Every Party House Needs Good Martini Glasses — I Just Found Cool, Design-Forward Ones From a Surprising Source

One of the best martinis I've ever had was at a cocktail bar in Barcelona. It was one of these experimental places with a long wait list, with fun takes on presentation and some theater when serving. But while my friends' drinks had floating clouds of foam and scented fogs served with their cocktails, there's something pretty humble about the martini that it doesn't need so much pomp and ceremony.

What I did get, however, was the lowdown on what makes for a good martini, and with only a small handful of pretty classic liquors going into it, past the quality of your vodka or gin, it's a lot down to how you serve it.

There's an idea that the wide mouth of a martini glass is designed to better deliver you the aroma of the drink, especially if you're opting for a traditional lemon peel twist inside. And, because a martini isn't a cocktail you serve on ice, a pre-chilled glass keeps the temperature of your drink down for longer.

That's to say, if you like a martini (classic, espresso, dirty, or otherwise), a few good martini glasses in your cupboards are a must. And recently, I found a fun assortment of designs that look much more expensive than they are on QVC, if you can believe it.

These are the 6 styles I'd adopt into my cocktail cabinet (if I had any more space for glassware).

Now you've got your martini glasses, time to prep them for your cocktail night. The best way to pre-chill is to put in the freezer. You'll want them chilled for at least half an hour. If you're going to chill them in the fridge, you'll want them in there for a few hours at least. Unless you just have to have this viral 'glass froster' in your home, anyway.