How many cl should a gin and tonic glass hold?
Let’s do the math. A gin and tonic contains about 5 cl of gin, a 20 cl bottle of tonic, and as much ice as will fit. That’s 25 cl of liquid, plus ice that can easily take up another 25 cl. So a 50 cl glass is the minimum, and it will be filled to the brim. A 60 to 80 cl glass is more practical. You can pile the ice above the drink, fit in a twist or slice of citrus, and still stir without spilling.
Bigger doesn’t mean you drink more in this case. You pour the same 5 cl of gin; it just has more room. A 74 cl glass looks generous on the table, but after an evening of ice and tonic, you’ll have had exactly the same amount of gin as you would from a small glass. If you’re choosing between two sizes, go for the larger one. A glass that’s too small forces you to skimp on the tonic, and you’ll taste the difference right away.
In milliliters, that’s 500 to 800 ml. Packaging lists the capacity measured to the rim. In practice, you never fill a bowl that high, so a 65 cl glass gives you about 55 cl of usable space.
What is a copa glass, and why is it so round?
Copa is Spanish for cup, and the glass also comes from Spain. In the bars of the Basque Country, gin and tonic became a ritual around 2010: a balloon-shaped stemmed bowl filled with ice, gin, tonic, and a garnish suited to that particular gin. The glass has since spread around the world, and by now you can find it in almost every bar in the Netherlands.
The shape serves two purposes. The wide bowl makes room for ice and garnish, while the rim that curves slightly inward traps the aromas of juniper, citrus, and herbs above the drink. That way, you can smell the gin before you take a sip. The stem keeps your hand away from the bowl, so the ice melts more slowly. Think of a wine glass: the bowl does exactly the same thing with the aroma of the grapes.
You can use the same glass for an Aperol Spritz or a Hugo Spritz, where the elderflower needs just as much room. Many people therefore buy one set of copas and use them all year round. You can read all about the recipe itself on our gin and tonic page, and about the bottle on our page about gin.
Why add ice first and only then the tonic?
The order determines how much fizz you retain. First fill the glass three-quarters full with large ice cubes and leave it for half a minute. The glass gets cold, and a little meltwater collects at the bottom. Pour it out. Then pour the gin over the ice and stir briefly so the gin gets cold too. Only then add the tonic, down the side of the glass or over the rounded side of a bar spoon.
Why go to all that trouble? Carbonation escapes faster from warm liquid and when you pour it into the glass from a height. Chilling everything first and pouring the tonic gently keeps the fizz in the glass. After that, stir no more than half a turn. Every extra turn releases bubbles you’ll miss later. Chilled tonic from the fridge helps too, because room-temperature tonic melts the ice, and within five minutes you’re drinking water.
Add the garnish last, and use one thing rather than half a fruit bowl. A strip of lemon peel, squeezed over the glass first, pairs well with a classic London Dry gin. A gin with lots of citrus calls for a slice of orange, while a spicy gin calls for a sprig of rosemary. There’s no hard-and-fast rule for the ratio of gin to tonic. Start with one part gin to two parts tonic, then adjust from there.
Can you also serve a gin and tonic in a long drink glass?
Yes, and that’s how it’s served in many Dutch bars. A tall, straight long drink glass or highball with a capacity of 40 to 50 cl retains the carbonation well because the surface area at the top is small. The only downside is that you miss some of the aroma. In a narrow glass, it escapes past your nose instead of lingering in the bowl. That’s a shame with a gin that has distinctive botanicals, but it makes little difference with a simple gin and tonic on a terrace.
A low, heavy tumbler works too, although it leaves less room for tonic. That’s the choice for people who want the gin to take center stage and use the tonic as a splash. Look for those styles in our long drink glasses and tumbler glasses. If you want to get the most out of your gin, the copa is still the best choice. That’s why we have a separate category for balloon glasses.
Long or short stem, and why a copa gets cloudy
A long stem looks elegant and keeps your hand well away from the ice. A short, thick stem breaks less easily and stands more steadily on a tray. That’s why a short stem is the smart choice in bars; at home, you can choose based on appearance. Most breakage doesn’t happen while drinking, but in the dishwasher, when a bowl tips over and knocks against the next glass. So place copas separately in the rack and choose a short glass-wash cycle.
A wide bowl gets cloudy sooner than a small glass, and it’s not the glass’s fault. Limescale from the water settles on that large surface, and you can see it when the light shines through. Use little rinse aid, add a splash of vinegar to the rinse water if you have hard water, and dry the glasses with a lint-free cloth while they’re still warm. Never leave a lime wedge in the glass overnight. The acid leaves a mark that’s hard to remove. Store the glasses upright, with the bowls unobstructed, not upside down on their rims.
The right glass
These are the two gin and tonic glasses we use most often ourselves. The RCR Melodia is a classic 65 cl copa made of lead-free crystal with fine cuts. The Pasabahce Elysia is a rounded, gently curved 50 cl bowl made of tempered glass that can take more knocks and comes in a set of four. Find all sizes and brands in the gin and tonic glasses collection.
RCR Melodia Gin and Tonic Glass 65 cl (6 pieces)
Pasabahce Elysia Gin and Tonic Glass 50 cl (4 pieces)
Good to know
How much gin do you pour into a gin and tonic?
In bars, the standard pour is usually 4 cl; at home, it’s often 5 cl. More than that doesn’t help much, as the alcohol will overpower the tonic. Measure it with a jigger. With a wide bowl, it’s easy to overpour by eye, and with a 70 cl bottle, you’ll notice by the end of the evening.
Which tonic goes with which gin?
A classic dry gin can stand up to an Indian tonic, with its pronounced bitterness. A fruity or floral gin gets flattened by it and needs a lighter, less sweet tonic. Flavored tonics with cucumber or elderflower are fun, but choose a gin without too much flavor of its own. Otherwise, the two flavors compete.
Should you pre-chill the glass?
It helps. A copa taken from a warm cupboard immediately draws the chill from your ice. Put the glasses in the fridge for fifteen minutes or fill them with ice while you get everything else ready, then pour away the meltwater before serving. Let a glass fresh from the dishwasher cool down completely first. Ice in a warm glass puts stress on the glass.
How many gin and tonic glasses do you need for a party?
Allow for one and a half glasses per guest, plus an extra set for any glasses in the dishwasher. For twelve people, eighteen to twenty-four glasses should be plenty. Buy them in a series, as they’ll remain available for years. If one breaks, you can simply order the same shape again instead of searching for a new set.
Frequently asked questions
How many ml is a gin and tonic glass?
Between 500 and 800 ml, measured to the rim. Since you never fill a bowl that high, a 65 cl glass has about 55 cl of usable space. That’s enough for 5 cl of gin, a 20 cl bottle of tonic, and a glass full of ice.
What glass do you use for a gin and tonic?
A copa, the balloon-shaped glass on a stem. The wide bowl has room for ice and garnish, and the narrow rim traps the aroma. A highball glass works too and keeps the fizz longer, but you’ll smell the gin less. View our gin and tonic glasses.
How much ice do you put in a gin and tonic glass?
As much as fits, right up to the top of the drink. Lots of ice melts more slowly than a few cubes, so your drink stays cold and gets less diluted. With two cubes, the ice is gone within a few minutes and you’re left with lukewarm tonic.
Can gin and tonic glasses go in the dishwasher?
Almost all the copa glasses in our collection are dishwasher-safe. Place them separately in the rack, choose a short glassware cycle, and take them out as soon as it finishes. If steam lingers, it condenses as limescale and makes the wide bowl look dull.
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