Bormioli Rocco Gina

Choosing between the three sizes starts with what goes in. The 25 cl tumbler is the size for water, juice and a drink on the rocks, and it fits in just about any upper dishwasher rack. The 21.5 cl long drink glass is the narrow Tubo version: less surface area at the top, so the fizz escapes more slowly. The 28.5 cl has room for ice cubes plus a slice of lime without filling to the brim. Count on two glasses per guest if you are serving something besides water. Compare the sizes among the long drink glasses and the tumbler glasses.

Pour a long drink over the ice rather than beside it: the liquid chills straight away and the fizz holds longer. Fill the 28.5 cl about two thirds with ice cubes, add the spirit and let the mixer run down the inside wall. A cuba libre or a mojito comes out best this way. Stir briefly with a bar spoon until the glass mists over, and leave the shaking out of it.

Gina is made of tempered soda-lime glass. The rim and base are heat treated, which makes the glass stand up to knocks and to rapid temperature changes better than ordinary pressed glass. The dishwasher is therefore no obstacle. Do place the glasses apart from one another in the rack, since glasses wedged together are the most common cause of hairline cracks in the rim. Let them drain upside down on a tea towel rather than polishing them dry.

If within Bormioli Rocco you are after stemmed bowls rather than straight glasses, you will find them in the brand overview. If you want to lay a table with several sizes at once, a glassware set is handier than ordering separate boxes. And if you mainly pour whisky or a stirred cocktail, a heavier glass with a thick base suits better: for that, look at the old fashioned glasses.