Barware

Make way for the cocktail

Barware is buoyant. From the cocktail to the G&T, Tableware International takes a look at what drinks are hot on the market right now...

“I divide my time between New Orleans, the birthplace of the cocktail, and Mexico City – the tequila capital of the world,” says Beatriz Ball, the founder of the brand of the same name. “I’m very familiar with the many trends in drinks culture. Tequila has had such a surge of popularity that it is often out of stock everywhere and mezcal has also become a new drink of choice, we see it mixed with many fruit juices and other spirits.”

Tequila, whiskey, vodka, rum, brandy, gin – whatever the tipple of choice – chances are, it’s coming in some sort of cocktail, or even as a pre-mixed cocktail. Cocktails have kicked the humble G&T to touch in the popularity stakes opening the door to demand for glassware in a plethora of different shapes and sizes. That’s not to say the G&T isn’t popular, it’s just taking a backseat.

“Craft cocktails are definitely in the development phase and deserve more attention. Whenever we talk about craft cocktails, we’re referring to something innovative, unique, handmade, and adventurous. Presentation of a drink is also important, as we eat (and drink) with our eyes first. Bartenders emphasise both the taste and the presentation of the drink. This means selecting appropriate glassware. There will be more coupes, Collins, snifters, and Nick and Nora glassware behind the stick,” says Jan Zschiesche, export manager at Stölzle Lausitz.

“The Negroni has continued its rise this year,” Utopia’s marketing manager Josh Rammell tells us. “It’s taking on many different forms from the classic with Campari, sweet Vermouth and gin to new styles like the Negroni Sbagliato which swaps out the gin for sparkling wine. A more adventurous version gaining traction changes the base to tequila. This drink looks fantastic in elegant glassware with cocktail spoons.”

Josh goes on to say Utopia is seeing demand from the hospitality sector for smaller, elegant crystal glassware serves. “We have noticed increased interest in our signature Raffles range and Nude’s Savage collection. Barware that looks good but has the quality to work well for bartenders is key. We aim to supply barware that looks good while being functional.”

The basic long glass drink is outdated now, says Zieher’s marketing manager Nikolan Borger, as consumers look for something more exciting from their drinks – and by extension – their barware.

“People are coming out of a long lockdown and restriction phase, and now they´re looking for an outstanding experience. It even may be a pre-mixed drink, not a ceremoniously

The royal touch...

For the King’s coronation next May, Royal Scot Crystal is producing a collectable range of crystal glasses, decanters and giftware designed to be timeless heirlooms passed down the generations. Pictured is Scottish Thistle.

Did you know?

Soju Jinro is reportedly the world’s best-selling spirit – the Korean brand has seen its popularity grow year on year according to The Spirits Business.

created cocktail. To present those bottled beverages in a fashionable way, bars need extraordinary glasses.”

Any glass that really stands out from the norm is seeing its star rise, Nikolan says. “These glasses have a great chance of becoming a success. Especially with the rise in premixed bottled beverages, bars and restaurants need something to make those shine.”

Mocktails and retro cocktails – that’s what is making an impact in bars, says Michael Eichinger, head of marketing, product and communications at Zwiesel Glas.

More precisely, he points towards cocktails from the ‘50s/’60s/’70s, adding that beverage trends “naturally influence the type of glasses that are bought and requested”.

“Very popular are heavy whisky tumblers but also gin glasses,” Michael tells us. “In our case, the mouthblown barware series by Charles Schumann is in high demand. These collections combine glass and beverage to create an extraordinary visual experience.”

But let’s not forget the home bar too, brands such as Royal Scot Crystal say they are seeing “huge resurgence” in the demand for traditional hand cut crystal.

“Customers are looking to furnish their bars with crystal glasses for more traditional drinks,” says Nicola Sykes, head of design and marketing. “We offer many variations of port, sherry and brandy glasses as well as

stylish saucer champagnes.” Interestingly, Nicola says decanters are back in vogue too. “Whisky decanters and tumblers remain extremely popular and there has been a marked increase in the demand for decanters in a variety of shapes and sizes.” Denby also caters for the home bar with its selection of glasses – think gin and cocktail glasses along with champagne flutes. “Glasses are important for the “Tequila has had such a surge of home – especially, and increasingly, glasses that are popularity that multifunctional. Generally, I think it is often out of people are looking stock everywhere for glasses that fit their own particular and mezcal has lifestyle,” says also become a new Denby’s design director Richard drink of choice” Eaton. “I think the flexibility is great, Beatriz Ball if you go back 15 years ago there was a short lived trend when people preferred short stemmed wine glasses even using tumblers as wine glasses, which is especially the case in rural France. Today too, people are pushing the traditional boundaries and are very comfortable serving their drinks in glasses they prefer. The trend is returning for shorter stemmed wine glasses which double as water glasses and are suitable for serving soft drinks and cocktails.” Take a look at the following pages to see some top tier barware options for retail and HoReCa.

We asked…

What challenges are affecting the sector, currently?

“Currently, there is really a positive development in the demand for barware in the glass sector and in the demand for glassware in general – from both sides, HoReCa and the private segment. There is a problem of disrupted value chains and trying to ensure delivery capability which is a huge challenge under current circumstances, but does not specifically affect barware in particular.” Michael Eichinger, Zwiesel Glas “Uncertain times influence everyone, and people are thinking twice before spending money too often in a bar. When they do it is fine, but frequencies might decline. On the other hand, the pandemic brought forth online meetings, not only for business, but also for private meetings. And who says you can´t have fancy glasses in a video call? In fact, I´d say you need them even more!” Nikolan Borger, Zieher “Straight after the Covid restrictions eased there was an issue with supply, but this has eased in recent months. The biggest challenge right now is keeping things fresh, bars want new looks and themes that change with the seasons. They need to keep abreast of peoples tastes so having the right barware to match that means staying on top of trends and reacting to the market quickly.” Josh Rammell, Utopia

Beatriz Ball

The design language of the New York Bar collection by Stölzle Lausitz focuses on the essentials: elegant understatement in combination with high-quality crystal glasses for whisky, brandies, cocktails, beer, or juices contribute to a classy bar atmosphere and live up to their name.

As with the design itself, Stölzle Lausitz’s execution of the matt finish is on point. The lines of the straight ‘Manhattan’ cut and the diagonal ‘Club’ cut take the lead in the eye of the beholder. The clear crystal glass casually corresponds with the opaque cut. Depending on the content of the glass and the color of the drink, the light is playfully refracted along the individual lines.

www.stoelzle-lausitz.com

Vista Alegre

The Latin word Dux means leader, and this sense of command and audacity is at the base of the creation of this unique piece from Vista Alegre. Its unique shape represents a geometry inspired by the mineral world and the whole concept represents a jewel. The massive brim, intensifying the luminosity of the crystal, the finely decorated and hand-painted gold neck, and the jewel-shaped stopper convey exquisite opulence.

www.vistaalegre.com

Zieher Lifetime Brands

The success of the Houdini Bar Collection along with the popularity of wood in all areas of the home – including serveware, barware and home décor – has invited the introduction of a completely new look to the barware collection. The stylish four-piece collection is crafted from stainless steel and finished with a high-quality wood finish decal that closely resembles real wood. The already proven best seller shapes have been updated and will blend a trending new look with the durability and price tag that make sense for Houdini barware.

www.lifetimebrands.com

The Bar Collection by Zieher enriches the bar scene with new characters which are predestined for independent creations beyond the cocktail mainstream. Made of particularly break-proof and temperature-resistant borosilicate glass, all glasses not only offer an extravagant outer shell, but with a capacity of up to 500 ml, also provide plenty of space for extraordinary experiments and countless recipes.

The Pill: The Pill allows for many associations! The risks and side effects of the drinks served in these glasses range from the feeling of well-being after consuming various healthy drinks to the intoxicating effects of high-proof cocktail creations.

The Vikings (pictured): The Vikings are vaguely reminiscent of the headgear of ancient Vikings. They offer a large, clear chalice on satined feet, in which strong cocktails can be staged transparently.

The Knobbed: The Knobbed plays with its content, because the attached knobs imitate the bubbles of carbonic acid in an amusing way.

Eddy - dash!: The dash bottle Eddy - dash! for dosing bitter or sour ingredients is, alongside the glasses, an important part of The Bar Collection. A fitting squirt dispenser comes with every bottle. This vessel is formally based on the well-known Eddy wine decanters from Zieher. Zieher offers suitable cruets as well as matching bottle pourers with hygienic sealing caps.

www.zieher.com

MacKenzie-Childs

Give your home bar the stylish touch of courtly check with the 3260 bar collection. This elegant set includes a bar tool set, cocktail shaker, wine cooler, ice scoop, and ice bucket. Whether you are making cocktails for friends or pouring a whiskey, you are definitely going to make the best drinks. Distributed by Lewis Wark in the UK.

www.mackenziechilds.com

Designed by Brad Ascalon, the Hepburn alchemy glass from Nude is distinctive for its clean lines and glossy copper accents — the classic yet modern combination exudes glamour. Also pictured is the Nude No.3 martini glass – the result of a partnership with London-based luxury spirits brand No.3 Gin. Crafted from lead-free crystal in a cool turquoise hue, inspired by the distinctive No.3 Gin bottle, the delicate bowl is crowned with a crisp rim and set atop a statuesque transparent stem for a subtle contrast.

eu.nudeglass.com

Orrefors

Grace from Orrefors – designed by Erika Laherbielke – demonstrates that even barware can have a light, gracious character. Its thin rim is similar to a wine glass, and the classic double cone-shaped design provides a perfect grip for the hand. The collection consists of an Old Fashioned glass, a Double Old Fashioned glass and a Highball glass.

www.orrefors.com

Couzon

Slender lines and soft curves, the Bohème collection from Couzon bar line is chic and contemporary. With its generous shapes and high-end finishes, the double wall of the buckets perfectly insulates bottles to preserve their freshness.

www.amefa.com