Brandy Snifter - A short-stemmed glass that has a wide bottom that narrows at the top. It is often used to serve brandy. The large surface area helps evaporate the brandy into aroma, while the narrow opening helps to trap the aroma of the drink in the glass. The glass is usually able to hold between 6-8 oz., but one should pour only 2-3 oz. at a time. “Snifter,” incidentally, is a British saying for a small amount of alcohol in a glass.
Champagne Flute - Champagne flutes are characterised by a long stem with a tall, narrow bowl on top. The shape is designed to keep sparkling wine desirable during its consumption. The glass is designed to be held by the stem to help prevent the heat from the hand from warming the champagne. The bowl itself is designed in a manner to help retain the signature carbonation in the beverage. This is achieved by reducing the surface area at the opening of the bowl. Champagne flutes are often used at formal engagements, such as award ceremonies and weddings.
Champagne Saucer or Coupe – A saucer-shaped stem glass once used for serving champagne, but now more commonly used for certain cocktails. The glass was designed especially for champagne in England in 1663.
Collins Glass - A glass tumbler, holding 8-12 fluid ounces, used to serve a mixed drink, especially the Tom Collins for which it is named. The Collins glass is somewhat narrower, and holds less than the similar highball glass.
Cordial - A small stemmed glass, generally used for aperitifs, liqueurs and pousse-cafes. Cordials usually hold about 2 ounces.
Highball - A glass tumbler, holding between 8 and 12 fluid ounces, used to serve a mixed drink, or highball. The highball glass is taller than an Old fashioned glass, and shorter than a Collins glass.
Hurricane Glass - A Hurricane Glass is typically used for frozen and blended cocktails. The distinct pear-shaped curve of this glass is reminiscent of vintage hurricane lamps and holds between 10 and 12 ounces.
Margarita Glass - A wide bowl glass, usually about 5 inches in diameter. The wide mouth makes for easy rimming with salt.
Martini Glass – A drinking glass with a cone-shaped bowl on a stem above a flat base. The tip of the cone forming approximately a 90 degree angle in the cross section. As with other stemware, the stem allows the drinker to hold the glass without affecting the temperature of the drink.
One variation is the double martini glass which is taller and wider at the opening than a standard martini glass.
Pilsner - A glass used to serve many types of light beers, but is intended for its namesake, the pilsner. Pilsner glasses are generally smaller than pint glasses. They tend to have a short neck at the bottom, followed by a rounded taper to a slightly bulged area that forms the glass.
Pint - A drinking vessel holding an imperial pint, 19.2 oz. of liquid that is usually used for beer or cider.
Pitcher - A pitcher is a big jug, suitable for mixing up large amounts all at once. The pitcher should have a lip for pouring into separate glasses for serving.
Rocks Glass or Old Fashion - A short tumbler used for serving liquor “on the rocks”, meaning over ice, or cocktails having few ingredients. It is named after the Old Fashioned cocktail, traditionally served in such a glass. Contemporary American “Old Fashioned” and “rocks” glasses may hold as much as 8-12 fluid ounces, and may be used to serve a wide variety of beverages over ice, usually Whisky and Rum.
Shot Glass or Shooter - A small glass designed to hold or measure one to three ounces of liquor, to be poured into a mixed drink, or drunk straight from the glass, called a shot. The modern thick-walled shot glass probably originated in the United States during the Prohibition era, and the term “shot glass” or “shotglass” first appeared in print in the 1940s.
Toddy Glass or Irish Coffee Glass – This replaces the average mug for good-looking hot cocktails. This footed glass mug holds between 8 and 12 ounces and is made of heat-resistant glass.
Wine Glass – A type of glass stemware which is used to drink and taste wine. It is generally composed of three parts: the bowl, stem, and foot. Selection of a particular wine glass for a wine style is important, as the glass shape can influence its perception.
Red Wine Glass - Glasses for red wine are characterized by their rounder, wider bowl, which gives the wine a chance to breathe. Since most reds are meant to be consumed at room temperature, the wider bowl also allows the wine to cool more quickly after hand contact has warmed it.
White Wine Glass - White wine glasses are generally narrower, although not as narrow as champagne flutes, with somewhat straight or tulip-shaped sides. The narrowness of the white wine glass allows the chilled wine to retain its temperature for two reasons. The reduced surface area of the glass, in comparison to red wine glasses, means less air circulating around the glass and warming the wine. The smaller bowl of the glass means less contact between the hand and the glass, and so body heat does not transfer as easily to the wine.