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The Amateur Bartender
Lesson #4: Glassware Basics
by Rodger Luck

Most people visiting you at home are not going to be too picky about the type of glass you put their drink in. They most likely will be satisfied if it tastes right. On the other hand, you can add an air of sophistication to your party or get-together by having certain specialized cocktail glasses instead of your family's usual glassware.

Basic high balls should go in something simple, like tumblers that come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The only thing to remember here is that in a bar, juice drinks, like a screwdriver, are typically served in glasses with a slightly larger volume than basic mixed drinks, like a bourbon and coke.

Other than basic high balls and juice drinks most specialty drinks are served in stemware, from martinis to margaritas. Selecting the right glass is only a matter of visiting a store that has a large variety of glassware and asking for a specific glass for a specific type of drink. Martini glasses are tall stem glasses with an inverted cone at the top. In addition, any drink that can be served "up" as an option can go in a martini glass. Manhattan glasses often will be similar but the cone will be more slender. Margaritas look great in just about any type of stem glass, as long as the total volume is about 12 oz. or more.

Beer is usually served in a glass that holds about 12 to 16 ounces. There are as many different sizes and shapes as there are beers, but a simple 16 oz. pint beer glass (that also doubles as a shaker glass) can fill that bill perfectly, especially when chilled in the freezer.

During the coldest months of the year, I usually enjoy sipping some sort of brandy or cognac. In order to enjoy the aromatic nature of these liqueurs you will need what is called a snifter (sometimes known as a brandy snifter). It's a glass that looks like a large bowl on a short stem with a smaller mouth. That enclosed area holds the liqueur's vapors in order to enhance the pleasure of sipping. You can speed up the aromatic process by either warming up the glass beforehand using hot water or heating the glass and fluid over a small open flame.

My Winter's End Drink Recommendations

Grand Marnier liqueur 1.5 oz.
Served in a brandy snifter (optionally heated)

Porfidio Anejo tequila 1.5 oz. (if you can still find it!)
Served in a brandy snifter (not heated)

Please send questions or comments to rluck@TheSingleLife.com.

Rodger Luck is currently a software developer residing in South Carolina. He gained his bar experience while in college and has maintained his expertise over the years by working in just about every type of bar, restaurant or nightclub you can imagine.

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