Arcoroc Old Square

A difference of four centilitres sounds small, but it determines how much ice will fit. The 32 cl takes a measure with two or three cubes; the 36 cl holds a large five-centimetre block of ice with room left over for a splash of water. Pay attention to the thickness of the base too, because on these glasses the weight sits at the bottom: that helps when stirring in the glass and makes them less likely to tip over. Both sizes are practical behind a bar, while at home one size is usually enough.

Pour spirits on the rocks over one large block rather than four small cubes: less surface area, so slower dilution. Stir an Old Fashioned straight in the glass until the outside frosts over, roughly twenty seconds. A Negroni with equal parts gin, vermouth and bitter works well in the 32 cl and needs no more than a strip of orange peel. For whisky neat, pour no more than four centilitres so you can swirl without spilling.

Tempered glass copes with the dishwasher and with the temperature difference between a hot rinse and a cold filling better than untempered glass. The corners of the square foot are the most vulnerable point on impact, so load the glasses in the crate so they do not touch each other. If the glass develops cloudy patches, that is limescale or detergent residue; less detergent and softer water do more about it than scrubbing harder.

The whole brand is grouped together under Arcoroc, where you will also find the beer and wine series. If you want the same function in a different model, take a look at the old fashioned glasses or at the wider selection of whiskey glasses. If you would rather serve your spirits from a decanter, those are with the whiskey decanters, and for stirring in the glass there are bar spoons ready to go.