What Makes a Proper Gin Glass?
Gin and Tonic’s are traditionally served in a Highball Glass, also sometimes called a Collins Glass. But, if you really want to enjoy the flavors and aromas of a proper gin and tonic, then you need to use a Copa balloon, aka Copa De Balon glass.
The highball glass is traditional because it is a sizeable glass that can hold all of the ice and mixer that a good gin and tonic requires. It also does an excellent job of showing off any good handmade cocktail. The problem with the highball glass is that it has a thin rim and is usually filled to the top. That means that any aroma coming off of the gin will quickly be taken away by the wind, so the bouquet of an older, more complex gin will be hard to enjoy.
The Balloon Glass or Copa De Balon fixes this problem because it has a huge bowl that narrows as it reaches the rim. The big bowl fits all of the ice and mixer, but it is not filled to the brim, so the aromas have the rest of the bowl to collect and strengthen within the glass. Then when you go to take a drink, the narrow rim concentrates the aromas even further as they squeeze together and are directed up to the nose. This allows you to get a full sense of the cocktails different aromas.
The Best Glasses to Serve Gin!
The Highball Glass
A highball glass is a tall thin glass that usually holds 8 to 12 fluid ounces—the perfect size for a drink that traditionally has a lot of ice and mixer. The tall slim profile of the glass also perfectly shows off the look and garnish of your handcrafted gin and tonic, getting massive points for presentation.
The Copa Balloon Glass aka Copa De Balon
The Copa balloon glass is an excellent glass for gin and tonics because the wide bowl is big enough to hold a large amount of ice and mixer, but the bowl also narrows at the rim. This allows the aromas to gather and strengthen before being directed up to your nose. This is a glass that is traditionally used when drinking high-end gin, where you really want to be able to detect the complexity of the spirit.
The Rocks Glass
The Rocks glass, also sometimes called a lowball glass, is a shorter wide version of the highball glass. It shares the same pros in that it can hold a large amount of ice and mixer, but it also lacks in the same areas as the highball glass. It doesn’t retain or concentrate any aromas from the gin, and the rocks glass struggles to present the beverage with the same effect as the highball glass.
The Stemless Gin and Tonic Glass
The stemless wine glass, the stemless champagne glass, and now the stemless gin glass! Riedel, one of the world’s largest glassmakers, has made it their mission to create the perfect glass for every beverage. A glass with the ideal shape to display the drink while simultaneously bringing forward its aroma and flavor complexities. Luckily for us, Riedel loves a good gin and tonic as much as we do, and this is their interpretation of the perfect glass to be used when enjoying your favorite gin cocktail.
The Insulated Tumbler
The gin and tonic is a drink that is light and refreshing, making it the perfect drink to have on the boat or when you’re pool or beachside. The problem is that the gin and tonic also requires a lot of ice, and when you’re out in the sun, the heat can quickly dilute the drink you worked so hard to make into a watery mess. So when your out and about, trying to enjoy your gin and tonic, you need to grab an insulated tumbler to make sure that it stays fresh and cold till the last drop!
