What are the main types of cocktail glasses?

There are a few main cocktail glasses that no home bar cart should be without. These include highball glasses (the towering shape is ideal for ice-laden beverages), martini glasses (a classic, after all), champagne coups (a necessity with so much to celebrate!), all-purpose tumblers, whisky, and double old fashioned glasses, gin glasses, as well as vessels specifically designed for specialty cocktails like Moscow mules and margaritas.

Should I register for a set of cocktail glasses or is it better to get individual pieces?

That is entirely up to you! If you’re a one-stop-shop kind of person, registering for a set of cocktail glasses may make the most sense. If you have an eclectic sense of style and like to mix-and-match your tabletop pieces, go for individual glasses. If you have a larger guest list, you may also want to consider registering for individual glasses, which would offer more gift options to your friends and fam. (You can always register for several of the same glasses too to keep the overall look streamlined!)

What other cocktail tools do I need?

Besides a healthy stock of spirits (duh), to complete your collection of cocktail-crafting supplies be sure to snag a set of bar spoons, a bottle opener and corkscrew, a cocktail shaker and strainer, a jigger, and a muddler.

The 9 Best Cocktail Glasses of 2023

Engaged? Cheers to that! You’ll have plenty to celebrate in the coming year and since the clinking of glasses often comes with such celebrations you best ensure that your bar is properly stocked—and not just with a slew of spirits, but with the proper cocktail glasses in which to pour them in, too. From margaritas to martinis, every cocktail has a proper glass to call its own. To begin your own glassware collection, start with these best cocktail glasses we’ve carefully compiled.

Whether you're clinking glasses for your engagement, your anniversary, or just entertaining friends at home, these cocktail glasses will have you feeling like a bonafide mixologist—and will have your creations taste like they were mixed up by one, too. After all, its proper glass can help allow the spirit to breathe and permeate as it should for optimum enjoyment.

Ready to stock your bar cart—and your wedding registry while you’re at it? Read on for the best cocktail glasses for sipping and celebrating.

In This Article

Our Picks
What to look for in cocktail glasses
FAQ
Why Trust Us

Libbey Polaris 16-Piece Tumbler and Rocks Glass Set

Amazon

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Overwhelmed by the choices on the menu? Simply select a complete set of cocktail glasses to begin getting your bar cart in order. This Libbey collection comes with an impressive 16 glasses, both in on-the-rocks and tumbler varieties, to satisfy a range of recipes. Sleek and simple, the lead-free and dishwasher-safe glasses feature a weighted base for a touch of modernity.

Price at time of publish: $50 for set of 16

4.5

American Mountains - Set of 4 Whiskey Glasses

Huckberry

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A set of short and stout glasses are a must, be there any whiskey drinkers in the household—and you’d hardly find any whiskey glasses more unique than these gorgeous gems from Huckberry. The crystal itself is hand-blown, durable, and lead-free, and at the bottom of each bloom-raised topography of The Rocky Mountains. How cool is that?

Price at time of publish: $60 for set of 4

4.5

Schott-zwiesel-tritan-pure-martini-glasses

Amazon

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Served straight-up in a set of six, these martini glasses, courtesy of German glassware company Schott Zwiesel, offer the ideal size and shape for the classic cocktail. They also tote a delightfully modern twist in their slightly angled bowls and construction: With titanium and zirconium instead of lead content, the crystal is extra durable and light reflective.

Price at time of publish: $15

Courtesy of Amazon

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A lime wedge isn’t the only finishing touch your gin and tonics need: They’d also be amiss without this gin set from renowned glassware company Riedel. With a delicate, tulip-shaped bowl, these vessels (four are included in the set) are ideal for breezy gin drinks and they’re even dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

Price at time of publish: $55 for set of 4

Courtesy of Amazon

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If on a budget, don’t fret about buying a dozen cocktail glasses in various shapes and sizes you don’t believe you’d often use. Instead, select a set (already more bang for your buck!) that can be used for a variety of cocktails, such as highball glasses. Clocking in at a great wallet-friendly price, this Godinger set looks impossibly luxe with its petal pink hue and embossed design.

Price at time of publish: $25 for set of 4

Sobremesa Hand-Blown Recycled Margarita Glasses

Food 52

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Is there anything better than margaritas served poolside? Yup—and it’s margaritas served poolside in these pretty little glasses! Each is hand-blown by a cooperative in Guatemala, making them responsibly sourced and eco-friendly (they’re also dishwasher safe, by the way). Plus, the rims also come stunningly stained in your choice of three colors: white, blue, or green.

Price at time of publish: $45 for set of 2

Courtesy of Amazon

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Fit for a variety of cocktails, a classic tumbler is a must for your bar cart or cabinet. But that doesn’t mean this basic glass has to be, well, basic. This set of eight tumblers is far from it, in fact. Inspired by free-flowing lava, each of the glasses boasts an organic shape with a grooved design that offers both interesting texture and comfortable gripping points for easy sipping.

Price at time of publish: $39 for set of 8

Estelle Colored Glass Champagne Coup Stemware

Courtesy of Estelle

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Let the celebrations begin! When it’s time to pop the bubbly, reach for this stunning set of coup stemware, courtesy of Estelle Colored Glass. Hand-blown by glass artisans in Poland, they come available in an array of candy-like colors, adding an unexpected pop of personality to your glassware collection. While we love this rose-hued set, there are 13 color varieties available in total (including a whimsical rainbow option!).

Price at time of publish: $205 for set of 6

Food52 Vintage-Inspired Etched Cocktail Glasses

Courtesy of Food52

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Looking nearly as delicious as the drinks they are sure to hold, these cocktail glasses feature dainty floral etchings along their rims for a vintage-inspired, heirloom-like feel. In addition to their delicate beauty and superior, lead-free crystalline craftsmanship, these glasses also tote a price tag that’s equal to love, as well as variety. To start, snag the mixed set that comes complete with 6 to 12 pieces that include martini glasses, coups, and goblets.

What to look for in cocktail glasses

When stocking your wedding registry or outfitting your bar cart, start with a comprehensive set that contains everything the mini mixologist in you may need. If you already have the basics in your cabinet, go with the more unique specialty glasses to impress guests and make your cocktails shine.

FAQ

What are the main types of cocktail glasses?

There are a few main cocktail glasses that no home bar cart should be without. These include highball glasses (the towering shape is ideal for ice-laden beverages), martini glasses (a classic, after all), champagne coups (a necessity with so much to celebrate!), all-purpose tumblers, whisky, and double old fashioned glasses, gin glasses, as well as vessels specifically designed for specialty cocktails like Moscow mules and margaritas.
Should I register for a set of cocktail glasses or is it better to get individual pieces?

That is entirely up to you! If you’re a one-stop-shop kind of person, registering for a set of cocktail glasses may make the most sense. If you have an eclectic sense of style and like to mix-and-match your tabletop pieces, go for individual glasses. If you have a larger guest list, you may also want to consider registering for individual glasses, which would offer more gift options to your friends and fam. (You can always register for several of the same glasses too to keep the overall look streamlined!)
What other cocktail tools do I need?

Besides a healthy stock of spirits (duh), to complete your collection of cocktail-crafting supplies be sure to snag a set of bar spoons, a bottle opener and corkscrew, a cocktail shaker and strainer, a jigger, and a muddler.

Why Trust Brides?

Brides contributor Jamie Cuccinelli has several years of experience in the wedding and lifestyle industries, first as an editor of Brides.com and then as a writer for home and lifestyle websites like MyDomaine. She also pours a mean cocktail and always has glasses to match. From her homemade sangria and coquito to go-to gin and tonics, they all deserve their vessel version of “home sweet home.”

The 9 Best Wine Glasses for Your Registry, According to a Sommelier