Gin Vessels
How to Pick the Best Glass for your Gin Cocktail.
The question becomes – does it really matter what vessel you sip your gin from? But the best glasses for your gin cocktail are what you have and what you like.
Or it depends. Do you like rules and tradition and formality? Then YES – the vessel for your gin matters. Do you prefer reckless abandon and pandemonium? Then drink your gin from whatever is closest to you. Your shoe even. No judgement.
If you are just plain curious about some gin vessel options, here you go. And happy partaking of the world’s best spirit.
The Balloon Glass.
Also known as the copa de baron style of glass, this lovely gin vessel is best paired with the Gin and Tonic. Originally from Northern Spain, the balloon glass can be filled to the brim with ice and your garnishes of choice.
Much like some wine glasses, you can use the stem to hold the balloon glass to prevent warming your Gin and Tonic. You will also notice that the shape of the glass seems to contain all of the botanical odors along with their garnishes.
From a practical standpoint, it’s a bit difficult to enjoy the last few drops of your Gin and Tonic from these glasses, but slurp away if you must.
The Collins Glass.
Some cocktail aficionados use the terms collins glass interchangeably with a highball glass, when in fact the collins glass is slimmer and taller. Named for the Tom Collins drink, this glass is also suitable for sodas, alcoholic drinks with lots of mixers and fruit and things, and even a Bloody Mary. *GASP* I mentioned a vodka drink. OOPS.
But getting back to the gin – the Collins glass holds plenty of ice, and a bit more room for the good stuff than the lowball or rocks glass. Gin and tonics are often served in a highball or Collins glass, but once you try the balloon glass for these you likely won’t go back.
The Collins glass is also readily accepting of a straw if you insist on this. Excuse my soapbox for a moment, but honestly, why are cocktails straws even a thing? Dude, we want the flavors more than one micro sip at a time. And don’t even think of doubling up, that’s just two micro sips. Perhaps bring your own wide straw? Make it striped? Ok, I’m done.
For a twist on the traditional Tom Collins cocktail, try the Elderflower Collins.
The Martini Glass.
No ice in these glasses, they are designed to be use for your gin libations to be served straight up. Like the balloon glass, the stem allows your hand to avoid warming up your cocktail. Also like the balloon glass, the wide brim creates an easy way for any aromas to waft your way while drinking. The martini glass is also great for Gimlets and Gibsons. Not a lot of room for garnish if you happen to love extra olives or onions, but still a delightful gin vessel.
When you just need more briny olives or onions, just grab a second glass and fill to the brim with your treat of choice. Really. Think of it as your own salty aperitivo and enjoy.
The Rocks Glass.
If only we could all agree on what to call this glass – the rocks glass, the lowball, the old fashioned glass, the tumbler. A well-crafted rocks glass has a thick bottom, to allow you to craft your gin cocktail in the glass, muddling any ingredients as you need to. The infamous Negroni is crafted and served in a rocks glass.
The only complaints about the rocks glass, aside from its many aliases, is the volume. I feel like gin needs to be more. Just more.
The Coupe Glass.
This delightful glass is the clumsy drinker’s martini glass. Designed for the same reason – to contain a strained drink without ice, but the upper curl allows more of your gin libation to remain in the glass. The long stem is a handy way of keeping your warming hands away. There is some folklore about the coupe glass and the left breast of Marie Antoinette, but it turns out this shape of glassware pops up much earlier in history, long before Miss Antoinette and her breasts were born.
There’s also some discussion as to the correct pronunciation of this glass – is it coupe like the car, or coup-ee like it rhymes with a toupee. Perhaps stick to whatever you like. And this might be my best glass for a gin cocktail, as it’s elegant and holds just the right amount of gin.
Try the Aviation in a coupe glass.
The flute glass.
The shape of a flute glass is specifically designed to keep fizzy things fizzy. Good for champagne, but even better for gin and champagne in the classic French 75. There’s also a variation on the traditional flute, the champagne tulip. This wider bowl lets more aeration occur, thus making your fizzy drink of choice expand on its flavor a bit.
Not sure about you, but flutes always make me feel like a giant. A giant drinking fizzy things from a dainty glass.
And now you know all about the traditional gin drinking vessels.
