Onis Can Cocktail Glass 47 Cl - 6 Pieces
RCR Alkemist Gin and Tonic Glass 67 Cl - 6 Pieces
Tiki Glass 45 Cl
Bormioli Rocco America'20S Gin and Tonic Glass 74 Cl - 6 Pieces
The classic sour glass
A sour glass, also called a Delmonico glass, is a small glass on a short stem, with a bowl that flares slightly at the top, holding 12 to 18 cl. It dates back to the nineteenth century, when a sour was a small, strong drink: 6 cl of liquor, lemon and sugar, shaken and served without ice. Its narrow shape kept the egg white foam together nicely.
You can still find it in old cocktail books and on auction sites. In modern bars, it has been replaced by the coupe and tumbler because sours have gotten larger and are more often served over ice.
Which glass now for a sour?
Two options. Over ice: a 30 to 35 cl tumbler or old fashioned glass, with one large ice cube, as most bars serve a whiskey sour. Without ice, straight up: a 20 to 25 cl coupe or a Nick & Nora glass. The coupe gives the egg white foam a wide surface, and the stem keeps your hand away from the cold drink.
A pisco sour is traditionally served straight up in a coupe or small wine glass, with three drops of bitters on the foam. An amaretto sour and a New York sour are served over ice in a tumbler.
The foam and the glass
A sour made with egg white or aquafaba has a one-centimeter foam layer that only stays beautiful if you dry shake it and pour it all at once. A glass with a wide surface shows off the foam; a tall, narrow glass does not. Read our article on cocktail foam.
So choose a coupe or a tumbler and forget the historical sour glass, unless you have one and like your drinks small. You can find all shapes in our cocktail glasses.
The right glass
The Onis Bespoke Nick & Nora glass holds 15.5 cl and is the modern successor to the sour glass, for a sour served straight up. The Royal Leerdam Experts coupe holds 27 cl, with room for a generous layer of foam. Find all the shapes in our cocktail glass collection.
Onis Bespoke Nick & Nora Cocktail Glass 15.5 cl (6 pieces)
Royal Leerdam Experts Coupe 27 cl (6 pieces)
Good to know
How many cl is a whisky sour?
About 12 cl: 5 cl whisky, 3 cl lemon juice, 2 cl sugar syrup and egg white, after shaking with melted ice. On ice in a 30 cl tumbler.
Why is it called a sour?
Named after the sour component, lemon or lime. A sour is the basic formula for many cocktails: spirit, sour and sweet. Read more on our page about the Amsterdam sour and other sours.
Can you serve a sour in a martini glass?
It can work, but the V-shape makes the foam sink and the glass tips over easily. A coupe works better.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sour glass?
A small classic stemmed cocktail glass of 12 to 18 cl, originally for sours without ice. Nowadays replaced by the coupe and tumbler. View our cocktail glasses.
Which glass do you serve a whisky sour in?
On ice in a 30 to 35 cl tumbler or old fashioned glass, or straight up in a 20 to 25 cl coupe.
Which glass for a pisco sour?
A coupe or small wine glass, without ice, with bitters on the foam.
Everything for your bar,
at one address
Cocktail glasses in hospitality-grade quality, delivered in sets. Order today, delivered quickly.
Shop cocktail glasses →
