Old-fashioneds are a classic cocktail, worthy of the best old-fashioned glass. Also known as a lowball or rocks glass, these tumblers are a versatile, premium option. They're an essential if you like whisky cocktails.
If you're currently cultivating an impressive cocktail glass collection, an old fashioned glass should feature. Or, if you enjoy a good whiskey glass but want some variation, these glasses are the next logical step.
Old-fashioned glasses should feel premium and have excellent ergonomics and aesthetics too. They're also useful as smaller highball glasses, so you can serve Negroni, liqueurs, and whiskey in them too.
I've searched through hundreds of glasses finding the ones which balance style and substance. Whether you're looking for a delicate, sculptured glass or a classic, crystal one, these are the best on the market.
Best old-fashioned glass 2024
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Material: Crystal
Dimensions: 4 x 2.8 inches
Capacity: 13 oz
+ Perfect weight
+ Excellent price
- Have to hand wash
A classic for a reason, these glasses balance size and weight perfectly. They're crafted by the glassware experts, Spiegelau, so you know they'll be timelessly elegant and endlessly useful.
Material: Crystal
Dimensions: 4.1 x 3 inches
Capacity: 13.1 oz
+ Simple style
+ Excellent quality
- A little pricy
With more than enough capacity for a good serving with ice, these crystal glasses are a favorite, especially if you just want to pour a ready-made drink in (I recommend NIO's).
Material: Crystal glass
Dimensions: 3 x 3.5 inches
Capacity: 10 oz
+ Elegant style
+ Feels durable
- Too simple for some
If you're looking for simplicity, look no further. These top-quality glasses cover all your old-fashioned needs. They're weighted, sturdy, and stylish. If you're looking for a gift, these are an excellent option.
Material: Crystal
Dimensions: 3.98 x 7 inches
Capacity: 7.44 oz
+ Incredibly luxurious
+ Feels durable
- Expensive
The epitome of luxury, Lalique's glasses are everything you would expect from the iconic brand. These were designed in collaboration with wine critic James Suckling, so each glass is technically perfect with incredible clarity.
Material: Crystal
Dimensions: 2.95 x 3.23 inches
Capacity: 10.14 oz
+ Distinctive style
+ Lightweight
- Only available in a set
Minimalistic and distinctive, these lightweight glasses are perfect for storing in-view. They're durable, delicate, and easy to hold. If you like ice, these are remarkably insulating too.
Material: Glass
Dimensions: 3.13 x 3.94 inches
Capacity: 9 oz
+ Innovative design
+ Looks elegant
- Limited capacity with ice
The innovative design of these glasses means that you can freeze a wedge ice shape, sit it in your glass, and enjoy smooth sips of your beverage. They're the perfect gift for a barware enthusiast.
Material: Glass
Dimensions: 2 x 3 inches
Capacity: 4 oz
+ Elegant design
+ Reasonable price
- Part of a large set
Even though this is half the capacity of the average old-fashioned glass, they're just as durable. Perfect for smaller servings, this pack of 48 is an excellent investment if you're hosting an event.
Material: Crystal
Dimensions: 3.5 x 3 inches
Capacity: 13.2 oz
+ Premium materials
+ Contemporary style
- Not the heaviest
Zwiesel Glas are iconic designers, so if you're into your glassware, you'll probably already know them. This angular design is pure crystal and comes with a personalised, engraving option.
Material: Glass
Dimensions: 4 x 3.25 inches
Capacity: 15 oz
+ Stand-out style
+ Good capacity
- A little fragile
Distinctively art deco, this double glass is sturdy and stylish. The gold rim is bright without being too gaudy and they have a lovely hand feel. They're reasonably priced too.
Material: Glass
Dimensions: 3 x 4.9 inches
Capacity: 13 oz
+ Tactile design
+ Range of color options
- Tricky to clean
Possibly my favorite old-fashioned glass, these beaded glasses are heirloom worthy. They're inspired by Paris and available in a range of colors. I'd integrate these into my everyday glassware.
Material: Stainless steel
Dimensions: 3.7 x 4.9 inches
Capacity: 7 oz
+ Portable
+ Insulating
- Has metallic taste
Portable and stylish, this sleek, matte black design is brilliant if you want a durable glass for nosing. The double walls will keep your ice cool, but there is a slight metallic taste created by the stainless steel.
Material: Glass
Dimensions: 3.7 x 2.52 inches
Capacity: 2 oz
+ Aroma enhancing
+ Easy to sip
- Limited uses
Neat by name and nature, these glasses are perfect for old-fashioned connoisseurs. The wide mouth makes it excellent for nosing, because you don't get the same 'hit' of alcohol. It is limited in function, but good for specific uses nonetheless.
FAQs
What is the difference between an old fashioned and a double old fashioned glass?
It might sound obvious, but it's all down to capacity. An old fashioned glass typically holds 6 to 8 oz, whereas a double can hold 12-14 oz.
Are old fashioned glasses whiskey glasses?
Old-fashioned glasses go by many names, rocks glasses and lowball glasses are the most common. They're different to whiskey glasses, because old-fashioned glasses need to have weighted bottoms, so almost never have stems.
What makes an old-fashioned glass special?
Old-fashioned glasses generally follow a tumbler shape, with wide rims and no stem. More specialist glasses runnel before the rim so that you don't get a big hit of alcohol in your nose before you can smell the bouquet of scents.
Final thoughts
Even though these glasses are perfect for serving old-fashioned in, they're extremely versatile too. I love pouring a colorful mojito into an etched, rippled old-fashioned glass, because it looks so beautiful.
Choose the best one is tough, because different designs suit different people. What I would say with all of these is that they are too beautiful to hide away. Whether you have an open home bar or a beautiful bar cart, these old-fashioned glasses deserve a top spot.
How we test
At Homes & Gardens we like to have tested products before we recommend them to you. However, we couldn't get these old-fashioned glasses to our test kitchen. Instead, I read through hundreds of customer and professional reviews to find out exactly what each glass is like to use. If there's a useful feature or shape, you'll know about it. In the same way, if there's something to be cautious of (fine rims and hand washing), I'll make sure to tell you about it too. If you'd like to know more about how we test, you can visit our dedicated page.
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