GLASSWARE - UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Glassware needs today are far simpler than in they were in the 19th century. In his 1887 book, Bartender's Manual or How to Mix Drinks of the Present Style , Harry Johnson recommends six different wine glasses, five different beer glasses, and thirteen different drink glasses. Patrick Gavin Duffy's 1934 book, The Official Mixers Manual, lists thirty-six vessels in his glassware chart. The advantage to using a great variety of glassware meant that the portion of spirit, beer, or wine was often determined by the size and shape of the glass, leaving a smaller margin for error for waste on the part of the bartender. Today, the exact opposite is true: glasses are often over-sized, placing full responsibility for portion size on the bartender's skill, precision --- and generosity!
Size Does Count!With regard to specific glasses for certain cocktails, such as the martini and the Irish coffee glass, I adhere to the old fashioned idea of closely matching the glass size to portion size. Sure, there are times when an oversized glass is appropriate. An over-sized Burgundy or Bordeaux glass adds elegance to wine service, and a Scotch on the rocks looks and feels better in a double old-fashioned glass. However, there is no advantage to a 10 or 11 ounce martini glass. Although they may appear to be crowd pleasers, they are a losing proposition. The cocktail is intended to be a door opener at a cocktail party, a before-dinner appetite stimulant, not an evening-ender. Oversized cocktails also inhibit the classic bar etiquette of sending a friend a drink and then accepting one in return. If this happens before a meal, there will be no meal. Period!
Thus, the two most important considerations when purchasing a martini or cocktail glass are size and balance . If you keep in mind that many classic cocktail recipes were designed for 3- to 4-ounce cocktail glasses, you'll find that many glasses on the market are simply oversized. A smaller glass is not only more manageable but also elegant and classic, like the drinks I am serving in them. There's no reason why you shouldn't do the same at home.
You certainly do not need to purchase a dozen different glasses; your home bar will operate nicely with five or six different styles of glasses.
Cocktails
Martini Glass: The most important purchase you will make for your home bar. A 5- to 6-ounce glass will fill the bill for almost your entire list of "straight up" cocktail recipes.
Highball: A 12-ounce, or slightly larger, highball glass is a necessity, and it can double as a beer and soda glass (unless of course you are a serious beer drinker --- then you'll need a pilsner or the pint glass).
On the Rocks
Rock Glass: Should be 8 to 12 ounces with a nice thick bottom that gives it some heft.
Double Old Fashioned: A rock glass over 12 ounces; also called a bucket glass.
Wine
Over-sized Wine Glass: These can vary in style greatly, but just make sure they're more than TK ounces, so there's room to swirl the wine. Call it Murphy's Law, but I keep a half dozen inexpensive wine glasses around for daily use and I never break one of them; my elegant over-sized wine glasses break at the rate of one every dinner party.
Champagne
FLUTE: Champagne is inevitably going to be a part of some celebration and having eight or ten flutes will enhance the experience --- though I admit to making do with a small wine glass in a pinch.
Dessert wine & Cordials
London Dock Glass: A port or sauternes glass that will fill the bill for dessert wines as well as for fine spirits "neat" (without ice), and some special cocktails like the straight up sours.
Brandy snifter: A nice addition to your glass collection, albeit optional, that can be used for many specialty drinks. Many Cognac producers prefer a London Dock style glass for brandy, believing the snifter collects the strong alcoholic fumes and over-powers the delicate subtler aroma of the brandy. The snifter is a definite crowd pleaser, and therefore a better choice for your bar.
The pousse café glass stands slightly taller, has straighter sides, and flares out at the top instead of inward.
Shots
Shot glasses are an extra you could easily do without, unless of course you are a fan of los tres cuates (the three chums): salt, lime, and tequila.
