Sip, sip, hooray! The 7 best cocktail glasses to own

Best for: mojito, bloody Mary, Tom Collins, gin & tonic, Long Island iced tea, tall cocktails

Highball glasses are tall and slim, to keep the bubbles in! They’re designed for long cocktails. Lovely to hold, these 7cm x 16cm glasses are an excellent staple to start your cocktail glass collection. The fluted design is elegant and luxurious, while the glass still remains dishwasher safe. They come in a set of two, presented in a Country Road branded box. Choose from four colour options: Clear, Amber, Charcoal or Sugar Pink.

Key features:

• Fluted design
• Dishwasher safe
• Four colours to choose from

Also available at:

• $39.95 from Myer

Best for: martini, espresso martini, cosmopolitan, Manhattan, gimlet

Straight and direct (like the drink it’s made for!), the martini glass has the very recognisable ‘V’ shape. This mouth-blown martini glass features an innovative drop of blue sealed inside the stem. It’s 170mm high and 112mm wide and a beautifully crafted piece. It was designed by one of Sweden’s most well-known designers and glass artists, Erika Lagerbielke.

Key features:

• Mouth-blown in Sweden
• Drop of blue sealed inside the stem
• Designed by Swedish glass artist Erika Lagerbielke

Best for: margarita, frozen cocktails

With a kicked-out curvy edge at the top, the margarita glass looks exactly like it’s ready for a good time! This one is just the right size and shape for a classic margarita. Simple and clear, this set of four crystalline glasses will go with any dinner party aesthetic and never go out of style. If you’re partial to a girls’ gathering you’ll be glad to have these on hand for a round of zingy margs. It’s one of those cocktails you must master to serve with chips and guac.

Key features:

• 18cm H x 23cm W x 23cm D
• Dishwasher safe
• 340ml capacity

Also available at:

• $38.95 from Catch

Best for: old fashioned, gin & tonic, mint julep, negroni, white Russian, mai tai

Very Mad Men-esque, the aptly-named old fashioned glass is the one for your harder liqueur cocktails. This set of four glasses is difficult to top when it comes to short drinks such as a negroni, gin & tonic and, of course, a classic whisky or brandy-based old fashioned. The diamond glass design makes it particularly nice to hold while you savour every sip. They’re made in Italy and are break-resistant with a 25-year warranty.

Key features:

• Superior lead-free crystal
• Traditional Italian craftmanship
• Dishwasher safe
• 380ml capacity

Also available at:

• $40 (usually $79.95) from House

Best for: lychee martini, derby, bee’s knees, daiquiri

This lesser-known style of cocktail glass can be recognised by its curved, shallow vessel and elegant stem. Not as sharply-shaped as a martini glass, it’s suited to less dry cocktails – a lychee martini, for example. The arch-cut crystal and opulent frosted stem makes this an exquisite gift idea or luxurious addition to your glassware collection. Elevate any occasion! When not in use for slow-sipping cocktails such as a derby or bee’s knees, these coupe glasses are a delicate alternative to a champagne glass when serving sparkling wine.

Key features:

• 260ml capacity
• Frosted stem with satin finish
• Presented in a Fjord green Waterford box

Also available at:

• $349 from Myer

Best for: piña colada, Singapore sling, hurricane, blue lagoon

The hurricane glass gets its name from its origins in New Orleans where it was used to serve the sweet rum-based hurricane cocktail. It’s a tall glass with a curvy silhouette and is best suited to tropical cocktails such as piña coladas. This set of six is great value and sure to get the party started. The sturdy, simple design sits comfortably in your hand, which is exactly what you want in a hurricane glass.

Key features:

• 460ml capacity
• 19.6cm H x 24.5cm W x 16.5cm D
• Dishwasher safe

Also available at:

• $28.80 from Big W

Best for: bellini, mimosa

A champagne glass is not just for sparkling wine. It’s also the best glass choice for champagne-based cocktails such as mimosas, made with sparkling wine and orange juice, or the fruity prosecco-and-peach-nectar bellini. This set of six champagne glasses from Krosno’s Avant-Garde collection have a contemporary sleek silhouette.

Key features:

• 180ml capacity
• Made in Poland
• Gift boxed

Also available at:

• $59 from Catch