In one among my favourite photographs of myself, I’m consuming a cocktail out of a glass pipe at Canon in Seattle. I’ve placed on a very critical and glamorous face, although you’ll be able to inform I’m about to crack a smile, as a result of, effectively, I’m consuming a cocktail from a pipe. There was no actual purpose that my cocktail wanted to be served in one thing that regarded like Sherlock Holmes’ signature accent, or that my pals’ drinks ought to arrive in glasses formed like a bath, a grocery procuring cart, a byzantine goblet and a Lego block. I don’t suppose they made our drinks style any higher. However that was completely not the purpose.
Ever since my first Hand Grenade throughout my faculty years in New Orleans, I’ve been a sucker for ornate, unwieldy novelty glasses. Give me a tiki drink served in a complete pineapple, a smoked cocktail introduced underneath a cloche or something sipped out of a swan’s butt. Some folks need to look elegant whereas they drink their Martinis or glasses of wine. I, apparently, am blissful to appear to be a clown.
In fact, there are a lot of cocktails which have traditionally been served in a signature, eye-catching glass. What’s a Moscow Mule with out its trademark copper cup, or a Hurricane with out its hourglass curves? We drink with our eyes first, and a standout glass—irrespective of how delightfully silly—brings just a bit additional pleasure to the evening.
However the identical runaway visible instincts which have resulted in Instagram-first traits like outlandish rims and popcorn garnishes have additionally introduced cocktails served in each possible vessel. You may drink out of a conch shell at ROKC, or unearth your cocktail from beneath a lavender smoke bubble on the Velveteen Rabbit or out of a milk bottle at Keefer Bar. These are about extra than simply making a visitor cackle; it’s apparent that they exist to be photographed. However to me, in addition they convey a way of consideration to element. It’s not your common bar that decides to inventory a dozen flamingo-shaped glasses or Santa teapots.
Positive, it’s in all probability deeply annoying for a bartender to attempt to pressure a cocktail right into a flamingo on repeat, and sometimes it’s annoying to contort one’s mouth round… no matter that is. However I’m a fan of caprice and ridiculousness when it’s clear the creators aren’t taking themselves too critically. A lot of what seems as whimsy within the bar and restaurant world is definitely bartenders and cooks too impressed by their very own cleverness, all however demanding you give them a gold star for his or her creativeness. However a miniature bathtub stuffed with liquor is just not intelligent. It’s simply enjoyable, and that’s purpose sufficient.
Apart from, at residence, I’ve coupes and rocks glasses, a pleasant shaker set and a few strong recipe books which have allowed me to broaden the repertoire of what I’m prepared to combine for myself. In these austere days, if I’m going to be spending cash out of the home, I need it to be one thing I can’t expertise anyplace else. And one factor I don’t have at house is a set of hole glass mushrooms.
