Zwiesel Glas Diamonds

Here the choice is all about colour, because the size is the same for all three: 101 millimetres across. The clear crystal version shows the contents in full and is the neutral option that goes with anything. The smoky version has a grey smoke tint and comes into its own on a dark table or in evening light. The blue version is the most outspoken and stands out among clear glassware. If you want more colour on the table, you will find the full selection under coloured glasses. For small bites served in glass, take a look at the amuse-bouche glasses.

Put out one bowl for every two guests instead of a single large one in the middle, and nobody has to reach across the table. For drinks they fill up nicely with olives, salted almonds or capers. Behind the bar they work as a handy container that keeps lemon peel, cherries and mint within arm's reach, exactly as you see with the cocktails. They also suit the smallest dishes, such as the bites served in the amuse-bouche glasses.

Tritan crystal glass is lead-free and hard enough to handle the dishwasher, in the coloured versions too: the tint sits in the glass itself rather than in a layer on the outside. That means the colour will not fade and cannot flake off. Do rinse them as soon as they have held anything salty or acidic, because olive brine leaves a dull film in the cut facets that only disappears after several wash cycles.

The other series from this brand are gathered under Zwiesel Glas, which exists alongside Schott Zwiesel as an independent brand. If you want to solve the same thing behind the bar with something more practical, take a look at the garnish trays. And to finish the table with glassware in the same cut style, the decanters are the logical next step. If you are after something to drink from rather than something to serve in, start your search with the coloured glasses above.