Barware supplies and options

If you have a bar in your home, or if you have guests to serve and are embarrassed to serve martinis in a juice glass, it’s time to invest in some proper barware. Barware includes everything and anything that you may need to make and serve various alcoholic beverages, just like you would see at a bar. Serving your guests with your own handmade drinks in their various proper glasses makes for a very satisfying and fun cocktail party.

Barware basics

Yes, for almost every variety of drink there is a specific glass that it is meant to be served in. It may seem arbitrary, but many will feel strange drinking a martini in a highball glass, for example. You may not be a professional bartender, so you probably don’t want or need the multitude of glasses available on the market, but there are agreed-upon basics that you should stock your cupboards with.

Some Highball Glasses

Highballs hold eight to twelve ounces of a mixed drink, any mixed drink. These are especially useful for someone who doesn’t have a fully stocked bar, because they can be used for all sorts of drinks. Whether you’re serving a margarita, a glass of water or a screwdriver, it’s perfectly acceptable to put it in a highball glass. Lowballs (aka old-fashioneds) are shorter than a highball and are meant for drinks that are served in smaller amounts or over ice.

Some Wine Glasses

Wine and champagne glasses

Wine glasses, believe it or not, come in shapes specific to white wine and red wine. It’s not necessary, but it’s something to know. Red wine glasses are larger and rounder than white wine glasses because a larger bowl makes the wine easier to sniff. White wine glasses have a narrower bowl, because it keeps the wine cool longer. Of course, if you really want to delve into your wine glasses, the distinctions run even further. There are glasses for merlots, ports, chardonnays, and others. Unless you want to be considered a real connoisseur, you can just get yourself a nice set of red wine glasses and white wine glasses and call it a day.

Some Champagne Glasses

Champagne glasses are distinct from wine glasses, however, and every once in a while there’s reason to celebrate with them. A wine glass just won’t do in this situation, because the bubbles will dissipate too quickly and you won’t properly enjoy the drink. There are many types of champagne glasses in different styles, from long-stemmed, long-necked to tapered. A champagne flute is always a good choice because it keeps the bubbles alive and popping in the glass.

Some Beer Pints

Beer glasses

Beer glassware depends on the region and can make the beverage more fun to drink. You can actually make a game out of trying to properly drink your beer. Beer is sometimes served in a boot-shaped glass, which sounds like just a simple variation of a beer glass, until you get to near the bottom and the beer splashes back into your face. That’s a fun trick to play on your guests, but beware, because it’s going to get messy.

If you want to get really traditional about serving beer, get a set of beer steins (which originated in Germany, widely viewed as the birthplace of good beer). The benefit of a beer stein is that it can hold a large quantity of beer, more than a whole bottle, so you don’t have bottles with small portions of left-over beer in them. Secondly, they come with a flip-up top to keep the beer fresh inside. Thirdly, they aren’t made of glass and they keep the beer colder and fresher longer. Also, if all else fails, they are very stylish and can be used as decorative pieces.

Beer Steins

Connoisseurs serve light beers in a pilsner glass and dark beers in a pint glass, but do what you will.

Cocktail glasses

Sex and the City has given the cocktail a bit of a resurgence. Cocktail glasses typically have thin stems and a funnel-shaped glass bowl for the beverage. The glass has become synonymous with martinis and their olives.

Cocktail Glasses

Shot glasses also bring some amusement to a party. For example, you can make Jello shots for your parties or freeze the shot glass for cold, cold shots. Shot glasses are actually meant for measuring the alcohol for your mixed drinks, so some purists think that your drinks should not be served in shot glasses unless the aim is to get your guests as drunk as possible. Instead, they recommend using a lowball glass.

Specialty glasses

If you really get into the spirit of things, there are some extra glasses you can add to your collection meant for specific drinks. Collins are meant for the Tom Collins specialty drink and are narrower than highballs. Sherry glasses look like a medieval goblet and are meant for sherry. Irish coffee is meant to be served in a smaller version of the beer mug, but with a thin stem specially designed for after dinner alcoholic coffee beverages. Parfait glasses can serve your frozen drinks and look like something from a malt shop. Brandy snifters are short-stemmed with round bowls and are more appropriate to use for brandy than a shot glass because they’re designed for someone to smell and savor their beverage.

Popular retailers and prices

Pricing varies depending on the type, material and specialty of glass. A shot glass can be bought from a dollar store in an emergency and a novelty glass with a brand name or some design etched on it will raise the cost to about $10.

Believe it or not, wine glasses are available at higher-end retailers like Williams Sonoma and Macy’s, but you can also find sets at places like Canadian Tire, Hudson’s Bay, Sears, even Walmart.

Bloomingdales has a set of Brandy Snifters for $100 made from blown glass, but some promotional glasses will cost only $10, depending on what you want. Good beer mugs are about $30 and plain and simple highball glasses can be found for as little as $5.99. As you can see, there is a huge range depending on the quality you’re looking for. Happy shopping!