How to pour
a cola in
Put the empty glass in the freezer for a few minutes, or fill it with ice while you prepare the rest. A glass that is already cold draws less heat from your cola than a glass at room temperature.
Fill the glass three-quarters full with large ice cubes. It may seem like a lot, but large cubes cool faster and then melt more slowly than a few loose cubes, so your cola actually gets diluted less.
If you’re making a long drink, pour the drink over the ice first. The usual ratio is 5 cl of spirit to 15 cl of cola, or about one to three. If you’re drinking the cola neat, skip this step.
Hold the glass at an angle and let the cola run down the side instead of straight onto the bottom. This releases less carbonation, so the fizz stays in the drink. Lightly squeeze the lime slice over the glass and drop it in.
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The story
Cola tastes fuller from a glass than from a can, and there is a straightforward explanation for that. You smell the drink as you drink from a glass because your nose is above the rim; with a can or bottle, that aroma hardly plays a role, and smell determines a large part of what you call taste. Glass is also neutral and does not impart anything of its own. Temperature matters too: the colder the cola, the more carbonation remains dissolved and the sharper the fizz feels. A glass that has been chilled beforehand simply keeps that temperature longer.
The right glass
A tall, straight long drink glass is the right choice here. Its narrow shape keeps the carbonation longer than a wide tumbler because less liquid surface is in contact with the air, and its height leaves room for plenty of ice. Thirty to forty centiliters is a comfortable size: a 33 cl can fits inside with plenty of room left for ice cubes. Looking for a lower model for the same drink? Take a look at the tumblers.
Arcoroc Islande Long Drink Glass 33 cl (6 pieces)
Duralex Picardie Long Drink Glass 36 cl (6 pieces)
Both sets together € 34,90.
The right tools
For cola, use a jigger next to the glass to measure the proportions precisely, and an ice mold for long bars that melt slowly. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you can find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glass set (our choice 01) + 2 bar tools together € 44,85.
Variations & twists
A slice of lime makes the cola fresher, while a slice of lemon makes it slightly softer and rounder. If you turn it into a long drink, 5 cl of liquor to 15 cl of cola is the usual ratio: with white rum it is called a Cuba Libre, while whisky or bourbon makes the drink fuller and woodier. With vodka, the cola remains most like itself, as vodka adds little flavor of its own. Want to read more? View all drinks and brands.
Serving tip
Put the glasses in the fridge half an hour before serving and take the ice out of the freezer at the last moment. Pour at an angle and top up in two stages so the foam does not spill over the rim. If there is a lot of ice in the glass, add a straw from the straws.
Good to know
Why pour cola at an angle?
Carbonation escapes wherever the liquid hits something hard. If you pour straight down, the stream hits the bottom and foams up immediately. If you let the cola run along the sloping side, more carbonation stays in the drink and it remains fizzy for longer.
How much ice goes in?
Fill the glass three-quarters full. That may seem like a lot, but a glass full of ice cools the cola faster and then melts more slowly than two or three loose cubes. Large cubes have less surface area per sip than small ones and therefore dilute it less.
Does cola really taste different from a glass?
The cola is the same, but you taste it differently. You smell the drink while drinking from a glass, and smell determines a large part of what you call taste. Glass also releases nothing of its own, whereas with a can or plastic you sometimes taste the packaging too.
What ratio do you use for a long drink?
Usually 5 cl of liquor to 15 cl of cola, so about one to three. If you want to taste the liquor more clearly, use 5 cl to 12 cl. If the liquor should stay in the background, you can use up to 20 cl of cola.
Lemon or lime?
Lime is sharper and slightly more bitter and pairs well with rum. Lemon is softer and rounder and works well with whisky. Gently squeeze the wedge over the glass before dropping it in, so some oil from the peel is released too.
Frequently asked questions
Why do you pour cola into the glass at an angle?
Because less carbonation is released. A straight stream hitting the bottom makes the cola foam immediately; pouring it along the sloping side keeps the fizz in the drink better.
How much ice do you put in a glass of cola?
Fill the glass about three-quarters full with ice. A lot of ice cools faster and then melts more slowly than a few loose cubes, so the cola is diluted less.
What ratio do you use for rum and cola or whisky and cola?
Usually 5 cl of liquor to 15 cl of cola, so about one to three. This keeps the liquor recognizable without letting the cola disappear.
Which glass do you use for cola?
A tall, straight long drink glass holding thirty to forty centilitres. Its narrow shape keeps the carbonation in longer, and there is plenty of room for ice.
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