The Home Bar - Glassware

The holiday season has arrived!  Lift your spirits with a home bar upgrade and get your glassware in order. The dark nights are upon us and outdoor drinking in a pub or restaurant garden has limited appeal once the temperature drops.  If you haven't done so already, it's a good time to give your glassware an overhaul, as the festive season gets underway.

It's easy to make do at home, but why sip your Hendricks from an old tumbler, when you can enjoy a G & T in a big, beautiful, balloon shaped gin glass with all the botanical trimmings. Drinking from the 'right' glass isn't just an affectation, top glass brands claim the shapes are designed so that certain flavors hit specific taste buds. So Pinot Noir in a Burgundy glass will actually taste better. Flutes, coupes, tumblers, highballs and more, we've got it covered, so elevate your home bar experience with this gorgeous glassware.  There are so many style choices, choose what you love or coordinate with your interior design style.

THE SAUCER

Not just for champagne, Holly Tudor, Cocktail Development at The Alchemist says, 'Wide saucers pair amazingly well with an after dinner classic like the espresso martini. A glass that is ultra modern will add a touch of elegance to your home bar, and will stand out on those special cocktail occasions.'

To make an espresso martini at home Holly says 'Add 30ml of vodka (or dark rum if you fancy a twist) 15ml of coffee liqueur, 10ml of sugar syrup and 1 shot of fresh espresso to a cocktail shaker and shake hard for 15 seconds or until condensations forms on the outside of the shaker. Fine strain into your cocktail saucer and garnish with espresso beans.' Make them chocolate covered for the ultimate treat!

THE HIGH BALL

Ripple effect highball glasses will add a touch of flair to your home bar experience.  A tall glass shape lends itself really well for putting a slightly different spin on a refreshing drink such as the Paloma.

Paloma Cocktail Ingredients

A traditional Paloma cocktail consists of tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda. My recipe is a fresher version of this classic combination. Here’s what’s in it:

• Tequila – Use any good-quality blanco tequila in this recipe. I prefer Casa Migos, but feel free to use your favorite!
• Grapefruit juice and club soda – I swap the traditional grapefruit soda for a mix of grapefruit juice and sparkling water. For the best flavor, use freshly squeezed grapefruit juice!
• Lime juice – Along with the grapefruit juice, it makes this drink deliciously tart.
• Agave nectar or simple syrup – Because I don’t use soda in this recipe, I balance the sour/tart flavor of the grapefruit and lime with something sweet. I call for a small amount of agave or simple syrup, but don’t hesitate to add more to taste.
• Salt – For the rim of your glass! I like to use coarse sea salt, but kosher salt would work here too.
• Ice – A paloma cocktail is always better on the rocks!

Rub the rim of a highball glass or margarita glass with a grapefruit wedge, and dip it in a small plate of salt. Add the tequila, grapefruit juice, sparkling water, lime juice, and sweetener to the glass, stir to combine, and add ice to fill the glass. Sweeten to taste, and garnish with a grapefruit or lime wedge. Enjoy!

(Image credit: Ferm Living)

THE MARTINI GLASS

For a simple yet elegant home bar evening, pair a beautiful martini glass with a classic cocktail. The long stems of martini glasses will keep your drink colder for longer - resulting in a sophisticated yet practical glass for your evening tipple.  The classic shape and timeless design of this cocktail glass bring a sophistication to any party.  If it's going to be a classic martini, I prefer mine dirty.  EXTRA dirty!

The dirty martini has a pleasant saltiness that is fascinating against the gin and dry vermouth background. "Dirty" simply refers to the addition of olive juice or brine. It's a classic cocktail that is very easy to mix up and one of the most popular variations on the original gin martini.

You can make this drink as dirty as you like by pouring the olive juice to suit your taste. It may take a few rounds to find a perfect balance for you, but the experiments are fun. As you explore different brands of gin, you will want to make adjustments as well.  You can also substitute the gin for vodka, which is what I prefer!

(Image credit: Cash's Irelend)

THE LARGE WINE GLASS

Choosing a glass for a spritzer doesn’t need to take a lot of thought, you can use the same wine glass you usually use for your Sauvignon. However, you’ll want to make sure there’s enough room in there for ample wine and soda - plus Aperol and Prosecco, if you're still dreaming of summer.  The season calls for Mulled Wine Christmas Sangria.  This festively-spiced mulled wine sangria is Christmas in a glass! With wintery flavors of citrus, blackberry, pomegranate, apple cider and cinnamon, it’s an inventive twist on a Spanish cocktail party favorite.

Red wine sangrias are commonly made with Rioja, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon or Pino Noir, and you don’t need to splurge on a fancy wine to get a wonderfully tasting sangria.  It will be so flavored by the spices, fruits, brandy and juice that any subtle or complex notes of a fine wine will be lost, so don’t feel obligated to use a fancy bottle that you’ve been saving for a special occasion.

• In a pot, pour 1 bottle of red wine, 1 cup apple cider and ¼ cup of honey. Add 3 cinnamon sticks and 1 tsp. of cloves in a tea egg (or wrapped in cheese cloth and tied with baker’s string). Place a lid on top and simmer on very low heat for 20 minutes. Never allow it to boil.
• While the wine simmers with the cider, spices and honey, slice 1 green apple, 1 orange, 1 lemon and 1 lime. 
• When finished, pour mulled wine into a jug or container with sliced fruit, ½ cup of blackberries and ½ cup cranberries. Add ¼ cup of brandy, stir gently and refrigerate for 2-3 hours until cold.
• For garnish, thinly slice 1 lemon, 1 lime, and 1 green apple. Add ice to glasses and pour sangria, adding some of the drunken fruit, and leaving some room for fresh fruit. Add blackberries, pomegranate seeds, cranberries, and sliced fruit with optional star anise and herbal-floral garnish. 

(Image credit: Pinterest)

THE HEAVY BASED TUMBLER

A heavy based tumbler is your best bet when it comes to sipping whiskey, vodka or any other spirits on the rocks.  Whiskey glasses are perfect for one of the oldest cocktails going, the Manhattan

• 2 ounces rye whiskey
• 1 ounce Carpano Antica Formula or other sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
• Ice
• 1 maraschino cherry, for garnish

THE FLUTE AND COUPE

Champagne, Prosecco, Cava or English Sparkling wine; whatever your choice of fizz, serving it in an elegant flute will add to the sense of celebration, as you can see the bubbles shoot to the surface. 

Of course, the coupe has become popular again, and looks both elegant and decadent, but drinks are easily spilt, so best for those who remain well behaved after a glass or two. 

THE BALLOON GLASS

It's not our imagination, a festive cocktail really does taste better in a beautiful big balloon glass. There's ample room for plenty of ice to keep the drink cool - and the big bowl shape let's those botanicals breathe and land on your palette just where they're going to taste best.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post.  Interior design isn't just about the space.  It's also about what's in the space.  

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In addition to being a Philadelphia Multifamily Interior Designer,  I also design boutique hotels, fitness centers, office spaces, residential development projects, other commercial spaces such as office and retail spaces, and the senior living community throughout the tri state area.  We work here in Philadelphia, the main line, and even Nationally!