Real product review: Structure glassware
A review by Mixologist Jaz'min Weaver @garnishdarling
October 2022
As a bartender, I have a glassware addiction. I’m always getting more sets, long after the shelves are full.
I love all the different shapes and sizes and find that as frequently as I’m thinking about how the flavors will balance when I’m crafting cocktails, I’m also pondering the presentation.
I love when the reality of a beverage matches the way I imagined it, and every detail, from garnish to first aroma to glassware gets considered when attempting to reach that goal.
Libbey has an over 200-year history in glassware, and they’re still adding new designs. One of the newest is the Structure series.
I was able to get my hands on a few to try them out. They are available in three different sizes: 9-ounce rocks glass, 12-ounce double old fashioned and 12-ounce cooler. At first glance, these drinking vessels are visually unique because they’re square and feature a twist. The twist in the design provides a more elevated and elegant look than plain glass.
All and all, I found a lot to like about these glasses and am really glad I got to add them to my ever-growing collection.
The design is multifunctional: I found the cooler glass perfect for a tall drink of water, a home soda, or a beer. I can already imagine using these glasses for iced tea in the summer.
The 9-ounce rocks glass looked great for a neat pour or a boozy sipper. I loved the look of a large cube in the double old fashioned glass, and I’m already thinking of what other ice shapes might look stylish.
These Structure glasses were designed with stacking in mind, which means they’re meant to fit together in a way that minimizes scratches caused by glass on glass contact. A common theme, whether I’m at home or behind the bar that I work at, is lack of storage for the array of glassware. Having a stackable option is a great way to preserve shelf space.
Structure Stackable DOF- 1009131
Immediately, one of my favorite things about these glasses is that they’re sturdy. Believe me, there are times when I love a thin cocktail glass, but being fine and being fragile are two different things.
Managing a bar program, one of my main thoughts every time I’m considering which glassware to purchase is whether it’s going to survive heavy everyday use, being handled by those who are inebriated, and being washed/sanitized at high temperatures.
Structure Stackable DOF- 1009131
One of the features of this glassware is that the tops are treated with the Libbey DuraTuff® process. DuraTuff is an after-process (which, admittedly, I had to research a little) that results in a more durable and break-resistant product. It also makes them less likely to break from thermal shock, which is very useful in a restaurant setting where a cold glass going into a hot dishwasher and then being filled with ice or cold liquid again could be a possibility.
Ideally, a glass doesn’t break. But, when that inevitable accident happens, the way that it breaks can be important. The DuraTuff treatment encourages the glass to break in a way that is less dangerous by producing bigger chunks and fewer shards.
And in the event of breakage, getting a replacement is easy because the design of the glass includes the product number embossed on the bottom.
A common issue I’ve run into over the years is loving a style of glass and being unable to find it again to order more for the restaurant, or purchasing a case and realizing they are a different size than the originals. Thanks, Libbey, for making that a problem of the past.
Libbey proudly supports end users and is dedicated to building relationships with members of the culinary industry. To learn more and connect with Mixologist, Jaz'min Weaver, follow her on Instagram @garnishdarling.
