The Best Mixing Glasses, According to Bartenders
There exists a deep cleavage in the taxonomy of cocktails that I learned about as I was starting out as a bartender: One major branch consists of the cocktails you shake, the other the cocktails you stir. Drinks like the daiquiri, margarita, and whiskey sour are made through the violent action of shaking, while the Manhattan, old-fashioned, negroni, and martini are gently stirred before hitting the glass. With few exceptions, drinks that contain opaque liquids like citrus juice and dairy are shaken, and drinks made exclusively with clear liquids, such as spirits, fortified wines, and bitters, are stirred. Stirring a cocktail preserves the silky texture of the components while chilling, mixing, and diluting them. For the most part, these drinks are considered stronger and more spirit-forward than shaken drinks, and the properties of the stirring process allow those characteristics to shine through.
Summary of items we will discuss in this buying guide :
Bull In China Artisan Series Mixing Glass
Final Touch Double-Wall Stainless Steel Yarai Cocktail Mixing Pitcher
Bodum 34oz Chambord French Press Coffee Maker
Ball Glass Mason Jar with Lid and Band, Wide Mouth, 64 Ounces
Our top picks :
Bull In China Artisan Series Mixing Glass
Another hand-crafted option is this mixing glass from Bull In China. It’s an example of how important the aesthetic experience of making a drink can be. Stevan Miller, the beverage director at Esmé, loves the more practical elements of it, such as the high-angled pour spout and durability, but also the pleasing sound it makes when in use thanks to the way ice clinks against irregularities in the glass. “I think it’s beautiful,” he says. “It’s elegant and it makes me happy to make things in it, and I think that’s a big part of having a tool.”
Final Touch Double-Wall Stainless Steel Yarai Cocktail Mixing Pitcher
As I mentioned above, a great option for stirring cocktails is a shaking tin. “Yarai” means “falling arrows” in Japanese and refers to the cross-hatched pattern you see on many mixing glasses modeled in the Japanese style. The metal walls of this pitcher are a lot less dense than glass and conduct heat more readily, allowing the drink to reach its optimal temperature and dilution faster and with less ice. This pitcher comes recommended by Lynnette Marrero, chief mixologist at Delola and a Masterclass teacher. “I’m a big fan of the metal mixing tins,” Marrero says. “I don’t think you need the glass at home. And especially if you’re not using your tools all the time and they’re on a shelf, they can get knocked over very easily.”
Bodum 34oz Chambord French Press Coffee Maker
It’s not so much of a stretch to imagine that something used to make coffee can also be used to make cocktails, especially since half of the experts I spoke with said it was one of their favorite alternative mixing glasses. Consultant and educator Don Lee (formerly of Existing Conditions, Momofuku, and PDT) advises “anyone who’s like, ‘I need to make multiple drinks,’ to just use the French press you probably already have. You don’t need more martinis at once than you need cups of coffee.” Marrero also points to its convenience. The plunger can double as a strainer, allowing her to make a big batch, throw it in the fridge, and let guests help themselves at their leisure.
Ball Glass Mason Jar with Lid and Band, Wide Mouth, 64 Ounces
When it comes to batching, Lee says that a Ball jar is indispensable, however unglamorous it might seem. “What I tell people is to look deep within themselves and ask if they are just looking for a means to an end or just want the aesthetic,” he says. He advises those with no ego and nothing to prove to follow his lead. “Seriously, I mostly use Ball jars. You can use the big half-gallon one if you really need to make a lot. The lid means you can transport it too.”
