Martini glass
GlasswareA martini glass is a stemmed glass with a cone-shaped bowl, for stirred or shaken drinks served up, such as the Martini.
Also called: cocktail glass
- Classic capacity
- 4 to 7 oz (120 to 210 ml)
- Original size
- about 4 oz (120 ml)
- Modern range
- 3 to 10 oz (90 to 300 ml)
- IBA Dry Martini
- 2 oz (60 ml) gin and 0.33 oz (10 ml) dry vermouth, stirred
- Capacity
- 4 to 7 oz (120 to 210 ml)
- Used for
- Stirred or shaken drinks served up, such as the Martini, the Cosmopolitan and the Espresso Martini
What martini glass means
You will see this glass under the Martini, the Cosmopolitan and the Espresso Martini. Drinks in it are served up, with no ice in the glass, so chilling the glass first matters. Bartenders use it for stirred and shaken drinks alike.
A classic martini glass holds 4 to 7 oz (120 to 210 ml), and the original was about 4 oz (120 ml). A Dry Martini to the IBA spec uses 2 oz (60 ml) of gin and 0.33 oz (10 ml) of dry vermouth, stirred. It comes to about 2.4 oz (70 ml) before the melt water, short of 3 oz (90 ml). The glass therefore needs room at the rim.
Most beginners assume a bigger glass makes a better Martini. Difford's Guide says a Martini warms too fast in a glass larger than 7 oz (200 ml), so a bigger bowl is not an upgrade. Size the glass to the drink, not the other way around.
How to serve a drink in a martini glass
Martini glasses hold drinks served up, so the glass needs to be cold before anything goes in.
- 1.Chill the glass well, because the drink goes in with no ice.
- 2.Grip the stem, not the bowl, so the drink stays cold.
- 3.Strain the stirred drink into the chilled glass, then serve it straight away before it warms.
Martini glass compared
- CoupeA coupe has a rounded bowl. This glass has a cone with straight sides that slope down to the stem.
- Nick and Nora glassA Nick and Nora is smaller, with a narrow bell-shaped bowl.
- Cocktail glassThe two names are used for the same stemmed glass. Some say the martini glass has a longer stem and a wider rim.
Related terms
Ingredients
Put it to use in your next drink
Garçon explains every step as you make the drink.