The Moscow Mule is somewhat of an oddity in the cocktail world; just as much fuss is made about the vessel it's served in (I'm sure by now you've seen plenty of folks standing around bars and taverns holding those solid copper Moscow Mule mugs), as is made of the actual drink itself. Would the Moscow Mule be as popular if it were just served in a more common glass, such as a Collins glass? Probably not. In fact, scrap that. If Moscow Mule cocktails were served in anything other than the kinds of copper mugs for sale on our website, the drink just wouldn't be the same and its popularity would more than likely decline. The same is true for many drinks actually; the type of glass a drink is served in is more important that many people realize.  We wouldn't want your dinner date to be ruined through a poor choice of glassware (or copperware in the case of Moscow Mule mugs), so we've put together a basic guide to some of the most commonly used glasses.

The Bog Standard Wine Glass

As you are almost certainly aware, there are dozens of different variations of the standard wine glass. When we say "standard", we are referring to a design that has a minimal "foot," an oval shaped bowl and a stem that's not quite as long as the length of the bowl. Some of the more common variations of this design include the flute, the tulip, the hock and the coupe. Perhaps the most important feature of this "drinking vessel" is the stem, which prevents heat being transferred from your hands to the wine held inside the bowl. Taste is not the only sense that is stimulated by wine either; you'll notice that many wine glasses - like the one pictured above - feature wide openings to allow you to smell the wine's aroma too.

The Classic Tumbler Glass

It's essential for any household to have a set of tumblers within easy reach as this type of drinking vessel has established itself as a "jack of all trades"; it can be used to serve soft drinks, wine, spirits and cocktails. Just like wine glasses, there are many different variations of the tumbler glass and the opening at the top of the glass is generally very wide to allow the aroma of the drink placed inside to be released, although you won't see the same curved lip that is featured on many wine glasses. Tumblers are typically left on the table when they are not being drunk from, meaning the stem isn't required to keep the temperature of the drink down.

007's Favorite

"Shaken, not stirred" is a line you will almost certainly recognize from the James Bond movies and refers to the way that the British secret agent likes his martinis prepared. This drink comes in a special kind of drinking vessel known as the martini glass. This glass bears closer resemblance to a wine glass than it does to a tumbler, with a long stem to keep the temperature down. Why is this so important in a martini glass? Simple; the bowl, unlike with a tumbler glass, isn't big enough to hold ice inside it. The bowl is noticeably different to that of a wine glass however, with more of a "cone" shape that is narrow at the base and wide at the top. What does this achieve? It's ensures any ingredients used to create (in traditional recipes olives are commonly used to garnish the drink, but there are many variations on this) the drink remain close together at the glass's base. The wide top, once again, ensures your drink's aroma is allowed to rise up out of the glass and tickle your nostrils.

The Fluted Glass

This is commonly known as the "champagne glass" and you've probably had one in your hand at many celebrations over the years. Very similar to the bog standard wine glass we outlined above, except the flute looks as though it's been squashed a bit, as it is much, much thinner. These glasses are built with bubbles in mind which is why you'll commonly see champagne and sparkling wines drunk from them. As the bowl is both narrower and longer, it provides a much smaller surface area at the top of the glass, meaning the carbonation dissipates far slower and ensures the "bubbles" are retained in the drink for as long as possible.

The Moscow Mule Copper Mug

The striking appearance of the copper mugs the Moscow Mule is served in is certainly very different from any of the other drinking vessels featured on this list so far. Many people ask why the drink is served in this type of mug, but truth be told, no-one really knows. It's thought that when the drink was first created back in the early 1940's, its creators, John G. Martin and Jack Morgan, used the mugs as a marketing ploy. They looked so different to anything else that had been seen in taverns up to that time (and still do today), that they immediately grabbed people's attention and got them talking. However, and maybe this was just dumb luck, but these copper mugs are also well known for keeping the drink nice and cold during the warm summer months. A Moscow Mule simply isn't complete without one and not using a copper mug is one of the biggest rookie mistakes you can make when preparing this cocktail at home.

There are tons more drinking vessels that you can use, all with a design that is optimized for a particular purpose, enhancing your overall experience. You wouldn't use the wrong type of cutlery to eat your meals (trying to eat soup with a fork would be interesting), so why use the wrong type of glass when you drink?

Customized Glasses

As important as selecting and using the right drinking vessel is, customizing each type of glass can be just as soothing. Slipping away into your favorite wine with that has your favorite quote engraved on the glass can make the experience relaxing and personal. For more information on our customization options click here!