Cocktail / Martini Glass
5-8 ozThe iconic V-shaped stemmed glass — once the default for every cocktail, now largely replaced by the coupe in craft bars.
History
Origin
The V-shaped martini glass evolved from earlier cocktail glasses in the late 19th century. Early cocktail glasses were smaller and more rounded, but the dramatic V-shape became iconic during the Art Deco period of the 1920s-1930s, when angular geometric forms dominated design. The conical shape was a deliberate aesthetic statement — modern, sharp, sophisticated — perfectly aligned with the Jazz Age.
Evolution
The martini glass grew continuously larger through the 20th century. What started as a 3-4 oz glass in the 1930s became the absurd 8-10 oz "tini" glasses of the 1990s Cosmopolitan era. This size inflation, combined with the glass's notorious tippiness, led craft bartenders to abandon it in favor of the coupe starting around 2005. Today, the V-shaped glass is more of a cultural icon than a working bar tool.
Why This Shape
The wide, open cone was designed to keep olive and cherry garnishes visible and accessible. The V-shape also prevents ingredients from settling at the bottom of a curved bowl. The stem keeps the hand away from the bowl, which matters because martinis are served without ice. However, the wide rim accelerates warming and the high center of gravity makes it the most spill-prone cocktail glass ever designed.
Fun Fact
The oversized martini glass became so associated with the late-1990s "cocktail culture" (think Sex and the City Cosmopolitans) that when serious bartenders wanted to signal a return to craft, abandoning the martini glass for the coupe was the single most visible statement they could make.
Best For
Substitutes
Bartender's Tip
Most craft bars have moved to coupes because the wide V-shape spills easily and warms drinks faster. But for a classic Martini presentation, nothing else looks right. If a guest specifically asks for a Martini glass, they mean this one.