Glassware Buying Guide

Depending on the foods and drinks you plan to serve, there is different glassware available. Knowing what each type is for will help you decide on which glasses you'll need to set a table or equip a home bar.

Stemware

Stemware includes your fancier glasses, such as wine glasses and champagne flutes. Stemware usually has a long, slender handle to grasp, so you won't warm the beverage with your hands.

Wine glasses: Wine glasses are exactly what they sound like: glasses designed for the full enjoyment of wine. Glasses for red wine are larger and wider than those for whites so your nose will be inside the rim as you tip the glass. This is because red wine's flavor tends to be heavier and needs to be inhaled to be fully enjoyed. The narrower shape of white wine glasses also reduces the chances of warming the wine. If you like both white and red wines, be sure to have both types of wine glasses on hand. These glasses can be made from glass, crystal, metals and plastic. When choosing glass or crystal stemware, consider these options:

• Cut glass makes for a rougher lip, and interferes with the taste of the wine. The smoother the edge of the rim, the less the glass will interfere with taste.
• Blown glass makes for a thinner lip and is good for the casual wine drinker.
• Lead crystal is ideal for drinking and tasting wine, however lead poisoning can become a danger.

Stem-less wine glasses: These are shaped the same as traditional wine glasses, just without the stem. This modern take on stemware works best with red wines because your hand will warm the glass as you hold it.

Snifter: A brandy snifter has a shorter stem, and the main vessel has a wide bottom that narrows at the top to trap the aromas of the drink in the glass. Although this stemware is able to hold 6-8 ounces, you should not pour more than 2-3 ounces at a time. This allows the aromas to open up inside the glass.

Champagne flute: The champagne flute is a stem glass with a tall, narrow bowl. The bowl is designed to retain champagne's carbonation, by reducing the surface area at the opening of the bowl. Although many people like champagne saucers, flutes are better designed to retain the bubbles and maximize flavor.

Cocktail or Martini glasses: Martini glasses have a wide, cone-shaped bowl on a stem with a flat base. Martini glasses are used to serve more than just martinis and work well for any shaken and strained cocktails that need to stay cold to be fully enjoyed.

Margarita glasses: Margarita glasses are shaped similarly to martini glasses, with a wide bowl on a stem that is usually--but not always--cone-shaped. The main difference is that margarita glasses are thicker to accommodate frozen or blended margaritas as well as salt crystals on the rim.

Beer Glassware

Beer glassware is designed for beer, but many people use this glassware for other drinks, such as juices, because they favor the larger size.

Pilsner: A pilsner glass is best used for any lagers, including pilsners. Pilsner glasses are usually smaller than pint glasses and have a short neck at the bottom, then a rounded taper to a slightly bulged area that forms the glass.

Pint Glass: A pint glass is made to hold an Imperial pint, which is about 1.2 US pints. A pint glass can be used for most beers or ciders.

Beer Stein: A beer stein is a traditional German beer tankard made of pewter, silver, wood, porcelain, earthenware, stoneware or glass. In Germany, it is usually called a Steinkrug if it is made from stoneware or Glaskrug if it is made of glass. A traditional stein holds one liter of liquid and has a handle.

Tumblers

Tumblers are used to serve mixed drinks poured over ice. They hold between 8-12 ounces and come in three general types:

Highball glass: In the late 19th century, when mixed drinks were first introduced, they were referred to as "highballs" because they were served in these tall (high) glasses.

Collins glass: Named for the Tom Collins cocktail traditionally served in it, a Collins glass is taller than a traditional highball tumbler glass.

Old fashioned glass: These glasses are also known as "low-balls" and are the shortest tumbler.

Shot Glasses

Shot glasses are small glasses and hold about one to three ounces of liquor. Shot glasses can be used for measuring liquor to be poured into a mixed drink, or you can drink straight from the glass. Shot glasses have thicker sides and are the smallest glassware.

Drinking Glasses

There is a wide variety of drinking glasses and this term covers a lot of area. Typical drinking glasses hold 5-12 ounces of liquid. This glassware can be made from just about any material: glass, plastic, wood, metal or more. Many drinking glasses have flexible uses. For example, beer glassware can be used for many drinks.

Coffee Mugs

There's no mystery here: Coffee mugs are a must for the coffee drinker. Coffee cups help absorb some of the initial heat when hot liquid is poured in, then they keep the liquid from cooling too quickly. Coffee cups are great for more than just coffee; hot chocolate and tea also benefits from this design. You can find coffee mugs for traveling with the coffee makers and espresso machines in the kitchen appliances department.

Bar & Wine Tools

A variety of barware tools will make mixing and serving drinks easier. Bar and wine tools can help everyone, from the wine connoisseur to cocktail hour entertainer. Many of these tools are also great to have in your kitchen for everyday use.

• Ice buckets: Ice buckets can hold and chill bottles of sparkling wines or white wines. Or, if you don't have access to an icemaker at your home bar, keep an ice bucket and ice tongs handy to make mixed drinks anywhere.
• Wine coolers: Although these share their name with flavored malt liquors, wine coolers are actually used for keeping wine and champagne at just the right temperature. It's sort of like a mini fridge just for your wine but with a more sensitive temperature control.
• Corkscrews: Although more and more screw-top wines are appearing on the market, you'll want to keep a corkscrew around for any traditionally corked bottles.
• Cocktail and Martini shaker: Most cocktails taste best when they are very cold, and for the perfectly icy cocktail, you need a cocktail shaker. Cocktail shakers come in an astounding variety of colors and sizes, so choose one that seems fun to you.
• Stirrer: If you're making drinks that can be bruised in a shaker, a stirrer will mix things up perfectly. The straight style is gentler than stirring with a spoon and leads to a better tasting drink.
• Wine decanter/ Wine carafe: Decanters are made to serve drinks with sediment, such as wine. Pouring a measure of wine into the decanter separates the clear liquid from the sediment. Carafes serve the same functions as decanters; however, they were intended for less expensive wines.
• Bottle opener: Beers with twist-off tops are susceptible to exposure to air. Make a commitment to better beer flavor by choosing beers with pop tops and keep a bottle opener around to open them.
• Jigger: A jigger is a measurement of an alcoholic beverage ingredient as well as the name of the tool used to measure them.
• Double Jigger: Just like the above, but doubled. The jiggers sit bottom to bottom on a handle. One side is larger than the other. To change sizes, flip the jigger over.
• Citrus Knife: This is the perfect tool for creating a garnish for mixed drinks.
• Blender: Blenders are a vital part of any bar; mix up frozen cocktails and fun.

Bar Storage

Now that you have everything you need to start a party, you'll need a place to store your great Overstock.com finds. Our bar storage is the solution. Take a look and find something in our home store to keep everything organized.

Entertaining with a well equipped bar and beautifully set dinner table is always just a click away with Overstock.com. With the prices you'll find here, you'll want to celebrate (with your new glassware!).

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