Small and elegant liqueur glasses are the perfect way to gently introduce your friends and acquaintances to the culture of drinking strong alcoholic beverages.
Compared to traditional glasses and goblets, such products do not abound in a large number of varieties. The standard volume of shot glasses is 25-35 milliliters, so you cannot drink liqueur in sharp sips, otherwise you will not feel the aroma of the drink.
Content
Features of a shot glass
A shot glass is a miniature glass with a maximum capacity of 100 milliliters. Compared to other types of shot glasses, this one has faceted or straight walls.
The word "stopka" got its Russian name due to its volume - 100 grams, although abroad it is usually called a shot glass. The classic volume of a British shot is 45 milliliters. In addition to strong alcohol, it is used for cocktails such as "Oyster" or "B-52".
What You Need to Know When Choosing a Liqueur Shot
Traditionally, sweet liqueurs are served after lunch or dinner, and bitter ones - as an aperitif. If you like to drink alcoholic drinks neat, it is advisable to buy classic-style shot glasses with stems with a maximum capacity of 40 milliliters. If you prefer cocktails, the capacity of the glass can be around 120 milliliters.
Materials
Liqueur glasses may differ in shape, size, absence or presence of decor. At the same time, service life and quality depend on the materials used for their production. Glassware for strong alcoholic drinks is made of:
- glass;
- crystal glass;
- crystal.
Glass
Budget options, which are often used to serve liqueur at home, are made from untempered glass. Light and elegant, it fits harmoniously into any style of serving. The main advantages of such products include:
- attractive price;
- variety of sizes and shapes;
- safety for the environment and human health.
The disadvantage is that such products need to be washed manually. Similar products made of tempered glass are highly resistant to chipping and cracking. You can wash the glasses in a dishwasher.
Crystal
Crystal shot glasses are distinguished by their special shine and the presence of diamond facets. Lead is used in their manufacture, which makes the products more flexible. This process creates conditions for decorating and polishing dishes. In addition, lead gives the finished products a unique crystal shine.
Important! The quality of crystal is determined by how elegantly the decor is applied - a fine mesh or diamonds. Such glasses are created mainly by hand.
Experts consider crystal glasses without lead impurities to be the most environmentally friendly. The only downside of this option is the high price. The glasses are distinguished by their bright shine, absolute transparency and subtle melodic sound.
Crystal glass
If you want to save money, you should buy a set of shot glasses made of crystal glass, which perfectly combines the advantages of both materials. Visually, such glasses resemble glass ones, but they are much more refined, and produce a unique crystal ringing sound.
Characteristic features include:
- lack of decoration;
- resistance to scratches and cracks;
- high strength;
- dishwasher safe.
Crystal glass is much cheaper than classic crystal.
Size and shape
A traditional liqueur shot glass has a maximum capacity of 40 milliliters and looks like a smaller wine glass with a longer stem. The shape of the bowl can be cylindrical or round. Many manufacturers produce varieties in the form of traditional shot glasses.
Shot glasses with a capacity of 80-120 milliliters are used mainly for cocktails. The appearance can be classic or creative. The shape can be square or round.
Design and decorative elements
There are many variations of liqueur glasses on legs. Crystal products often have a fine mesh of diamond facets, gilding and patterns. Products made of crystal or standard glass are decorated with engravings or drawings, animalistic, plant and geometric patterns.
The use of a wide palette of shades in design is also typical for the glassware for strong drinks, such as liqueur or vodka. It is presented in various color variations, from black to creamy white.
What is a Hot Shot?
The word shot is translated from English as "shot". That is why such glassware is created for drinks that are drunk in one gulp. Such miniature glasses are characterized by the presence of a small diameter top. Therefore, when a person consumes a strong drink without a bright aroma, his nose remains outside the glass.
Manufacturers also produce a hot shot glass. It is made of fireproof glass and is intended for hot and lit cocktails.
The Best Liqueur Glasses
The best liqueur glasses are produced by several renowned companies:
- Schott Zwiesel – products are made from lead-free crystal, resistant to scratches and cracks. Dishwasher safe.
Minimum price for 1 piece is 350 rubles. - Nachtmann is a leader in the production of high-quality products made of colored and transparent crystal. A special technique for creating facets guarantees a unique shine and gloss. The company creates lines with exclusive color solutions and original patterns.
Minimum price for 1 piece is 800 rubles. - Spiegelau – the products of this company belong to the high price segment. Lead-free glass with platinum inclusions is used to create shot glasses. The dishes are characterized by resistance to chemical and mechanical influences. Machine washable.
The cost of 6 glasses is 15,000 rubles. - Anorinver – the company produces shot glasses made of high-quality glass, which is close in price to crystal glasses – 15,000 rubles for 6 pieces. Long service life and transparency are achieved through a special blowing technique.
The brand's lines are distinguished by their silver, platinum or gold finish. - Ajka Crystal – this brand produces premium shot glasses of special transparency. The products are made of high-quality crystal, which retains its shine for many years. The shot glasses are distinguished by their color design and hand painting. Modern manufacturing technology guarantees increased strength.
Minimum price for 6 pieces – 24,000 rubles.
When choosing liqueur glasses, you should proceed from your preferences, cost and material. If you want to enjoy the subtle taste and aroma of the drink, choose only high-quality glasses.
