Mixing glass

Tool

A mixing glass is a heavy glass for stirring clear drinks with ice before you strain them into a serving glass.

Also called: stirring glass

Common sizes: 19 to 29 oz (550 to 850 ml)
24 oz (700 ml) glass: 2 to 3 drinks at once
Stir time: 20 to 30 seconds
Ice: Fill about two-thirds full

What mixing glass means

Stirring suits drinks that hold only clear spirits, like the Martini. The mixing glass holds those ingredients and the ice while you turn them together. The result is a clear, silky drink.

Mixing glasses come in sizes from 19 to 29 oz (550 to 850 ml). A 24 oz (700 ml) glass holds enough for 2 to 3 drinks at once. Heavy glass soaks up heat from the drink, so chill the glass before you start.

You may have heard that the longer you stir, the better. Difford's says drinks rarely need more than 30 to 45 seconds, and the Old Fashioned is the main exception. Extra time mostly adds water from the melting ice.

How to use a mixing glass

Stir the ingredients with ice in the glass, then strain them into a chilled glass.

1.Fill the glass about two-thirds with fresh ice.
2.Pour the spirits and other clear ingredients over the ice.
3.Stir with a bar spoon for 20 to 30 seconds.
4.Strain into a chilled glass with a julep strainer or a Hawthorne strainer.

No mixing glass? Without a mixing glass, use the large tin of a cocktail shaker or a pint glass for stirring.

Mixing glass compared

Cocktail shakerShake drinks that include juice, cream, milk or egg. Stir drinks of clear spirits only in a mixing glass instead.
Rocks glassA serving glass can double as the mixing glass for some drinks, such as the Old Fashioned.

Related terms

Put it to use in your next drink

Garçon explains every step as you make the drink.