Old Fashioned Glass
Short, wide tumbler with a thick base — the traditional service vessel for whisky on the rocks and stirred cocktails.
The Old Fashioned glass — also called a rocks glass or lowball — is a short, wide tumbler typically 180–300 ml capacity with a thick base. The thick base supports the muddling step of the Old Fashioned cocktail (whose name the glass shares) and provides thermal mass to delay ice melt. The shape is the traditional service vessel for whisky on the rocks (neat whisky over a large ice cube or several smaller ones) and for stirred cocktails including the Old Fashioned, Sazerac, and many variations. A 'double rocks' glass at 350–420 ml capacity is used for service with larger ice formats.
Quick facts
- Type
- Glassware
The Single Large Cube
Contemporary cocktail bars often serve whisky on the rocks with a single large ice cube (typically a 2-inch cube or sphere) rather than several smaller cubes. The larger surface-to-volume ratio of one large piece of ice melts more slowly, diluting the whisky less over the time it takes to drink. The Old Fashioned glass's wide bowl accommodates the larger format. The technique was popularised by the early-2000s Japanese cocktail bar tradition and adopted internationally through the craft cocktail movement.
Sources & further reading (1)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-15
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a rocks glass and an Old Fashioned glass?
The terms are functionally interchangeable. 'Old Fashioned glass' references the cocktail the glass was designed for; 'rocks glass' references the service format (spirit over ice). Both refer to a short, wide tumbler with a thick base, typically 180–300 ml capacity.