What is that glass called? a very quick guide to Glassware

Thinking of raising your glass for a toast - if it's champagne or sparkling wine you're drinking, you'll want to be raising a champagne flute, if you will be lifting a beer high, you'll be toasting with your mug! There are a wide variety of bar glasses out there - here's a quick guide to the most common types of glass drink ware:

Flute - tall and narrow, the shape of this glass is designed to minimize the surface area of the drink so that your champagne will retain the carbonation (that is why they call it bubbly!) the stem is so that the temperature of your hand will not affect the temperature of the drink

Beer Mugs - these go by stein or tankard, but most often are called mugs.  They are large, roughly cylindrical and have a single handle.  Steins or tankards have been made in a variety of materials, but are most often made out of glass for hygienic reasons since the introduction of glass beer mugs to the Oktoberfest in 1892.

Pilsner Glasses - these are also for the beer drinkers out there, but there's no handle on these glasses and they are often a lighter weight than a mug, but with a broad top to maintain a beer head.

Snifters - typically used for brandy or cognac, and is also referred to as a balloon.  A snifter is a short stemmed glass with a wide bowl with a narrow top.  Unlike a champagne flute, these glasses have a short stem so that the hand will warm the liquid.  The narrow top is to trap the aroma of the drink inside the glass as the smell is a big part of the enjoyment of these drinks. 

High Ball Glass - a high ball glass holds 8 to 12 fluid oz, and is used to serve a high ball or other mixed drinks.  A high ball glass is taller than an old fashioned glass and will be shorter and wider than a Collins glass.

Cocktail Glass - often referred to as a martini glass, this is a stemmed glass with a cone shaped bowl over a flat base.  Similar to the champagne flute, the long stem is designed so the drink stays cool and is not warmed by the hand.  The wide surface area puts the drink directly under the drinkers nose to enjoy the scent of the cocktail. 

Rocks Glasses - is pretty much what the name implies, a glass used to serve drinks like whiskey with ice (rocks).  A Rocks Glass would be a short, and often sturdy feeling, tumbler. 

There are still more types of bar ware out there - like shot glasses, mixing glasses, even margarita glasses, but the name generally says it all for these specialty glasses.  When you stock your bar, you'll need to have the basics in mugs, wine glasses, shot glasses and mixing glasses.  After that, it all depends on what you plan to be serving!