Libbey Nick & Nora Cocktail Glass

Named after the cocktail-swilling detective couple from Dashiell Hammett's "The Thin Man," the Nick & Nora glass occupies a specific position in cocktail service that the Martini glass never quite handled well: it holds stirred drinks served up — Manhattans, Gibsons, Corpse Revivers, Last Words — without the wide cone of a Martini glass that warms the drink too quickly and spills at the slightest provocation. The rounded bowl holds aromatics closer to the rim, keeps the drink cooler longer, and makes garnishing more elegant.

Libbey's version is the sensible entry point for a bar that wants to serve up cocktails seriously without spending on crystal. The 5.5-ounce capacity is appropriate for a two-ounce spirit build after dilution — generous enough to present well, small enough that the drink stays cold to the last sip. The stem is long enough to keep hand heat away from the bowl, and the base is stable enough that the glass doesn't threaten to tip on a crowded bar setup.

At eleven dollars per glass, these are not heirloom pieces. They are reliable, well-proportioned tools that will make your stirred cocktail program look intentional. Buy extras — the long stem makes these more casualty-prone than a rocks glass, and having backups on hand means a broken one doesn't end the evening.