Nachtmann Tattoo

With a glass this size it is mainly about the ratio between ice and drink. Fill the bowl two thirds with ice, pour in five centilitres of gin and top up with tonic: that gives you a drink that stays cold without turning watery. Choosing between white and black is a matter of taste, but the contrast differs: a white engraving stands out on a dark bar, a black one on a light table. Look at the stem as well, because you hold this glass by the foot so as not to warm the contents.

Choose a garnish that matches your gin rather than the engraving: citrus peel with a dry gin, cucumber and pepper with a spiced gin. Pour the tonic into the glass along a bar spoon so the carbonation stays in. Besides gin and tonic, the bowl also suits a Hugo Spritz with elderflower and mint, where plenty of ice and a generous capacity also work well. Stir once from the bottom and then leave the glass alone. Top up with tonic, not with ice.

The glass itself is lead-free crystal glass and dishwasher safe; in practice the print is less so. So wash the glasses by hand in lukewarm water with a little soap, or choose a short programme at low temperature without a hot rinse. When drying a stemmed glass, always hold it by the bowl and never twist the foot against the bowl, because that is exactly where stems snap.

The rest of the brand is listed under Nachtmann, where you will also find the cut tumbler ranges. Looking for a different shape for the same drink? Have a look at gin and tonic glasses or more broadly at cocktail glasses for bowls and coupes. For measuring and pouring calmly, you will find jiggers and bar spoons among the bar tools. That keeps the ratio the same every time.