Schott Zwiesel Bar Special

Start with the drink you are serving. For whisky you can choose between the 22 cl nosing glass and the 32 cl one: the tulip shape channels the aromas towards your nose, and the larger size gives heavily peated whisky more air. If you want room for ice, reach for the 40 cl Dancing tumbler. Cognac goes into the XXL balloon of 77.4 or 88 cl, where the vapour has space to open up. Grappa calls for a narrow little glass of 6.4, 9.5 or 11 cl, sherry for the 12 cl glass. For gin and tonic there is the 70 cl copa, and the 34 cl water glass has a fill line. Feel free to compare with the whisky glasses and the grappa glasses.

Do not fill a nosing glass beyond its widest point: the space above holds the air in which the aromas gather. Cognac does not need warming; your hand around the balloon takes care of that. Serve grappa lightly chilled and in a small measure, so the alcohol does not take over. In the 70 cl copa you add ice first, then gin, then tonic poured over a spoon so the bubbles stay in. Classics such as the dry martini and the old fashioned both find their shape here.

Bar Special is made from Tritan, the crystal glass from Schott Zwiesel with titanium and zirconium added. That makes the rim and the stem noticeably less prone to breaking and keeps the glass clear, even when it goes through the machine day after day. The glasses are dishwasher-safe and are slower to go dull in hard water. Place them apart from each other in the rack and dry the stem afterwards with a clean cloth.

Looking for another series from the same brand? The full range is at Schott Zwiesel. Do note that Zwiesel Glas is a separate brand with its own line. If you only want the copa for gin, have a look at the gin and tonic glasses. For stirring and measuring behind the bar you will find the tools with the bar spoons, so your bar is complete alongside the glassware.