RCR Tocai

Decide what you want to use the small glass for. For shots that go down in one gulp, 7 cl is generous, so you pour it to about half; if you use the same glass for a nip or a digestif, the size comes into its own. With the highball glass it is mainly the ratio that counts: 36 cl means ice belongs with it, otherwise the drink looks lost in there. If you want to compare more sizes, look at the shot glasses and the highball glasses; the brand as a whole sits under RCR. For a table of six one pack of each is enough, because both sizes are supplied in sixes.

Chill shot glasses before you pour, because a cold glass keeps spirits sharper on the tongue for longer. The overview page with shots lists serves that fit this size. Fill the highball glass with ice first and only then with liquid: in a gin and tonic a glass packed with ice keeps the tonic fizzing longer than two loose cubes. The same goes for a cuba libre, with the lime in before the cola goes in, so the juice spreads through the whole drink instead of sitting on top.

Both sizes are made of Luxion, RCR's lead-free crystal glass. It is clearer than ordinary soda-lime glass and keeps that clarity even after repeated machine washing, which traditional lead crystal does not manage on its own. Place the shot glasses separately in the upper rack and do not nest them: two shot glasses jammed inside each other rarely come apart again without damage. Stand the highball glass upright in the lower rack so the water can run out.

If you want a wider glass for spirits rather than a shot glass that empties in one go, have a look at the nip glasses. For mixed drinks in a lower, sturdier shape there are the tumblers. If you would rather put together a complete set for a whole table at once, you can order the two Tocai sizes side by side, because both packs contain six glasses and therefore match up.