by Evelina Shmukler | photography by Amanda McCoy

Whether slender and tall, short and squat, or small and delicate, the shape of the glass is intended to accentuate the flavor of the liquid inside it.
The tall, thin champagne glass helps keep the bubbly cold and, well, bubbly, while the larger, rounder red wine glass is perfect for swirling the wine, releasing the aroma, while the narrower opening concentrates the bouquet upward toward the nose.
Depending on the design, the glass also can direct the liquid to the part of the tongue that will appreciate it most: the center of the tongue for high-tannin wines with moderate acidity such as cabernet sauvignons; and the tip of the tongue for wine with medium tannin and high acidity, such as a burgundy or pinot noir. A white wine glass is narrower, both because white wines don’t usually need to “breathe” as much as their red counterparts, and because the thinner shape, like that of its close relative, the flute, helps keep the wine chilled. Grasping the stem will keep the temperature of the liquid steady, but the newer stemless glasses can give a more casual, contemporary feel.

For cocktails, the glass is as practical as it is a pleasure to hold: the stumpy lowball tumbler is ideal for clinking the ice from a drink served on the rocks. The long stem of the martini glass helps keep the cocktail cold without ice. The diminutive shot glass keeps the vodka or tequila to a manageable portion.
Even glasses for beer highlight the flavor of the beverage. Specialty beers, in particular, usually have their own glasses shaped to bring out the flavor and aroma of the drink.
So, choosing the right glass does make a difference.

TOP: Martini glass by Mikasa • Shot glass by Mikasa • Siren champagne flute by Waterford • Tumbler by Mikasa • Cherry cordial glass by Mikasa | Dillard’s • Edgewater Mall, Gulfport