Looking to stock your home bar?
You’ll need some glasses.
But not just any glasses. You need the BEST cocktail glasses.
You want bar glasses that:
- Impress your friends & family
- Enhance your drinking experience
- Last for decades
…not that cheap crap that screams “I shop at Dollar Tree”.
Because the last thing you want is for your friends to have a drink at your place and notice how your glassware feels like plastic, smells like a factory, and breaks in half if an ice cube hits it the wrong way.
I’d never wish that upon you–or even my worst enemy.
That’s why our team launched a full-on investigation to find the best cocktail glassware money can buy that’s both high-quality and affordable.
And boy, did we find some good stuff.
In this article, I’ll reveal the best cocktail glasses for 2023 by category based on our doctoral thesis on the subject (not a real one…just an exaggeration on the amount of research…but it still was a lot of research, k?).
Note: this article contains affiliate links meaning we get a small commission for any purchase you make at no extra cost to you.
The Best Cocktail Glasses by Category in 2023
Best Rocks Glass
Libbey Heavy Base Rocks Cocktail Glasses, Set of 12
Price: $34.99
Libbey is one of the top glassware manufacturers in America and this set of elegant, sturdy, and durable glasses offers an incredible value. For around $35, you can get 12 high-quality rocks glasses to stock your bar. This is an Amazon’s Choice product and has an aggregate score of 4.7 stars from 1,500+ reviews.
Best Shot Glass
BCnmviku 1.5 oz Heavy Base Shot Glasses, Set of 4
Price: $12.99
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel when you’re looking for shot glasses. You just need sturdy and durable glasses that will last. That’s exactly what you’ll find with the BCnmviku shot glasses. These shot glasses have an aggregate score of 4.7 stars from nearly 4,500 reviews. And for under $15, you can get 4 of them. It’s a no-brainer.
Best Highball
Godinger Highball Glasses, Set of 4
Price: $16.95
With a 4.6-star aggregate rating from 1,100+ reviews, the Godinger highball glasses are known for their sturdiness, durability, and style. They’re also lead-free, dishwasher safe, and Italian-made. Highballs are a must at your bar and this set gives you a great bang for your buck.
Best Red Wine Glass
Hand Blown Italian Style Crystal Bordeau Wine Glasses, Set of 4
Price: $35.99
These light-weight wine glasses are some of the best value glasses you can buy. They’re designed with lead-free crystal, a thin rim (that doesn’t get in the way of the flow of wine to your lips), and a perfectly sized bowl that allows your wine to breathe freely. They have an aggregate 4.5-star rating from 3,000+ reviews.
Best White Wine Glass
Paksh Novelty Italian White Wine Glasses, Set of 4
Price: $24.99
These high-class, modern white wine glasses are lead-free, dishwasher safe, and Italian-made. They feature a stable base, elegant stem, wide bowl, and laser-cut rim to give you a glass that treats your wine like the work of art it is. And if you’re a wine connoisseur, that’s exactly what you’re looking for.
Best Coupe Glass
Libbey Capone Speakeasy Coupe Cocktail Glasses, Set of 4
Price: $29.99
As yet another Libbey glass on this list, the Capone Speakeasy Coupe Glasses have that irresistible vintage style. But they have so much more than their looks. They’re also lead-free, dishwasher safe, and an Amazon’s Choice product with an aggregate of 4.7 stars from 1,000+ reviews.
Best Whiskey Tasting Glass
Glencairn Whiskey Glass in Gift Carton, Set of 4
Price: $29.95
You can’t be a true whiskey connoisseur without owning some Glencairn glasses. And this gift set comes with 4 of them for just under $30. These are official Glencairn tasting glasses that are specifically designed to direct aromas to your nose as you sip–accentuating the subtle flavors in your whiskey or bourbon.
Cool Cocktail Glasses
If you care less about the utility of your glass and more about how it looks, boy, do we have some great picks for you.
Liquid Activated Multicolor LED Lowball Glasses, Set of 8
Price: $34.99
These glasses are like light-up Sketchers for adults. They light up in all kinds of colors whenever your liquid hits the glass. And while these have no additional utility when compared to the other lowball glasses on our list, they certainly are brighter. Yep…
Tiki Mugs Cocktail, Set of 4
Price: $40.95
Looking for some highball glasses with a bit more style? These Tiki mugs are perfect for Pina Coladas, Daquiris, and other tropical cocktails. They might not impact the flavor of the drink, but they’ll certainly look cooler than your normal glass.
SNOWFOX Insulated Stainless Steel Martini and Margarita Glasses, Set of 2
Price: $34.99
Ever like enjoying a martini or margarita by the pool? Of course you do, you aren’t a monster. But this glass is (in a good way). It’s designed by a company (Snowfox) who specializes in insulated cups and coolers, and through their glass, they give you possibly the best pool-side cocktail glass out there. It keeps your drink cold, your hands warm, your friends jealous, and you buzzin’.
SNOWFOX Insulated Stainless Steel Old Fashioned Glasses, Set of 2
Price: $34.99
Making the list because it’s cool, both literally and figuratively (got ‘eeeem), these durable, insulated old fashioned glasses are perfect for sipping on anything that fits in them while you wander around outside. Pretty much anything works well in here–wine, cocktails, straight bourbon, whatever the crap you wanna put in there. If you don’t like the weird shape of the Snowfox martini/margarita glass, this is a great alternative.
High-End Cocktail Glasses
Looking for the best of the best? Have no budget for your barware? Then these high-end cocktail glasses are for you.
Dragon Glassware Cocktail Glasses, Set of 2
Price: $39.99
These double-walled martini glasses will make you feel like you’re living in Game of Thrones (they are made by Dragon Glassware after all). It looks like a martini glass a kind would have on their barcart. Besides the sweet design, it also is refrigerator safe, lead-free, and easy to clean.
Riedel Nick & Nora Cocktail Glasses, Set of 4
Price: $33
No bar is complete without the classic Nick & Nora coupe glasses. And these glasses from Riedel are among the top rated out there. They’re specifically designed to deliver your drink perfectly to the mid-palate, so you don’t have to tilt your head back. Reviewers say they’re durable, sturdy, and an overall good value.
A29 Moscow Mule Copper Mugs, Set of 4
Price: $44.99
If you like yourself some Moscow Mules, you know that you have to have a copper mug. Simply no other glass will do.
And these are 100% copper, premium Moscow Mule mugs–which means they get the job done. They keep your drink cold and improve flavor by neutralizing impurities and tartness.
Venero Crystal Whiskey Glasses, Set of 4
Price: $59.99
Whiskey drinkers understand that high-end spirits need high-end glasses. And these rocks glasses fit the bill. They’re 10 .oz, their thick walls and base help your drink maintain its temperature and remain durable, and they’re made from the “finest quality crystal” (according to their site). That last claim is pretty unverifiable, but who cares?
These whiskey glasses enhance your whiskey-drinking experience with their elegance and style. And it’s scientifically proven (unscientifically) that having super bougie glasses makes you look like a boss.
Which Cocktail Glasses Are You Gonna Get?
As you can see, there’s a lot to consider when buying barware. Heck, we even wrote an entire article on all the different types of cocktail glasses.
The key thing to remember, especially if you’re on a budget, is that you can purchase a few versatile glasses.
You don’t have to have one of every category.
For instance, instead of a shot glass, you can do a Redneck shot and pour straight liquor into a solo cup.
I’m going to pause while your imagination gives you a picture you won’t forget…
A few versatile glasses (like a rocks, an insulated glass, and some highballs) can do pretty much all you need.
But if you really like a certain drink, like wine, you need to add that drink-specific glass to your list. There’s a reason they make specific glasses for specific drinks.
