Tumblers are the general form of glasses used to serve liquids. There is no specific size for the tumbler which may range from 12 oz. capacity to 20 oz. Although there is no specific shape for the tumbler , the commonly used form constitutes of a circular base with a conical side that ends in a relatively wide rim. Bars and pubs frequently use them as liquor glasses instead of the highball glass or a Collins glass.
The tumbler is not confined to glass any more. Modern day tumblers are also made of plastic or stainless steel though glass remains the preferred material of choice. The design has been altered over the years too with the flat base being replaced by rounded or tapering ones and artistic etchings on the sides of the drinking containers being the most coveted type by households. It has become an indispensible part of barware too with most of them storing these inexpensive glassware by the dozens.
The simplicity of design has made it the most functional item in any household and it is used to serve every kind of liquid from plain water to hard liquor. Most of the drinking glasses are now avsilable in sets of 4 or 6.
Crystal glasses shaped in the form of a tumbler are also increasingly used at private parties and high end eateries which serve good quality alcohol.
History of Tumblers
The earliest evidence of the tumbler could be retrieved from the documents of the pre Christian Roman era with the containers being hand blown into large globules of glass. The rounded base resulted in the container tumbling over which most probably led to the flattening of the base later.
An alternate theory about the name stems from the 17th century Venice glass maker who were known as “Venice glass tumblers”. The first machine for pressing the glass tumbler was invented in the 19th century by a glass maker caller Deming Jarves.
How to Use Bar Tumblers
- Chilled liqueurs and iced drinks are served in glass tumblers.
- Acrylic tumblers are often used in high end eateries.
- Colorful plastic tumbler glasses are used for serving children in schools and are part of the utensils in cafeterias.
- Porcelain glasses are used to serve hot beverages.
- Insulated tumbler is a part of thermos flasks and other containers meant for storage.
- It is a part of drink mixing barware.
Types of Bar Tumblers
- Whiskey Tumbler- Thin walled glass used for pouring a single shot of whiskey.
- Dizzy Cocktail Glass- A wide and shallow rimmed glass without a stem.
- Old Fashioned Glass- Used for serving cocktails and drinks on the rocks
- Ordinary Tumbler Glass- Used for serving water and fruit juices.
- Pilsner glass- Used for serving beers like lager and ale.
- Pint glass- Used for serving cider or beer. Often used as a measuring glass.
- Schooner- Australian tumbler used to serve beer.
- Handle- A beer glass used by bars in New Zealand.
Bar Tumblers: Advantages
- Available in a wide range of size and shapes.
- Glass tumblers are easy to clean and sparkle in light.
- Liquids can be retained for a long time without being spilled over sloshed easily.
- Insulated tumblers can be used to retain the liquid at ideal temperature.
- Different kinds of glasses used for different purposes help in measuring the quantity of liquid to be served.
Bar Tumblers: Disadvantages
- Glassware tends to break easily.
- Chance of injury by shards of broken glass.
- Cannot be stored together in a small area.
- Whiskey tumblers are not preferred by connoisseurs of liquor as it does not allow the aroma to get out fully.
Maintenance of Bar Tumblers
- Soaking the dirty drinking glasses with warm water can help in removing the stains completely.
- Using soapy water can help to clean glassware adequately.
- Most of the tumblers are dish washer safe and can be loaded together.
- Hard water causes stains to appear on the drinking tumblers which can be removed by setting the temperature of the dishwasher to 140 degrees.
- Washing expensive tumblers by hand is recommended in order to get rid of the etchings and grainy films on the surface.
- Cleaning solutions are frequently used to clean liquor glasses used in bars.
- Polishing the glass tumblers with a soft linen cloth is usually done by the bartenders in order to keep the liquor serving glasses sparkling.
Trivia
Five blue colored bar tumblers have been recovered from the Blue China ship wreck site at Jacksonville.
