your Favourite Cocktails

Our ultimate guide to the best cocktails for every glass style and a few of our favourite recipes to help inspire your entertaining plans...

With the summer entertaining season in full swing, it’s time to talk cocktails. Above all, the most important component for any cocktail is the glassware. However, the booze comes a very close second… So, we always recommend thinking about your glassware options when planning the perfect cocktail. Whether you’re throwing a garden party or simply enjoying Friday night drinks, cocktails are the ultimate secret weapon for turning your evening into a special occasion. From a spicy margarita to the summer cult classic Pimms, we’ve put together cocktail ideas for every glass style…

The Champagne Coupe Cocktail Glass

Top Left: Textured Coupe Glass | Top Middle: Image by Serendipity By Sara Lynn | Top Right: Champagne Cocktail Coupe Glass With Gold Rim

Bottom Left: Image by Coco Kelley | Top Middle: Vintage Coupe Cocktail Glass | Top Right: Set Of 4 Ribbed Champagne Coupe Glasses With Gold Rim

In short, you really can’t go wrong with champagne when it comes to serving up a fabulous cocktail. Perfect for special occasions, nothing says celebration quite like a champagne cocktail in a coupe glass. Therefore, this is a guaranteed winner for any entertaining plans you might have this summer. Classic champagne cocktails include everything from Mimosas and fruity Bellinis to the classic Kir Royale. However, a favourite of ours for summer has to be the French 75. Pairing champagne with gin and a splash of lemon juice, the flavours of this cocktail are a match made in heaven. So, follow this recipe from The Telegraph and make your own in your coupe cocktail glass:

Ingredients

• 45ml gin
• 10ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 5ml sugar syrup
• chilled champagne, to top up

Method 

• Combine gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake together.
• After that, strain into a coupe glass and top up with champagne, adding slowly.

The Martini Cocktail Glass

Left: Set Of 4 Ribbed Martini Glasses With Gold Rim | Middle: Image By Helin Food Photography | Right: Vintage Martini Glass

We couldn’t talk cocktails without mentioning the martini. Most importantly, this cocktail has become an icon and includes classic vodka and gin martinis, alongside our personal favourite, an espresso martini. However, the sleek shape of the martini glass looks fabulous with a host of other cocktails too. For example, there is of course the Cosmopolitan. In addition, you will also find a Manhattan served in a martini glass.  But, our must-try martini recipe this summer is Lucky Pineapple's Coconut Rum Espresso Martini. This recipe works with both a coupe or martini glass so feel free to see where the mood takes you.  For a handy how-to video on making this decadent espresso martini, head to our Instagram live.

Ingredients

• 45ml coconut rum (we love @alunacoconut)
• 15ml coffee liqueur
• 50ml espresso
• 20-25ml salted coconut syrup
• Desiccated coconut, to garnish
• Ice

The Whisky Tumbler Cocktail Glass

Top Left: Set Of 4 Ribbed Tumblers With Gold Rim | Top Middle: Nickey Bothma Photography | Top Right: Set Of 6 Twist Water Glasses

Bottom Left: Vintage Cut Glass Tumbler With Gold Rim | Bottom Middle: Image from Sainsbury's Magazine |Bottom Right: Vintage Whiskey Glass

Next up is the classic tumbler or whisky glass. In a similar way to the coupe, this cocktail glass lends itself to classic cocktails and spirit-heavy drinks that pack a punch. Firstly, of course you have the whisky cocktails, ranging from an Old Fashioned to a Whisky Sour and Mint Julep. Secondly is the cocktail of the moment, the Negroni! However, for summer, nothing can beat a Paloma! As a more subtle but no less sexy take on a margarita, this cocktail pairs tequila with grapefruit. Check out this recipe from Olive Magazine to one at home:

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp lime juice
• a pink of flaked sea salt
• 50ml blanco tequila
• 50ml pink grapefruit juice
• 1 tbsp agave syrup
• sparkling water to top up & a wedge of grapefruit to serve

Method

• Firstly, cut the lime and run it around the rim of a chilled glass. Put some salt in a small dish and place the glass upside down to coat the rim in the salt.
• Secondly, put the tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice and agave in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
• Finally, strain into a glass, top uo with sparkling water and garnish with your wedge of grapefruit.

The Highball Cocktail Glass

Left: Vintage Cut Glass Hi Ball With Gold Rim | Middle: The Garibaldi Sbagliato cocktail by Hendrick's Gin | Right: Vintage Tall Drinks Glass

Finally, it’s the turn of the humble highball. In short, this might just be the most versatile cocktail glass in your collection. For instance, this glass suits everything from mocktails to Mojitos and Bloody Marys. So, it’s safe to say this glass is a staple for any home bar or cocktail corner. With an endless list of cocktail opportunities that work with the highball, we’re taking inspiration from Hendrick’s Gin with their fabulously named Garibaldi Sbagliato cocktail. Find everything you need below to recreate your own this summer:

Ingredients

• 25 ml Hendrick's Gin
• 25 ml Campari
• 50 ml Fresh Orange Juice
• Champagne to top

Method

• Combine all ingredients in a frozen highball glass without ice.
• Garnish with an orange wedge.

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