The perfect gin and tonic glass
Many people wonder, „What’s the perfect glass for a Gin & Tonic?“ And as with many things, the answer is: it depends. Let’s explore different types of glasses for serving a G&T.
Glass Real Estate/Volume
When discussing glassware, we’re essentially looking at design. While there are thousands of different designs and decorations, we’ll focus on the shape, volume, and glass opening for now.
The Highball Glass
The highball glass is a slim cylinder, which has become increasingly popular in the UK for serving Gin & Tonics. It holds about 0.25 litres, but this volume decreases significantly when served with ice. I’ve seen drinks served in these glasses at the Boilerman Bar in Hamburg. The advantage is that they stay cool when not held, keeping the drinks fresh since you get less liquid. This also allows for a higher ratio of spirit to mixer. For garnishes, try spiralling a cucumber „tongue“ or a long orange zest inside the glass.
The Copa de Balón
Now, let’s travel to Spain, where this glass has become the standard. It resembles a large red wine bowl and offers a surprisingly large volume. However, there’s a good reason for this. The drinks aren’t actually bigger; the glass can hold a lot of ice to keep your drink cool. Since you’re not holding the glass in an area where the liquid is kept, you don’t warm the drink with your hands.
The Copa de Balón glass also has a big advantage for garnishes. Your nose is close to the garnishes and botanicals, allowing you to smell and enjoy the extra scents.
The Rock Glass
Finally, we have the rock glass. This glass is typically used for serving cocktails like Negronis and Manhattans. It has a wide opening and a short stem, which allows for easy stirring. The rock glass is great for garnishes like olives, cherries, and citrus peels.
This glass, similar in volume to a highball but wider and shorter, is perfect for smaller servings and offers more space for garnishes than a highball glass. The wider opening allows for closer contact with the garnishes. Many classic rock glasses look stunning and are ideal for making your G&T truly shine.
Speaking of longdrinks, let’s talk about the longdrink glass. It’s like the bigger brother of the highball glass, with more volume and a wider opening. This makes it easier to garnish and allows for more ice and liquid, especially in summer to keep your G&T from melting.
Personally, I love using a Copa de Balón for a Gin and Tonic. Its large volume and the option to fill „the bowl“ with ice make it perfect for summer. A highball glass, on the other hand, is great for smaller servings and keeping them cold for longer. Just be mindful of the alcohol content, as they tend to empty quickly. And a real highball is basically the same amount of spirit / gin with just less of the mixer.
Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. There are fantastic glasses available, from simple to futuristic, old-school to classy, whatever suits your style. Keep an eye out at flea markets or garage sales – you might find some incredible glasses for a few pence or cents.
Bonus: Preparing your glass for a Gin & Tonic
Before you pour your G&T, take a moment to prepare your glass. Start by rinsing it with warm water to remove any residue. Then, fill it with ice and let it melt slightly. This will keep your drink cold and refreshing.
Nothing beats a warm Gin & Tonic and plenty of ice is key. However, to start properly we always keep a few G&T glasses in the freezer at GinGinGin headquarters. This prevents the ice from melting immediately. If you have space in your freezer, try it.
We’ll discuss ice in another post but make sure you have plenty available. When I visit friends, I’m always amazed at how they manage a party with just a few small trays of ice cubes. Buy a bag, preferably sealable, to keep freezer odours from affecting the ice.
We look forward to seeing you serving your Gin & Tonic in style with lots of ice. We also offer on-premise inspections if you’d like. ;)
