Bartending 101: Glassware

Every good bar is stocked with nice glassware. If you're looking to build a basic selection for a small at-home bar, you're going to want to at least have a few of these four different types of glassware:

Highball: Highball glasses are typically used in drink that have a high proportion of mixer to liquor, like rum and cokes, gin and tonics, and scotch and sodas. They generally hold 8 to 12 ounces.



Lowball: A lowball glass, also known as an Old Fashioned Glass or Rocks glass, is a smaller glass that is generally used for alcohol served on ice, or "on the rocks," as the name implies. 6 ro 8 ounces is a standard rocks glass size.



Red Wine Glass: This doesn't need much explanation other than it's okay to also serve white wine in this glass, if you are just starting your glassware collection and it's either one or the other.



Shot Glass: Though there are a wide variety of shot glasses available in thousands of shapes and sizes, a standard single shotglass is 1.5 ounces and used for serving shots or to measure alcohol into mixed cocktails.



If you've got all those and you're looking to expand your assortment, you might consider the following:

Beerware: A pint glass is the perfect vessel for your draft beer if you're lucky enough to have the space and resources available to keep kegs in your home bar. Frosted mugs always are appreciated when serving suds, and although a Pilsner glass is traditionally for beer, margaritas, pina coladas and other frozen cocktails present beautifully in this tall, slender glass.

Martini and Margarita Glasses: Shaken or stirred, you're going to want a martini glass to serve the traditional olive-laden drink, as well as trendy drinks like Cosmopolitans and Chocolate Martinis with swirls of chocolate sauce decorating the inside of the glass. And a salt-rimmed margarita glass is a perfect presentation for on the rocks and frozen tequila delight.

Irish Coffee Glass: Topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with cinnamon or chocolate shavings, this glass makes an Irish coffee or any other hot drink look good!

Glass with Class

It is a fact that the proper glass enhances the sensory experience of wine, beer and spirits. Wine aficionados know that there are different glasses for reds and whites, as well as for various dessert wines. And if you're really into the experience, you know that there are glasses for many different varietals. Each varietal-specific glass is tuned to the characteristics of that grape, revealing nuances that would likely be lost in the wrong glass.

Up until about five minutes ago, there had not been a glass specific to Malbec. Argentina's signature red, the Malbec category has been growing steadily over the last few years. Bodegas Graffigna is the oldest winery in the San Juan province of Argentina. Graffigna worked with renowned glass-maker Riedel, and a slew of industry experts, to create an all-new Malbec glass.

The Graffigna Malbec is available at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge. Last week, staff members from both stores attended an industry event in Atlantic City, and had the opportunity to be among the first to enjoy Graffigna Malbec in the Riedel Malbec glass.

All of the rich berry notes fairly jumped out of the glass, with subtle black pepper and toasty highlights coming along for the ride. And that's from a wine that really over-delivers at a BottleClub price of under $11.

Serious wine enthusiasts should look for the Riedel Malbec glassware where they shop for their wine accessories. And everyone looking for a great value in a Malbec should seek out the Graffigna Malbec.