There are two main reasons behind the unusual shape of martini glasses. One reason may date back to the prohibition era in the United States. The other has to do with the beverage itself. The distinctive shape of martini glasses is functional; as well as, visually appealing.

The wide open brim of the cocktail glass is said to produce surface tension that brings out the bouquet of the gin and creates a nicer display of the olive garnish than a standard cocktail glass. The coned shape also keeps the ingredients of the drink from separating. While these facts may be true, many people believe that martini glasses were invented during Prohibition, where the wide mouth of the glass made it easier to quickly dispose of the illegal alcohol during a police raid.

Martini glasses are shaped similar to a cone, except they have a wider brim. These specially made glasses are constructed to serve martinis, but they can be used for other beverages. In fact, martini glasses are part of the large family of cocktail glasses, and they are used to serve a wide variety of beverages. Martini glasses are undeniably one of the most well known types of cocktail glasses. The notoriety of martini glasses is as a result of their distinctive shape. They are most well known for their cone-shaped bowl and stem above a flat base. The tip of the cone forms an approximate 90-degree angle at its cross-section. The martini glass differs from other cocktail glasses because of its sharply tapered shape.

A martini is a cocktail containing gin and vermouth. It is usually garnished with an olive or two, though some may prefer a lemon peel instead. The drink, like other cocktails, is served without ice. This allows the stem of the glass to both be visually appealing and have a practical use. The drinker can hold the stem instead of the bowl so that the heat of the body does not change the temperature of the drink.

Four-ounce martini glasses are considered the ideal size, but they come in various sizes, colors and styles, some of which are more fitted for decoration than for the consumption of a good martini. Six-ounce glasses are now often used for those who prefer a more contemporary martini recipe with additional ingredients. Martini glasses also come in 8-ounce sizes, and recently they have been created in a different style to serve on-the-rocks style martinis.