Stemmed Gin Glasses: the Ideal Way to Serve Your Liquor

Raise your hand if you’re in the mood for a drink. Let’s see those hands shoot straight up in the air. Who cares if it’s not the weekend? One glass of your favourite liquor won’t hurt. It’ll just take some of the edge off after a long and stressful day at the office. In your case, that just so happens to be gin. And what an exquisite choice of liquor that is. No wonder it’s topped your list of ideal summertime drinks this year.

With that said, the way you present your liquor can make a world of a difference in the whole tasting experience. Sure, you could just go with a random glass you find in your cupboard but where’s the fun in that? Gin tastes so much better when it’s served in the right glass. And this is where the whole stemmed vs. stemless debate makes an appearance and steals the show.

Why Choose Stemmed Over Stemless Glasses?

You’ve probably guessed which one’s the favourite here. But there’s a totally rational explanation behind it. Ask yourself this, does gin taste the same when you’ve been holding the glass in your hand for a while? Definitely not. This is because you’re warming up the liquid with your hand, which shouldn’t be happening. Once the ice starts to melt, it dilutes your drink which inherently takes away from its flavour. But if you want to keep your drink cool and experience its rich flavour and aroma in all their glory, stoking up on stemmed gin and tonic glasses is your best bet at getting there.

How Do You Hold a Stemmed Gin Glass?

With the debate out of the way, it’s time to focus on some details. If you want to use elegant stemmed gin and tonic glasses properly, you should hold them towards the base of the stem, between your thumb, index and middle finger. Your two other fingers will find their position naturally.

Some people make the mistake of holding the gin glass towards the top of the stem, which basically defeats the purpose of having a stem in the first place. If you do this, you’re still warming up your drink with your hand, all while the stem remains unbothered at the bottom. Both stemmed and stemless types of glasses serve a specific purpose and it’s up to you to take advantage of what’s being brought to the table.

What Kinds of Stemmed Gin Glasses Are There?

Stemmed gin glassware is just an umbrella term for a whole set of different glasses with varying designs. While all of them get the job done much in the same way, your personal preferences may dictate your choice of glassware.

Copa Glass

This is by far the most common and iconic gin glass ever to exist. The large, balloon-shaped that sits atop the stem is the most authentic way to serve gin since leaves lots of room for your drink to breathe. Additionally, the spacious interior has plenty of space for additional ice and garnishes such as lime, lemon or cucumber.

Despite its width, the top part of Copa glasses does curve back in to help trap those signature aromas and guide them towards your nostrils. This is especially important if you’re an avid admirer of the way gin smells. You’re in for a real treat.

Goblet Glass

You’ve probably caught a glimpse of goblet glasses in the multitude of feasts portrayed in medieval shows. It’s essentially the same as the Copa glass, with the only difference being the length of the stem. Goblet glasses tend to have shorter stems but this certainly doesn’t take away from their ability to prevent your drink from warming up.

Martini Glass

The appeal of martini glasses lays in their unique and eye-catching design. The top part closely resembles a triangle rather than a circular bowl-like all the other glasses. As a result, your liquor receives optimal oxygen exposure, which is definitely a bonus when it comes to gin.

Moreover, the wide brim once again leaves ample space for decorations and garnishes of all kinds. More often than not, you’ll find a lemon gracing the sides of your martini glass but don’t be surprised if you spot the occasional lime or orange along the way. And last but certainly not least, how could anyone resist those adorable umbrellas? Seeing those floating around is always a delightful experience.

Coupe Glass

In short, the coupe is a curved martini glass. The former have a slight advantage though since they’re somewhat easier to handle which means you’re less likely to spill your drinks, particularly when you’re buzzed. While this dainty glassware may look delicate, it’s much sturdier than you’d think.

Bear in mind that due to that specific build, both of those glasses aren’t always a good fit for carbonated cocktails since the bubbles can fizz out quickly. However, this shouldn’t stop you from using either of them if you’re feeling inclined to do so.

At the end of the day, the key to enjoying your liquor-tasting experience lies in the presentation. Even if that’s not something you’re into, we’d all like to drink from a fancy cup every now and then, wouldn’t you say? What’s fancier than a stemmed gin glass? Cheers mate!