Glass Act
Whether you like it shaken, stirred, or straight up, a good drink deserves a superior glass. These sets break delicately from tradition without losing the formality that puts the swank in your swig. Bottoms up!
A glass could be judged as the mere vehicle of a good beverage, but a drinking vessel can do much to influence the character of its contents. Tasting champagne from a tumbler or beer from a plastic cup doesn’t reveal the drink’s complexity as a flute or stein might. As any sommelier would attest, in the wrong glass, wine can’t breathe, and a stifled syrah surely isn’t at its best.
But it’s not just about taste. While many of us use disposable cups to caffeinate and hydrate on the run, almost by definition a glass compels us to slow down and savor what’s in it, lest we break it. In that moment, the weight, thickness, texture, and shape of the glass all become part of the experience, reminding us that it’s not just what’s inside that counts.
Of course, when we finally pause for a sip, we don’t always want to contemplate the characteristics of our cup, which is why we asked Andi Kovel, who designs glass both functional and sculptural, to help us decide which sets are worthy of a toast.
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Float
Expert Opinion: This set is by far my favorite. Justin and I love to figure out how complex glass pieces are formed, and this stumped us. Technically, these are no small feat. The technique mimics scientific glass, which suits their functionality. Plus, they come beautifully packaged. And you must see these filled with liquid. Wow.
What We Think: The Float design creates a beautiful suggestion of liquid, even when empty. The rounded base looks like a bubble suspended within the outer cylinder. We found the flute and martini glass to be a little tipsy without bases to support the weight up top, but then again, standard stemmed versions don’t offer much more stability.
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Ottagonale
Expert Opinion: These are so thin and light, they really transport the user. So thin, in fact, that I might be afraid to use them. They seem like a relic from the Winter Palace. Although these don’t turn me on per se, they are truly a perfect mixture of opulence and simplicity. The gold lip is a subtle touch—–very sophisticated and refined.
What We Think: These are a little old-fashioned for our taste, and the combination of conical and cylindrical shapes isn’t as appealing as a consistent silhouette. We do like the octagonal mold, though; it feels good in the hand. We might pass on the gold rim, but we agree that it’s a detail that makes a big difference in the overall impression of the collection.
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5 in Uno
Expert Opinion: This is a clever and beautiful design. I love that the full collection forms a functional sculpture, but I would be nervous about damaging them when stacking. I’m bothered by the use of “hand blown” to describe a mass-produced piece. These were made by people, but they appear to me to have been blown into molds and cut and polished mechanically. I’d prefer that the term be reserved for items blown freehand. Regardless, the end result is very effectual here.
What We Think: Our love of order is deeply satisfied by this set, which fits together as neatly as Russian babushka dolls. And while the nested quintet is lovely, the individual glasses don’t disappoint. The three larger ones have generous proportions despite being small. We agree that the delicate glass makes stacking a painstaking task.
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Tapio
Expert Opinion: These are a classic. Their weight feels great in your hands, and the bubble gives them a sense of mystery. Intoto does a contemporary version, where the bubble protrudes into the hollow of the base. I’ve spent countless hours trying to figure out how this detail is achieved.
What We Think: Of all the sets, we think this is the most timeless. The design feels considered, from the distribution of weight to the thickness of the glass. Classic, but certainly not boring, that eye-catching bubble gives the form some movement—–and, as our expert attests, a touch of technical enigma. (In fact, the bubble is formed by dipping a wet pencil-shaped piece of birch into the base while the glass is hot, releasing a bubble of air.)
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InsideOut
Expert Opinion: While these are very elegant, I much prefer the Float’s design and engineering. I feel that these follow rather than lead the “inside-out” trend. The proportions are graceful and sophisticated, but the execution is slightly heavy-handed. The glasses have an interesting receptacle at the bottom, but this detail makes them impossible to clean. I’d recommend rinsing them out before your champagne dries!
What We Think: InsideOut gets literal with the concept, sheathing the classic form inside a cylinder. They’re lovely with the added color of a drink, and the martini glass is probably the most spillproof we’ve ever seen.
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