Stölzle Lausitz Elements

Look at the use first and only then at the colour. The 46.5 cl tumbler is substantial and has a straight wall; it fills generously with ice and a long drink, or serves as a roomy water beaker on the table. The 24 cl cocktail glass has a bowl shape on a short stem and is meant for drinks without ice that you pour out cold. If you want to combine the two, let the black bowl be the accent next to the red tumbler and not the other way round, because black draws the most attention on a laid table. The colour makes the level in the glass invisible, so pour by measure rather than by eye. See also the clear cocktail glasses.

Chill the cocktail glass in the freezer before use, or fill it with ice and water for a few minutes. A chilled bowl keeps a drink without ice at temperature far longer. A negroni is a good choice in the black glass, precisely because the red colour of the original then plays no part. An espresso martini works for the same reason, because the layer of foam on top is then the only thing you see of the drink.

The colour sits in a layer on the outside and not in the glass body itself. That means scouring damages the colour, so use no scouring pad and no aggressive washing-up liquid. The dishwasher is possible, but choose a programme with a lower temperature and make sure the glasses do not touch each other. Washing by hand with a soft cloth noticeably extends the life of the finish, certainly on the black model.

More glassware from Stölzle Lausitz is on the brand page, where the clear ranges from this German brand are gathered as well. If you are looking more broadly in colour, the coloured glasses overview puts all brands side by side. For the same shape without colour, have a look at the tumbler glasses, and with a long bar spoon you stir without touching the coating on the outside.