Acrylic is a useful, clear plastic that resembles glass, but has properties that make it superior to glass in many ways. It is chosen over glass for many reasons. It is many times stronger than glass, making it much more impact resistant and therefore safer. Another great advantage of acrylic is that it is only half as heavy as glass. This makes working with acrylic much easier. There are some misconceptions about acrylic, namely that it yellows, turns brittle and cracks over time. Though this might be true of very cheap forms of plastic, it is not so with acrylic. Some people worry that acrylic scratches too easily, but unlike glass, scratches can be easily buffed out of acrylic.
Which brings up the point of using acrylic for glassware. When looking at various on-line web stores you will see lots of acrylic glassware. Such as the champagne glass pictured above. An item like this is inexpensive yet durable, and is a great choice to be used at outdoor parties, by the swimming pool, etc. For the standard home bar this is an item worth having, for your regular sprots tv watching with the guys. Or even non-alcoholic kids drinks can be made in this type of barware and other that the mess of a spilled drink, you do not have to worry about broken glass. You can save the good liquer and the good glassware for your more refined entertaining evenings.
Once in a while a new product type is introduced into the barware market. One of these is an item named GlassWearz. This item serves as a covering for your glass in an outdoor setting. And also can be used as a coaster when not placed over the glass. This type of barware product is great for outdoor events, such as weddings, pool parties, etc. The covering keep insects and leaves or dust from settling inside of drink glasses. The covering is made of a nylon organze material, and can even be monogrammed with a wedding date or couples initials.
The original design concept of this cover came for a pool party with insects flying around. The designer placed a bikini top over a glass to keep the bugs away. The innovative designer said it just came to her. “Wow, I should make a top to place over drink glasses”. It is wonderful too still see ingenuity come from the most unlikely of places.
Cocktail pics are small beverage utensils that are used to spear garnishes such as olives to place in your drink. They may also be used as appetizer spears for hor doeuvres. When placing olives or other garnishes in a drink, the cocktail pic lets you eat the garnish without having to place your fingers inside of the glass. And since some appetizers, such as meatballs or weiners, are difficult to handle without using a fork or spoon, the pic lets you eat these items in a delicate manner and avoid carrying around a large utensil. One advantage to cocktail pics is they are inexpensive, and can be used to creat a theme for your party. Such as pics with a Halloween or Christmas theme figure on the head. Many pics are made of plastic, glass or stainless steel. And they come in a large variety of styles. Cocktail pics are an important part of any home bar.
To make any occasion a special one serve some champagne, and make a toast. Whether it’s at your Dad’s birthday party or your co-workers bachelor party—popping open a bottle of champagne livens up any party.
If you’re planning your own party, try to serve the bubbly in champagne flutes. Champagne flutes come in a wide variety. You can spend a bit more and buy hand-painted flutes, or Austrian crystal flutes, and if you’re going for broke get champagne flutes made of solid gold! But, if you are broke, there’s always the disposable plastic variety found at most party stores.
Many manufacturers are using more pewter to make barware. Pewter goblets, serving trays, and martini glasses have become so popular that many pewter items don’t stay on the shelf for more than a day. People like pewter for its subtle glow and classic look. Formerly, most barware items were designed using silver, stainless steel and glass. Though those metals and glass may be less expensive, most people will tell you they are willing to pay a little bit more for the superior quality of pewter.
Pewter will last for years when properly cared for. It doesn’t tarnish and it’s easy to clean.
The cleaning process for pewter begins with the purchase of a pewter polish, if that’s not available then use warm soapy water. Cloths made specifically for cleaning pewter can be found at most furniture stores. Make sure not to use silver polish on pewter. And, don’t put your pewter in the dishwasher (pewter has a low melting point (400-degrees F) it could become warped if the water is too hot. When finished using special pewter pieces store them in their original packaging.
A stir stick or swizzle stick is a tool to stir mixed drinks, cocktails or other beverages to thoroughly combine the various liquids in a glass. Sitting at your local bar you will almost always get the little plastic stick or short straw to stir your drink with. A high rollers bar may give you a plastic stir stick with a flat end that has the bar logo or name.
Typically a home bar will have drink stirrers made of glass, heavy grade plastic or metal. With a topper that presents a theme, ie. golf or other sports, nautical, holiday time, etc. Most stirrers have a topper on one end and a slightly round bulb on the other to mix contents of your drink. Some even have a pointed end to spear olives, fruit or other garnishes in your drink.
Once in a while a really neat product comes along. I like this glass slipper coaster. It is made of embroidered material and slips around the foot of your stem glass ware. This is one coaster that your actually carry with your glass. Enabling you to mingle with party friends and just set your wine glass down, not having to worry about finding a coaster nearby.
I have seen a few variations of this type of coaster including some made of a 2 piece cloth product with slits cut into it. This allows the base of the wine glass to slip into the slits, and then serve the same function as the item shown in the above picture. As one drinker whose mother taught him not to leave wet rings on the furniture, I like the concept of carrying my coaster with me.
Pictured above is a cork coaster with a image printed on it. You often see these coasters in use. They are inexpensive and durable, with the cork doing a very respectble job of soaking up droplets from the sides or bottom of a glass. Cork itself comes from the cork oak tree which grows mostly in the Mediterranean area of the world. Cork is harvested from the bark of the tree. One unique and environmentally friendly tidbit about cork is that this product comes from live trees and will regrow back to be harvested again.
The honey-comb like molecular structure of cork is easy to compress, shape and mold. Giving it a large variety of uses in our every day lives an home. Of course all you have to do is glue a piece of heavy carboard paper to it. Print an image on the paper, and springing onto your home bar is a great looking coaster for your friends to use under their favorite beverage.
There are numerous varieties of coasters that can be used at your next party or just to have sitting on your coffee table. I have seen coasters made from plastic, polycarbonate, rope, pewter and paper, just to name a few. The main function of a coaster is to prevent water or liquid damage to your furniture. When a drink glass with ice is at room temperature, condensate from the cold glass mixed with warm air on the exterior, forms liquid droplets. And as we have all observed the droplets of water run down the glass onto your furniture surface. Causing unsightly water streaks on your furniture at the least, and a permanent water ring if not wiped off immediately.
On the opposite side of your favorite iced drink is the hot drink, which also leaves the same condensate water mark from a hot liquid inside the cup, to the cooler exterior room air. And now that I have explained the function of why a coaster should be used, it is up to the reader to decide which coaster fits the look of the party theme. Or goes with the everyday surroundings of your particular room decor.