1. The shape of a martini glass is half tradition, half practicality. It looks James-Bond cool, it's fun to hold, and everyone agrees martinis taste best when frosty cold. The long stem helps the drink stay chilled while keeping your fingers warm.
2. The aromas of a well-made martini are intense and thrilling. The wide, triangular bowl of a martini glass releases the scents so you get a perfect, heady whiff with every sip.
3. The wide, flat champagne glasses of yesterday looked fabulous, but they let out all the bubbles. No bubbles, no fun. Today's tall, narrow champagne flutes mean the sparkle and the giggles last longer.
4. Technically, a margarita is a type of martini, so a martini glass is perfectly appropriate. But the more playful, whimsical margarita glasses seem a better choice for the cheerful, casual cocktail.
5. Cordials usually taste best warmed. Some people even hold their brandy over a candle for a few seconds. The wide, cone-shaped bowl of a cordial glass lets you caress it and warm it with your hands, raising it to the perfect temperature naturally.
6. Half the fun of cocktails (okay, not quite half) is respecting the rich tradition of each type of drink. A martini in a rocks glass? For shame! A manhattan in a wine glass? Blasphemer! Brandy in a snifter? Ahhh — just right.
7. Goblets aren't just practical, they're good fun too! You can't be in a bad mood holding a big goblet swirling with fresh fruit sangria. Create your own tantalizing works of art, dramatic, colorful and sparkly.
8. You'll find the most innovative and stylish names in stemware here, including Alessi, Govino, Hue Phoria and Slant. When it comes to bringing out the best in classic liquors, no one does better than Riedel, Waterford or Spiegelau.
9. Glass or crystal stemware? The difference is mostly how they look empty. Nothing dazzles like genuine crystal in soft candlelight, and crystal glassware stays beautiful for lifetimes. For butter-fingers like us, glass stemware is more practical.
10. Think outside the bottle. We've used the unique, art-deco martini glass as a dramatic presentation for shrimp cocktail appetizers, ceviche and chocolate mousse.
