Drinking glasses are part of glassware or drinkware utilized for sipping liquids. They may be plain in design meant for holding juice, milk or water along with specialized designs like the Collins glass or champagne flutes which are used for serving liquor either at home or a bar.

While glass is the preferred material of a drinking glass, it can also be bought in plastic or stainless steel. Pewter and silver glassware include drinking glasses although these are not used for drinking purposes any more and are ornamental items that get to be displayed as antiques.

The special design distinguishes the drinking glass from the other drinking utensils like cups or mugs. The main criterion of designing a glass is the lack of a handle. Manufacturers usually produce the glasses in identical sets of 6 or 12 each and most restaurants and bars buy them in bulk for daily use.

History of Drinking Glasses

The first glass for drinking can be traced back to the Middle East of 3,000 BC. The manufacture of glass resulted in creating a number of utensils but the material was unstable and considered to be extremely precious. The average drinking cup or glass was not made of glass commonly but became more popular with the improved techniques of glass making in Italy. Drinkware made of glass started being seen in taverns and pubs post 1890.

Types of Bar Drinking Glasses

Glasses used to serve liquor, liqueur or cocktails in a bar are known as barwares commonly. The bar drinking glasses vary in shape and size according to their functionality. The wine and champagne glasses contain a thin, tapering stem and can also be classifies as stemware. Some of the commonest drinking glasses used in bars and eateries include:-

• Beer Glasses- Pilsner glasses are made of thick glass and are narrow and tall. It is ideal for keeping the beer cold. The other types of drinkware associated with the beer cannot be termed as glasses as they all contain handles.
• Champagne Flutes- A thin and delicate glass sitting on a stem is known as a flute used exclusively for serving champagne.
• Wine Glasses- A wide bowl like container atop a stem is usually known as a red wine glass. The wide surface area lets the wine to breathe without any loss of aroma. The white wine is served in a slightly narrower glass which is often referred as being tulip shaped. All wine glasses are stemmed in direct contrast to more plain designs of drinking glasses used for hard liquor.
• Shot Glasses- A small sized drinking glass used for serving vodka, martinis and whiskey.
• Snifters- A rounded bowl like glass which allows the temperature of the hands  to warm the brandy within the glass.

Trivia

Drinking glasses were designed with a folded foot in medieval England until the early part of 1800.