Schott Zwiesel Classic

Choose on shape, not on capacity alone. The 33.4 cl tumbler is low and wide, which keeps the aroma of whisky or rum close to the rim and leaves room for a large block of ice. The 36.8 cl long drink glass is tall and narrow, and that is exactly what a drink with tonic or cola needs: less surface area means the carbonation lasts longer. Six is the usual trade pack, handy when one gets broken now and then. More sizes are among the long drink glasses.

Fill a long drink glass right up with ice first and only then pour, because ice dropped onto a drink lets the carbonation escape. For a gin tonic that means: glass full of ice, gin in, tonic poured down the side and one gentle stir. An old fashioned belongs in the low tumbler instead, stirred and poured over a large block. Water goes into either without ice if you are drinking wine with the meal. For milk or juice, use the same long drink glass without ice.

Schott Zwiesel makes these glasses from Tritan crystal glass, in which titanium and zirconium give a harder rim that chips less easily. They are dishwasher safe and keep their shine even after hundreds of cycles. Load them upright and with space between them. Drying them off with a linen cloth while the glass is still lukewarm prevents limescale marks. Put them away upright after drying and do not stack them inside one another.

Everything from this brand is at Schott Zwiesel; note that Zwiesel Glas is a separate line with its own ranges. If you are looking specifically for whisky, take a look at the whisky glasses. An ice bucket on the table saves walking back and forth to the freezer. If you work in hospitality and replace glasses regularly, six per box is exactly the size that keeps a cupboard stocked.