When it’s made well, there is very little that can top a Martini.
The sight of seductive and frosted glassware, lifting the thin stem up and feeling the weight of expectation in hand, the thrill of the first sip of chilled gin matched with dry vermouth and its unique ability to feel both sophisticated and recklessly boozy all at the same time – we love everything about it!
That is, when it’s served in a nice glass. Too big, too heavy, too wide and the experience is dulled down into being ordinary. If it’s too small you’ll be contending with spillage and don’t even get us tarted on the horror of stemless “modern” offerings… When it comes to the cocktail hour, selecting the right vessel is a choice akin to Indie’ picking the holy grail.
So, ahead of World Martini Day on Saturday 19th June, we've rounded up our favourite martini glasses. Whether your cupboard is in desperate need of an upgrade, or you simply feel like treating yourself to something special to raise a toast with - here’s where to start.
If you like to serve yours large and with olives, with their sharper sloping angles and ability to hold 200mls+ of booze, conical shaped Martini glasses may be best suited to your needs.
It's a classic shape for a reason - the long stem keeps warm hands away from perfectly chilled drinks, while the wide mouth is intended to showcase a cocktail’s aromatic bouquet. Our favourite legend about the glassware's shape is that it was intended to help Prohibition-era drinkers quickly dump their drinks if a speakeasy was being raided! Very unlikely, but it makes us smile all the same.
Famed glassware maker Darlington have a simple, elegant and perfectly balanced shape that typifies what many look for in a Martini Glass.
Find some on Darlington.
For many the iconic V-shaped glass is intrinsically linked to the cocktail, but it actually predates the Martini and wasn’t originally associated with it. All the way up to the 20’s, it wouldn’t have been unusual to receive a Martini in a small wine glass, a coupe or even a tumbler. As so many are simply too big and heavy, let alone so wide they feel precarious to hold, we tend to steer clear and opt for a coupe shaped glass.
LSA have eye-catching designs but fair warning, while their mouth-blown and hand-crafted nature is a joy to behold, they are massive. They start at 270ml and go north of 320ml (the equivalent to six double measures!). As glasses, they are better suited to Champagne and often end up feeling like an oversized glass that's excessive for a classic Martini.
Slightly smaller but still on the roomy side is the Nude Savage, which has the elegance and sophistication as well as also being surprisingly durable.
Our nod is their Coupetini Cocktail Glasses, which combine smaller volume with a half-way shape between the classic sloping sides of a V glass and the bowl-like nature of a true coupe.
Find some on John Lewis.
In modern times, the Nick & Nora cocktail glass has gained popularity and is fast become enthusiast’ favourite choice. The Nick & Nora glass is named after the martini-loving husband and wife detective duo, Nick and Nora Charles, from the 1934 film The Thin Man. If you haven't seen it, it's worth hunting down for a retro dinner and date night (with suitable cocktails to accompany the film of course!).
We find the perfect compromise between price, functionality and durability keeps us returning to Riedel’s offering. Moreover as they are smaller (140ml) they feel more appropriate for Martini's and are more versatile for different occasions (for example, smaller serves are better as aperitifs).
Find some on Reidel.
Want to know more about Martini's? Check out our cocktail article HERE
