Top 5 Pieces of Glassware Every Host Should Have On Hand

I am of the belief that drinking a cocktail out of the glass it belongs in makes said cocktail just TASTE better. I’m sorry I don’t want my red wine in a white wine glass, I want to feel like Olivia Pope in her fab white suit as she sits on her plush couch at the end of a long day gladiating when I enjoy MY glass Merlot. On top of that, cocktail glasses were designed with the cocktail you should be drinking it out of, in mind. There’s a reason why you drink whiskey out of a tumbler and not a champagne flute (The glass is designed to concentrate the aroma in the area of your nose, which should enhance your whiskey tasting).

But look no further I want all my hostesses with the mostesses to know the top 10 glasses you should have on hand when hosting any soiree. In no particular order here they go…

1. Red Wine Glass- Fruity red wines, like Pinot Noir, are best in  bowl-shaped glasses that help you notice aroma and flavor. The tulip shape of a wine glass is meant to direct aroma to your nose and the stem keeps you from altering the temperature of the wine in the glass.

2. White Wine Glass-Light-bodied white wines, like Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc, are best in small, slender tulip glasses. Again the slender tulip shape helps you notice the aroma and flavor. It is believed that taking a big ole sniff of your wine and then sipping it will enhance the flavor in the wine.

3. Whiskey Tumbler- I mentioned it above but it doesn’t hurt to say it again, this glass is designed to concentrate the aroma of the whiskey to the area of your nose. Whiskey is also a drink that should be slowly sipped throughout the night and not chugged like a beer (well beer isn’t “supposed” to be chugged either but I won’t digress) hence the smaller glass.

4. Champagne Flute-Sparkling wines and Champagnes do best in glasses that hold in the bubbles, not ones that let them escape. The best option is a tulip-shaped flute (left), because it keeps in the bubbles and has a slight curve to help you smell and taste. The other three glasses (pictured), though designed for sparkling wines, are not best suited for retaining the bubbles.

5. Martini Glass Oh how I love a good martini, especially one that’s made with just the right amount of everything! The stem design was created with the same thought behind the white and red wine glasses – to keep the drink from warming. The cone shape was also made to keep liquors like gin and vermouth from separating but was also made with garnishes like limes and olives in mind.

 

And now just because I love a good cocktail glass, please take a minute to enjoy some other glasses you can use at your next event…