by Sean Brison |
Last Updated: June 4, 2022 The cocktail
Best Cocktail Mixing Glasses
Typically, the
It’s a reason to abandon your cocktail shaker, if only for a moment.
1. Hiware Cocktail Mixing Glass
Classic cocktails are surging - and so should your stirring prep. The weighted base of this heavy-duty vessel kills any fear you'll have of tipping over your next Martini mid-stir. Its wide mouth and beaker-like spout let you pour with precision. This Hiware model is made with ultra-clear, lead-free glass and is dishwasher safe.
2. HandBlown Cocktail Mixing Glass
Lacking the panache of an etched diamond pattern, this glass compensates with a ¾ inch thick, heavy-bottomed base with seamless, handblown construction. Fully functional and practical. Lines that typically accompany machine-made glassware elude this model. Holds 18 oz with an enlarged pouring spout, and works with both Hawthorne strainers and julep strainers.
3. Cocktail Kingdom Reserve Yarai Sen Mixing Glass
Cocktail Kingdom Reserve is the brand’s premier barware and exclusive U.S. vendor of Japanese mixing glasses. "Yarai" refers to the weave pattern residing on the glass’s exterior - it’s not a brand but an etching style. Renowned for its sturdy-bases, thick-walled glass, narrow spouts, and seamless interiors is why this model has a leg up over its pint glass counterpart.
4. A Bar Above Mixing Glass
Seamless glassware is the optimal choice as it's harder to crack. Built to comfortably hold 18 oz (or two cocktails) with a weighted base that keeps firmly in place while you stir. It's compatible with both Hawthorne strainers, Julep strainers and made by a career bartender for bartenders. This mixing glass is carefully hand-packed in a stylish box that's also ideal for gifting.
5. Mixing Glass by Umami Mart
Wirecutter named this mixing glass the best of 2016 and 2017 and was featured in the New York Times gift guide in 2019. Umami Mart started as a food and drink blog before moving into the online space as a Japanese kitchen and barware importing business. This glass is seamless, lacks etchings but over-delivers on quality. Features a heavy-duty base with a beaker-like spout.
6. Libbey Pint Glass
Libbey is a household name in the foodservice industry with products ranging from champagne glasses to coupes to bourbon glasses. This vehicle features a thick, weighted base and a DuraTuff heat-treated rim making it resilient to thermal and mechanical shock. That's fancy talk for you can be rough with 'em and they won't break.
7. ARC Pub Beer Glass
Family-owned since 1825, ARC built its reputation in Northern France and grew into a tableware industry juggernaut now serving 160 countries. This set of four pulls double duty as both a mixing glass and the smaller end of a Boston Shaker (should you decide to shake up a pleasing potation). And the pint glass itself makes for excellent beer drinking! Made from soda ash, is dishwasher safe, and lead-free.
8. Anchor Hocking Pint Glass
Anchor Hocking's rim-tempered glass makes for a calloused companion in the craft cocktail revivalist's toolkit. Durable and chip-resistant, this one also performs dual roles as a shaker base and pint glass yet still maintains good laminar flow when mixing up classics like Manhattans, Negronis, or Martinis.
9. Stemmed Mixing Glass
This stemmed mixing glass has several agreeable traits. It's seamless and handblown, making it sturdier than some of its inferior counterparts. The bowl-based design supplies more width and enhances your stir. Its sheer volume capacity at 800 ml lets you easily mix more than two cocktails. And there's the added benefit of easy storage for those of you with glass racks. Plus, it looks impressive sitting atop any home bartender's cart.
10. Urban Bar Tiki Pattern Mixing Glass
If you're in need of something a bit more stylish for your bar cart, Urban Bar's smart vertical wall design wrapped in white tiki imagery won't disappoint. Sturdy handmade mixing glass with a weighted base for stability. It holds up to 800 ml (27 oz) capacity with an easy pour spout. Be sure to grab a protective neoprene travel sleeve to keep yours safe.
11. Bar Mixing Pitcher
Both heavy and ornate, this well-crafted diamond-patterned mixing glass is also dishwasher safe. Its weighted base, ¼ inch thick walls, lead-free crystal, and 17 oz capacity make it great for enthusiasts and professional bartenders alike. Smaller in size but still able to craft two cocktails out of it. Did someone say Old Fashioned? Yes, please.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cocktail Mixing Glasses
How to Choose Your Cocktail Mixing Glass
Durability matters when choosing your glass. You want a material that won’t crack easily when stirring. Many high-quality brands use heavy-duty, double-walled glass (or stainless steel). These components are tough enough to whether the vigors of the most spirited home bar.
If you’re demonstrating how to make a drink (e.g., an Old Fashioned), glass is the optimal choice because you can see your cocktail as you build it. It’s one reason some prefer it over stainless steel.
Glass is also a poor conductor, meaning it preserves your cocktail’s coolness while keeping out the heat. The more heat you let in, the quicker your ice melts, resulting in dilution.
What’s the Best Size for A Cocktail Mixing Glass ?
Look for a
- Add more ice should you need to chill your drink quicker
- Get a superior stir than a tapered-bottom
mixing glass (e.g., a pint glass)
A good
Be sure to get a strainer with whichever style you choose. It’s the best way to prevent ice from falling into your drink.
Cocktail Mixing Glass Styles
You can choose between four primary styles.
Pint Glass
While lacking the extended functionality of a traditional
They’re durable enough to take a tumble and make for an excellent budget pick when all else fails. They’re also an interchangeable piece when using a Boston shaker (you can replace the smaller shaker tin of the shaker with a pint glass).
Stainless Steel Mixing Cup
A similar size and look to the
However, the steel does prevent you from watching as you prepare your masterpiece. But, still stylish on a home bar or in a craft cocktail setting.
Stemmed Mixing Glass
Perhaps less practical as the stemmed base requires you to hold the bottom with your non-stirring hand. But finding one with a bowl-based design helps make both your stir and storage of it easy.
Traditional Mixing Glass (aka Mixing Pitcher)
The most popular and practical of the group, the traditional
The Last Word
Mixology is part art, part science. And some classics (e.g., Boulevardier, Vieux Carre, or a Corpse Reviver), taste best when stirred. The cocktail
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