The 10 Best Cocktail Glasses of 2024

Best Overall

Schott Zwiesel Old-Fashioned Glasses

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With so many different cocktail categories, each of them seeming to require a distinct style of glassware (e.g., coupes for sours, collins glasses for highballs, hurricane glasses for tropical drinks), where is the home bartender supposed to begin? Leave it to the craftsmen at the German glassware firm Schott Zwiesel, who have been producing fine drinking vessels since 1872, to come up with a cocktail glass that everyone can agree on. Their double old-fashioned glass is attractive, versatile, durable—and affordable.

Made from lead-free crystal utilizing a process that renders it break-, chip- and scratch-resistant, the Schott Zwiesel double old-fashioned is dishwasher-safe, and feels equally at home holding a Negroni on a big rock as a gin-and-tonic garnished with pretty homegrown botanicals. The next time you're planning a cocktail party, go ahead and cast a wide net when it comes to the drinks on offer; these handsome and versatile glasses are ready to beautifully highlight whatever you come up with.

Capacity: 13.2 ounces | Material: Tritan crystal | Best For: Stirred drinks, Rocks drinks, Neat pours

Best Highball

LSA Borough Highball Glasses

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The highball is a simple cocktail, calling for just spirits and soda. This glass is equally understated with crisp, simple lines, a slightly curved bottom, and a generous capacity. The 14.2-ounce glass can hold a whiskey soda, rum and Coke, or Dale DeGroff’s agave-forward añejo highball.

Made with lead-free crystalline, the glass is classy and surprisingly durable (not to mention dishwasher safe). We found that, of all the highball glasses we tested, these were the best at displaying a cocktail's aromas. Pair that with comfortably thin lip and you'll have the best at-home happy hour possible. The brilliance and clarity lets your cocktail shine. These glasses are designed in London, made in Slovakia, and come in a set of four.

Capacity: 14 ounces | Material: Glass | Best For: Gin and tonics, rum and Cokes

Best for Warm Drinks

Viski Raye Hot Toddy Glasses Set Of 2

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When the cold weather comes around, this glass is an excellent vessel for warming drinks, like hot ginger toddies, spiked hot chocolates, mulled wines, and hot buttered rums. And while any old mug will suffice, your elevated hot cocktail deserves an equally slick glass. This Viski glass is specifically designed for hot cocktails, with a small base, a curving glass, and a small-but-sturdy handle. The handle is nice and round with plenty of room to fit your whole hand with enough distance to protect your hand from the heat. Each set includes two glasses. 

We love the clarity of the glass – it doesn’t fog up easily and lets the color of your cocktail (or tea) shine through. Outside hot toddies and other warm and boozy winter drinks, the glass can double as a nice vessel for tea. At 8 ounces, there’s plenty of room for a full cup of tea or a fluffy latte. When summer rolls around, keep these cocktail glasses out — they’re also great for doling out springtime punches and sangrias. 

This said, we noticed that these glasses are more delicate than your standard hot toddy mugs, similar to a standard coupe or martini glass. They require a little bit of care and a more delicate hand than your mug.

Capacity: 8 ounces | Material: Clear glass | Best For: Hot toddies, mulled wine, Irish coffees

Best Coupe

Richard Brendon Classic Cocktail Collection Coupe Glass

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"Although a classic martini glass is a staple, we love the elegance and design of coupe glasses," says Jake Metz, food and beverage manager at the Elm & Good at the Kimpton Pittman Hotel in Dallas. "They are reminiscent of post-Prohibition era cocktails, don’t chip as easily on the rim, and are easier to lift from the bar top to your lips without spilling."

The coupe's unmistakable shape is a timeless beverage motif, impossible to divorce from images of flapper parties and Prohibition-era opulence. While the vessel has largely fallen out of fashion as a Champagne glass (the wider surface area dissipates the bouquet and allows the bubbles to escape more quickly), it's a mixology mainstay and an indispensable component of any well-stocked bar, professional or private. And this handsome coupe from Richard Brendon's Classic Cocktail Collection is about as perfect an interpretation of the design as we've encountered.

Nearly six inches tall, this elegant coupe is a natural conversation starter, whether empty or full. Made from hand-blown, lead-free crystal, and dishwasher-safe on the top rack, the glass boasts a 5.5-ounce capacity—so while your standard 3-ounce martini might get a little lost, your frothy whiskey sour or espresso martini will look right at home. Grace this gorgeous coupe with an old-school Champagne cocktail like a French 75, or take an equal-parts cocktail like a Paper Plane and bump all four ingredients up to 1.25 ounces each—we won't tell.

Capacity: 5.5 ounces | Material: Lead-free crystal | Best For: Shaken drinks (e.g. Paper Planes, Cosmopolitans), Stirred drinks (e,g, Manhattans, Vespers), Champagne cocktails, sours

Best Martini Glass

Riedel Nick and Nora Cocktail Glasses

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This is a far cry from the angular martini glasses you may be used to, but the shape actually nods to the classic 1934 flick, "The Thin Man," in which crime-fighting couple Nick and Nora Charles solve capers while downing a generous amount of martinis. 

Today’s Nick and Nora glasses boast a signature curved silhouette and slim form. Bartenders love them because liquid is less likely to slosh around while sipping and carrying thanks to the angular shape. These chic glasses showcase the flavors of a martini and any other spirit-forward drink, like a tuxedo or Manhattan. 

Riedel’s take is made in collaboration with spirits expert Zane Harris, who spent years researching how to make the perfect cocktail glasses for every single style of drink. Harris considers everything, down to the way the liquid hits your palette. This glass is machine-made to make it a cost-effective way to serve a crowd, but note the vintage lean; There’s delicate etchings and a gold rim that give a nostalgic flair. 

Capacity: 4 ounces | Material: Glass | Best For: Martinis, daiquiris, cordials

Best Whiskey Glass

Riedel Spey Crystal Tumbler

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Riedel has had over 300 years to perfect the craftsmanship of its crystal, and its Spey Whisky Tumblers combine affordability, quality, and style into one excellent whiskey glass. The name is a nod to Scotland’s River Spey, an area that is renowned for producing exceptional whiskies in the Speyside region. In homage to the river, the glass features a chic design of diamond- and wedge-cut glass in the style of Art Nouveau.

Even when you’re not sipping from them, this set of glasses will act as a showpiece on your bar cart or in your den, kitchen, or dining room. They're weighted at the bottom, guaranteeing a sturdy, measured sip every time. Since these are able to hold up to 10 ounces, we found they are perfect for an old-fashioned or Boulevardiers with a decent portion of ice. And if you like to go beyond whiskey drink every now and then, they can handle other cocktail styles as well.

Capacity: 10 ounces | Material: Glass | Best For: Whiskey, aged rum, aged Tequila

Best Shot Glass

Sempli Monti Shot Glasses Set

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Normally the terms "elegant" and "shot glass" don't go together, but this will make you rethink that. This set of two is handblown from lead-free crystal by designer Daniele Semeraro. There’s a super-thin rim for sipping spirits, though you can also rim the glass with salt for doing shots of tequila or mezcal. Try making mini margaritas for a group of friends in this glass or even baby Negronis. 

Note the nod to the towering, snow-capped mountains of the Alps: Semeraro has an Italian-Swedish background, and these 3-ounce glasses were inspired by his time in the mountains. Thanks to the angular punt at the bottom, you can incorporate some movement in order to draw aroma from whatever you’re sipping—perfect for brandy or aged whisky.

Capacity: 2 ounces | Material: Glass | Best For: Shots, shooters

Best Champagne Glasses

Zalto Denk'Art Champagne Glass

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Champagne goes far beyond toasts: It’s a historic, incredibly dignified wine that deserves a proper glass. This Zalto glass is the gold standard, ideal for showcasing the nuanced flavors of young and old bottles. It allows the wine to express its personality and exhibit minerality, bubbles, and flavor profiles. 

This glass is pricey, but keep in mind sommeliers consider Zalto the top tier of wine glasses, designed for peak performance. As soon as you pick up the glass, you can feel the quality in the weight. It's light as air, and the lips are whisper-thin. It's crafted to reflect the angles of the earth and let the bubbles directly hit your palate. Each glass holds 7.4 ounces of your favorite sparkling wine.

Capacity: 13 ounces | Material: Crystal | Best For: Champagne cocktails (e.g. Mimosas, French 75s), sparkling wine

Best Stemless Wine Glass

Riedel O Wine Tumbler Cabernet/Merlot

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In certain situations, say, by a pool or around klutzy hands, a stemless wine glass is an excellent idea. This one is relatively universal—not too round or narrow. Riedel achieves this one-size-fits-all shape with its cabernet/merlot-style wine glass. Wine aside, this is a wonderful glass for Spanish-style spritzes and other effervescent cocktails, such as a French 75, aperitif, sangria, or sherry and tonic. 

Measuring 4.75 inches tall, this oval-shaped glass can hold a little more than 21 ounces. It's the ideal environment for any wine from delicate sparkling rosé to full-bodied red wine, while not being too oversized for smaller hands.

Though this glass is machine-made, it has the weight and clarity of handblown crystal. It's sturdier than the brand's stemmed versions, too, making it great for everyday use. Plus, it's dishwasher safe.

Capacity: 21 ounces | Material: Machine-blown glass | Best For: Wine, sangria, spritzes