It’s something that most people implicitly know but are not aware of.

But cocktail glasses play a big role in making mixed drinks… cocktails.

Who in the right frame of mind would order a Green Dragon if he knows that it will be served in a coffee cup?

Well, to each his own.

But here are the types of cocktail glasses that gives cocktails their identity.

1) Cocktail glass

There’s hardly a better way to start this list with the classic cocktail glass.

This is what often see in movies where James Bond chats up a woman while holding a Martini in hand.

Some might argue that Martinis are served in martini glasses.

But the difference in martini glasses and cocktail glasses are pretty negligible. So much so that only a fussy person with an absolute desire to “know it all” would insist that Martinis taste better in martini glasses.

So let’s just agree to refer to the two interchangeably even though they are technically different.

These glasses are the typical stemmed glass with a sloping inverted cone bowl on top.

The distinctive V-shape makes it impossible to mistake for another.

2) Coupe glass

Closely related to the classic cocktail glass is the coupe.

Someone must have written an extended essay on cocktail glasses and realized that it has a major weakness… that it spills more than we would like due to the flat edges on the rim.

So it was improved.

But the improved version of of the classic cocktail glass was not named as cocktail glass 2.0.

It’s called a coupe glass.

Coupe glasses are shaped like cocktail glasses with broad shallow bowls except that they curve slightly inwards at the top.

This small yet unmistakable modification of glassware helps save millions of gallons worth of cocktails each year.

That’s a lot of happiness going down the drain instead of down the throat!

No wonder modern bars and clubs are switching form the classic to the coupe like there’s no tomorrow.

However, high end bars will retain the classics for it’s authenticity.

3) Goblet

The goblet somewhat resembles a wine glass with it’s thin stem and rounded bowl.

And of course, wine lover would attest to that.

It’s also named amusingly as Nick and Nora.

The unfortunate part of goblet glasses is that there are many variations these days.

The variation are often made on the stem:

• Slim stem
• Fat stem
• Long stem
• Short stem
• Designer stem
• etc

It’s almost as if any glassware that looks like a deep rice bowl will be called a goblet this days.

Sad but true.

4) Flute

The flute is like a goblet but with a more elongated and slimmer bowl.

It is better known by many as the champagne glass.

5) Tumbler

The reason why this unfancy glassware is called a tumbler is because… it looks like one we find on the basin on lazy mornings.

It’s long tall body allows it to hold beverages that come in larger servings.

This means that it’s ideals for drinks on the menu targeted at patrons who prefer quantity over quality.

Whatever the case, there is a big market for such cocktails.

Especially when you consider the amount of time some people linger around bar counters waiting for just the right moment to throw a pick up line at an unsuspecting victim.

I personally find it best reserved for chilled coffee and juices instead of alcoholic drinks.

6) Highball

Highball glasses are shorter versions of tumblers, and often a little wider in diameter.

While tumblers would look odd with octagon-shaped walls, highballs are often shaped as such. And they pull off that look brilliantly.

The volume they can hold are about half that of tumblers are maybe even less.

But demand has meant that they now come in all forms of sizes.

While a tumbler might look out of place in a bar, a highball can often look very sleek.

Some use them for “on the rocks”.

Which leads us to the proper glassware for neats…

7) Rocks

Rocks glasses are meant for the consumption of neats and “on the rocks”.

They usually come in an average size of 6 ounces.

But because of how much we love our rocks, demand has meant that bigger rocks were created to serve more heavy duty drinkers.

So there are actually single rocks and double rocks.

But their purpose are the same. Which is for neat consumption of drinks.