Why Glassware Matters in Every Cocktail

The Glass Makes the Sip: Why Glassware Matters in Every Cocktail

At Durham Distillery, we believe the cocktail enjoying experience doesn’t just come from what’s in the glass, it’s also shaped by the glass itself. From the weight in your hand to the way aromas rise, the right glass elevates the spirit, deepens the experience, and crafts the perfect moment

Here’s a look at five essential glassware styles we love, and how each plays its part in bringing out the best in your cocktail or spirit.

The Glencairn: A Whisky Lover’s Ritual

Glencairn glasses filled with whisky showcasing tasting glassware — Two Glencairn glasses filled with whisky — a glassware design made to concentrate aroma and enhance the tasting experience.

The Glencairn glass isn’t just a whisky vessel—it’s a ceremony. Its tulip shape is designed to capture and concentrate aromas, helping you truly smell before you sip. The heavy base provides balance, while the narrow mouth directs the whisky to the right part of your tongue.

Whether you’re sipping on our Distillers Tasting Experience young whiskies, or one of our future releases, the Glencairn slows you down. It invites you to savour, observe and experience whisky the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

The Rocks Glass: Simple. Strong. Versatile.

Classic Negroni cocktail served in a rocks glass with orange garnish — The iconic Negroni, served in a classic rocks glass, shows how the right cocktail glass enhances both flavor and presentation.

Sometimes called an Old Fashioned or lowball glass, the rocks glass is a staple, as it is perfect for spirit-forward cocktails like a Negroni, Boulevardier, or enjoying spirits on the rocks.

Its wide mouth gives ice the space to move and melt just right. The heft in your hand adds presence to the pour. And for us at Durham Distillery, it’s the glass we imagine in every local bar where our small-batch spirits anchor the backbar.

The Coupe: Elegance Meets Restraint

Green kiwi drink in a coupe cocktail glass showcasing stylish glassware — A vibrant “Flightless Bird” made with kiwi, cocktail served in a classic coupe glass.

Its shallow, wide bowl allows the spirit’s aroma to open up instantly, while the stem keeps your hand from warming the drink. The coupe feels vintage, intentional, and elegant.

The Highball: Tall, Bright, and Balanced

Two Canadian Caesar cocktails in tall highball glasses with garnishes — Two Canadian Caesars served in tall highball glasses — a classic example of how glassware shapes Canada’s most iconic cocktail.

Built for simplicity and refreshment, the highball glass is your go-to for longer, lighter drinks. Think vodka sodas, gin and tonics, or highball-style whisky cocktails.

Its tall, narrow frame preserves carbonation and encourages a perfect ice-to-liquid ratio. When you’re enjoying something built with bright citrus, effervescence, or crisp botanicals, this is the glass that carries it best.

The Goblet: Bold Flavour, Built to Impress

Purple Rain Gin cocktail in a large gin goblet with garnish — Purple Rain Gin served in a classic gin goblet, where the balloon-shaped glass enhances the aroma and elevates every sip

The goblet is the most dramatic of the five. It’s big, curvaceous, and made to amplify both aroma and impact, great for spiced cocktails, botanical creations, or anything involving bold ingredients and robust garnishes.

At Durham Distillery, we see the goblet as a stage. It’s where deep flavour profiles come alive, and where a little drama is more than welcome.

Real Flavour, Real Glass

Great cocktails aren’t rushed, and great glassware isn’t optional. When you match the right glass with the right spirit, you invite every note to shine—aroma, temperature, texture, and taste.

Because at Durham Distillery, we don’t just say real tastes better. We design every part of the experience to prove it.