There are two possible reasons behind the unusual shape of martini glasses. The distinctive shape of the glasses is functional, as well as visually appealing. The wide open brim of the glass is said to produce surface tension that brings out the bouquet of the gin and creates a nicer display of the olive garnish than a standard cocktail glass. The coned shape also keeps the ingredients of the drink from separating. While these facts may be true, many people believe that martini glasses were invented during Prohibition, where the wide mouth made it easier to quickly dispose of the illegal alcohol during a police raid.
Martini glasses have a wide brim and narrow to a point at the base of the bowl. They are part of the large family of cocktail glasses, and they are often used to serve a wide variety of beverages. Martini glasses are undeniably one of the most well known types of cocktail glasses, and their notoriety is as a result of their distinctive shape. They are most well known for their cone-shaped bowl and stem above a flat base. The tip of the cone forms an approximate 90° angle at its cross-section. It differs from other cocktail glasses because of its sharply tapered shape.
A traditional martini is a cocktail containing gin and vermouth. It is usually garnished with an olive or two, though some may prefer a lemon peel instead. The drink, like other cocktails, is served without ice, which allows the stem of the glass to both be visually appealing and have a practical use. The drinker can hold the stem instead of the bowl so that the heat of the hand does not change the temperature of the drink.
The idea side for this glass is 4 ounces (118.2 ml), but they come in various sizes, colors and styles, some of which are more fitted for decoration than for the consumption of a good martini. Those who prefer a more contemporary martini recipe with additional ingredients often use a 6 ounce (177.4 ml) glass. They also come in 8-ounce (236.5-ml) sizes, and recently they have been created in a different style to serve on-the-rocks style martinis.