Glassware and Gender Egalitarianism- Why do some men think martini glasses are ‘girly’ and why don’t more women drink old fashioned’s?

It’s one of those demands all bartenders are familiar with… ‘Can you put that in a ‘manly’ glass please’? What exactly makes the Martini glass feminine?

Bartenders passions for creativity doesn’t stop at the liquids they’re mixing, the glass is wholly important. Glass ware is not only designed for certain beverages, but it also has an effect on the drinker’s experience. Spending three minutes gently stirring a Manhattan only to have the customer ask to put it in a half pint glass is not only an insult to the bartender, but an insult to the history and culture of cocktails entirely. Some may argue that it is down to the preferences of the consumer, and their freedom of choice, but so much of me wonders if we really should be offended at all. Granted, there are some that know how they best enjoy their cocktails; however, it’s the consumer that have the engrained notion that drinking a cocktail out of a Martini glass will instantly emasculate him, or the consumer who thinks she’ll suddenly grow a penis drinking out of an Old Fashioned. Times are changing, feminism and sexism in bar and hospitality culture is being stamped out, but still some people feel the glassware in their hand represents a certain gender and the stereotypes that follow suit.

I’m a woman and I drink whisky- does this make me feel in any way masculine?

I’ve asked myself this question a lot whilst looking around the bar at the other ladies sipping their Pink Cosmopolitans and Porn Star Martinis. And the answer is; No. Typically the neat whisky drinker stereotype has been aged between 40 and 70 boasting a statuesque figure and a bright pink nose, but if I ever felt in any way less ‘feminine’ because the liquor I was drinking in an old fashioned tumbler I’d have to re evaluate the way I see the world.

We need to go back in time and look at the history of glassware, especially the Martini Glass to really get to grips with why they are considered feminine.

The Martini:

· The glass was designed to hold a specific cocktail

· To enhance the palatability of the straight up Gin Martini with a glass that kept the cocktail at an optimum temperature.

· The long stem being created so you didn’t have to hold the area of the glass that contained the drink, thus not warming it up.

· The opened up rim of the drink designed to disperse the aroma of the gin into your senses.

= nothing to do with feminism! It was engineered for ultimate imbibing purposes.

So perhaps it’s down to the actual alcohol inside the glass or the people who drink it?

Whilst the Dry Martini to me is a decadent and intriguing cocktail for all genders, other’s actually view it as masculine, with high alcohol volumes and a strong taste it’s no wonder. Here I have to mention James Bond and the Vesper. Whilst he never sticks around long enough to finish his Martini, it’s the figure of masculinity he represents that’s interesting. Doesn’t every guy aspire to be as ‘ bad-ass cool’ or 'elegant' as Bond?

My thoughts on the evolution of cocktails in a martini glass lean towards bartender’s utlising the ergonomic and aesthetic qualities of the glass to enhance the experience of other cocktails. 

And why wouldn’t they? What this has created however is an onslaught of cocktail variety being served up in one form of glassware with typically sweet- straight up and often pink coloured cocktails forming the basis of a lot of menus.

What I have noticed is the popularity of the espresso martini guiding a light forward in this long and arduous glassware tunnel.

Gents will walk into the bar these days and happily order 10 Espresso Martini’s and think it’s the most masculine and classy thing they can do. 

I believe a lot of this is to do with the colour of the drink, with beautifully fluffy pale cream foam and a dark black body it’s almost like they are channeling their inner 007 without the strength and intensity of ordering a real Gin Martini.

What are your thoughts? Let me know

photo credits:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/cocktails/how-to-make-a-james-bond-martini-but-limit-yourself-to-one/

http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Glassware+Ranges/80327,default,sc.html