Rocks glasses

A rocks glass, also called an old fashioned glass or a whisky tumbler, is a short, wide tumbler of roughly 200 to 350ml. It suits spirits neat or over ice and stirred drinks like an Old Fashioned or Negroni.

  • Rocks glasses usually hold between 200ml and 350ml
  • A single is around 200 to 250ml, a double around 300 to 350ml
  • A heavy base adds stability when you stir a drink in the glass
  • A double-size glass takes a 5cm cube or a 6cm ice sphere

Showing 1–24 of 97 results

Showing 1–24 of 97 results

Rocks glass, old fashioned glass and whisky tumbler all describe the same shape: short, wide and usually thick-walled, with a base heavy enough that the glass does not slide about while you stir a drink in it. It is the most versatile glass in a home bar, working for a spirit poured neat as easily as for a cocktail built over ice.nnThe choice is mostly about size. A single rocks glass of 200 to 250ml suits a neat pour or a spirit over a couple of cubes. A double at 300 to 350ml leaves room for a large cube and a stirred drink made in the glass. Most people find the double more useful, since a small pour still looks right in one.

Which type do you need?

The differences come down to capacity, the weight of the base, and whether the glass is plain or cut.

TypeBest forWorth knowing
Single rocks glass, 200 to 250ml Neat spirits and short pours over a cube or two Too small for a large cube plus a full stirred drink
Double rocks glass, 300 to 350ml Old Fashioneds, Negronis and spirits over one big cube Looks sparse if you only ever pour a single measure
Heavy-based tumbler Building and stirring a drink directly in the glass Noticeably heavier to hold, and to carry a tray of
Cut or patterned tumbler Whisky served neat, and glasses kept out on display Faceted surfaces show water marks more than plain glass

How to choose

Single or double rocks glass: which should you buy?

A double, in most cases. A single rocks glass at 200 to 250ml is fine for a neat measure, but it fills up fast once you add a large cube and build a stirred drink over it. A double at 300 to 350ml handles an Old Fashioned or a Negroni with room to spare, and a small neat pour still sits comfortably in the bottom of it. Buy singles only if you drink spirits neat almost exclusively and you want the glass to feel the right size in the hand while you do it.

Why does a rocks glass have such a heavy base?

Two reasons, one practical and one about how the drink is made. A weighted base lowers the centre of gravity, so a glass with ice in it is harder to knock over and stays put when you stir with a bar spoon rather than skating across the worktop. Thick glass also gives the tumbler some thermal mass, which slows down how quickly your hand warms the contents. Cheaper tumblers with thin walls and a light base tip more easily and warm faster, which shows most in a drink you sip slowly over half an hour.

Will a large ice cube fit a rocks glass?

Usually, but check the numbers before you buy the mould. Most large cube trays make 5cm cubes and most sphere moulds are around 6cm, so the glass needs a mouth wider than that plus space for your fingers to lower the ice in. Double rocks glasses at 300 to 350ml nearly always work, while narrower single glasses often do not. One big piece of ice melts more slowly than several small cubes, because less of its surface touches the drink, so it dilutes a whisky or an Old Fashioned far more gently.

Common questions

What is the difference between a rocks glass and an old fashioned glass?

Nothing at all. They are two names for the same short, wide tumbler, and whisky tumbler is a third. Rocks refers to serving a spirit over ice, and old fashioned to the cocktail traditionally built in the glass. Some retailers use double old fashioned for the larger 300 to 350ml size, which is a genuine distinction worth checking before you order.

What size rocks glass do I need?

Between 200ml and 350ml covers the whole range. Around 200 to 250ml is a single, suited to a neat spirit or a short pour over ice. Around 300 to 350ml is a double, which is the more useful size at home because it takes a large ice cube and a stirred cocktail without the liquid reaching the rim.

Can I drink whisky from a rocks glass?

Yes, and plenty of people only ever do. A tumbler is the traditional glass for whisky with ice or a splash of water, and it is comfortable to hold for a long time. If you want to pick up more aroma from a dram you are tasting carefully, a tulip-shaped nosing glass concentrates the smell far better, since a wide rim lets it disperse.

Are heavy-based tumblers better?

For stirred drinks, yes. The weight keeps the glass steady while you stir with a bar spoon, and the thicker glass insulates the drink a little from the warmth of your hand. The trade-off is weight: a set of heavy tumblers is harder to carry on a tray and takes up more room in a dishwasher basket.

Are rocks glasses dishwasher safe?

Most plain, thick-walled tumblers are, and they cope with it far better than thin stemmed glassware. Over many cycles hard water can leave a cloudy film that will not polish out, so a rinse aid helps. Cut or hand-decorated tumblers are worth washing by hand, since the detail traps water and shows marks quickly.

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