Photo: Brennan Wesley
Haskell Harris of Garden & Gun
Haskell Harris (@haskellharris) is the style director at Garden & Gun.
As someone obsessed with objects of beauty, I sometimes value charm over function (only sometimes!). And as a creative type, I like to break the rules a little bit. This means I don’t give a whit what anyone thinks of the fact that I drink my champagne out of tiny juice glasses from France. I like them. I think they are pretty and unpretentious and I take secret delight that they are the “wrong” glass.
It’s one of the reasons why I get along so well with Sarah O’Kelley, general manager and wine buyer for the recently launched Edmund’s Oast Exchange in Charleston, South Carolina, which sells wonderful beer and wine from around the world. She knows the rules, so she also knows how, when, and why to break them. O’Kelley spent years working for Emeril Lagasse in New Orleans, then opened an award-winning restaurant called the Glass Onion in the Holy City (her pimento cheese is still one of G&G’s most popular recipes online). So when she says that she prefers a white wine glass to a flute for sparkling wine, who am I to argue?
Here are five of O’Kelley’s recommendations for pairing glassware and drinks. Some, like sweet tea, are steeped in tradition. Others totally—and charmingly—flout it.
For sweet tea:
Etched Star Glass Tumblers
“I swear we had a set of these ‘star’ glasses when I was growing up. So I would love nothing more than to take a trip down memory lane and fill them with extra sweet iced tea (mint optional.)” $39-$44; food52.com
For cocktails:
Metallic Rimmed Champagne Coupes
“As a wine nerd, I take issue with coupes for serving actual Champagne (the bubbles disperse too quickly), but I want all of my cocktails in coupes, especially a Hemingway daiquiri when it’s still 90 degrees out at sunset.” $44; food52.com
For white wine:
Schott Zwiesel White Wine Glasses
“These are a perfect size for aperitif whites or for bubbly. Yes, I prefer bubbly out of wine glasses (not flutes) so you can really catch all of the complex aromas of a great Champagne. And yes, you should splurge on real-deal Champagne more often!” $65; amazon.com
For red wine:
Schott Zwiesel Burgundy Glasses
“Most red wine glasses of this shape reference the famed French wine region of Burgundy, but I find that they are the best universal wine glass shape around, whether you are drinking Burgundy, Bordeaux, or California. I even prefer most whites in these so there’s room for the wine to breathe.” $75; amazon.com
For nightcaps:
Oklahoma Rocks Glass by Terrane Glass Designs
“There’s just something about the feel of a very nice rocks glass in your hand. These are quite simply perfect whether you are sipping on bourbon or my personal favorite—aged rum. Plus, they are made in North Carolina—amazing!” $40; ggmercantileco.com
Garden & Gun has affiliate partnerships and may receive a portion of sales when a reader clicks to buy a product. All products are independently selected by the G&G editorial team.
