Ready to step into the glamorous world of 1920s cocktails? The Luigi Bormioli Backdoor 20’s Signature Cocktail Glassware Collection offers a stunning range of six crystal glasses, each designed to enhance the flavour and aroma of your favourite drinks.
From the classic Gin & Tonic to the exotic Tequila Sunrise, this collection features a variety of timeless designs inspired by the Prohibition Era. To help you make the most of these exquisite glasses, we’ve curated a series of delicious cocktail recipes that perfectly complement each style.
Glassware: Nick & Nora
So cute and petite, Nick & Nora wants to have fun. Elegant curves in all the right places. An absolute beauty, one to behold. Although stunning to look at and petite in stature, can still hold plenty of your favourite cocktails. Inspired by the films with Nick and Nora Charles as the sharp, witty and ever-bantering main characters.
Inspired by the classic cocktail: Hanky Panky
Created by Ada Coleman, head bartender at the American Bar in London’s Savoy Hotel in the early 1900’s
Kurtis: “The Nick & Nora is the perfect glass to serve my take on the Hanky Panky as the recipe utilises higher proof alcohol with less volume to serve. The glass further enhances the aromatics left by the zest of the orange, leaving its essential oils sitting on top of the cocktail”.
Recipe: 45ml London Dry Style Gin, 30ml Sweet Vermouth, 5ml Mint Jaffa Syrup, 5ml Fernet Branca Jaffa Syrup Recipe: Zest of Orange, 200g Sugar, 200ml Water, 20 Dash of Chocolate Bitters & 20 Mint Leaves
Garnish: Orange Zest
Method: Add all ingredients into a shaker tin, add ice, stir for 20 seconds, and strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass
Make it your own at home: Want a fruitier style classic cocktail? Remove the Fernet Branca and replace it with your favourite fruit liqueur for a fruity take on this classic.
Glassware: Hemmingway Special
Just like the namesake, darkly alluring, with a sophisticated charm. A masculine elegance, with a brooding intensity that belies its refined nature.
Inspired by the classic cocktail: Last Word
Drink inspiration from early 1920’s at the Detroit Athletics Club bar
Kurtis: “The Hemmingway Special glass is the most exceptional vessel to hold my take on the Last Word as it ensures the drink’s aroma is open to be enjoyed while the garnish sits proud in the middle of the glass awaiting the final sip to jump out and be enjoyed as an exciting end to the cocktail”.
Recipe: 25ml Rosella & Hibiscus Infused Vodka, 25ml Chartreuse, 25ml Maraschino, 25ml Lime Juice
Infusions: Add pinch of Rosella Leaves, pinch of Hibiscus Tea Leaves, zest of 1⁄2 Lemon into 1 bottle of Vodka. Let it sit in a warm area for 48 hours. Strain the liquid and rebottle, ready for use.
Garnish: Maraschino Cherry
Method: Add all ingredients into chilled cocktail shakers, add ice, shake hard, double strain into Hemmingway Special glass
Make it your own at home: A classic Last Word cocktail can be found using Gin, I’ve taken a new spin on the classic allowing overnight infused Vodka to be used as the base. Like it sweet? Increase the Maraschino to 30ml and drop the Chartreuse in the recipe down to 20ml for a sweeter take on this classic.
Glassware: Barracuda
As the name suggests, strong and imposing in appearance, but with a softer side. Barracuda is no slouch, it holds its ground, offering bold angular lines, a formidable silhouette that gives way to a curvaceous embrace, creating a glass that is both powerful and comforting.
Inspired by the classic cocktail: Raspberry Fizz
Fizz Style cocktails were made famous during this time
Kurtis: “The Barracuda glass with its curved design allows bartenders the opportunity to layer cocktails. For those drinking these thoughtfully designed liquid pieces of art, you’ll not only enjoy a delicious tasting drink, but also something that is stunning to the eye”.
Recipe: 45ml Bourbon, 10ml Sugar Syrup, 30ml Fresh Lime, Mint & Fresh Raspberries
Garnish: Fresh Raspberry
Method: Add all ingredients into the Barracuda glass, garnish & enjoy
Make it your own at home: For light spirit lovers, you can swap out the Bourbon with your favourite spirit. For a further twist, different herbs found around home can replace Mint for a more floral take on this classic.
Glassware: Tequila Sunrise
With a neck as long as ambition, Tequila Sunrise delights with sparkling and effervescent beauty. Glamorous and sophisticated, the ultimate party starter.
Inspired by the classic cocktail: Highball
A classic pre-prohibition era cocktail that hasn’t slowed down since its original inception
Kurtis: “As a drink’s enthusiast it brings me great joy to see a Highball style glass with a stem. This protects the cocktail from heat generated from our hands, while the shape of the Tequila Sunrise glass allows us to fill the glass with a great deal of ice to control drink temperature and experience”.
Recipe: 50ml Scotch Whisky, 10ml Peach Liqueur, squeeze 1⁄2 fresh Lemon top with Soda
Garnish: Lemon Wheel
Method: Add all ingredients into the Tequila Sunrise glass, add ice, garnish with fresh cut lemon wheel
Make it your own at home: Try using a different citrus in place of lemon then garnish with different herbs and spices found around home to make this your own (think basil and star anise or rosemary and cinnamon).
Glassware: Great Gatsby
A formidable silhouette gives way to a curvaceous embrace. Stylish and elegant with a touch of sophistication. Described as a hopeless romantic Great Gatsby loved to throw lavish parties just like you will accompanied by this stunner.
Inspired by the classic cocktail: White Lady
Created in the 1920’s, the original White Lady is made with Crème de Menthe but eventually made way for gin and whites
Kurtis: “The Great Gatsby glass is perfect for my take on the White Lady as it maintains the creamy head of the cocktail while allowing bartenders and drink creation specialists to garnish the top of the cocktail with their bitters of choice with ease.
Recipe: 50ml London Style Dry Gin, 25ml Cointreau, 25ml Sugar Syrup, 25ml Fresh Lemon Juice, 1 Egg White
Garnish: Aromatic Bitters
Method: Add all ingredients into chilled cocktail shakers, add ice, shake hard, double strain into Great Gatsby glass
Make it your own at home: For our vegans, replace the egg white with chickpea water to ensure you get that beautifully textured cocktail with a foamy top. To make the drink more seasonal, try adding half fresh passionfruit into the shaker tins or your favourite in season fruit.
Glassware: Gin & Tonic
No wallflower, Gin & Tonic will literally take your breath away. Big, bold, yet soft and elegant with a smooth curved finish. When the cocktails are flowing this beauty will be a showstopper!
Inspired by the classic cocktail: Planter’s Punch
During the 1920’s, no speakeasy menu was complete without a Planter’s Punch.
Kurtis: “The Gin & Tonic glass is built for maximum enjoyment and minimal work. With a larger volume, you’ll be treating your guests to a delicious drink that they can enjoy for some time without the need to continually top up, instead keeping the host working hard on their next tipple.
Recipe: 60ml Rum, 45ml Grapefruit Juice, 20ml Fresh Lime Juice, 3 Dashes aromatic bitters, Dash Soda
Garnish: Orange Zest and Mint Sprig
Method: Add all ingredients into the Gin & Tonic glass, add ice, add garnish, enjoy!
Make it your own at home: The Gin & Tonic glass by Luigi Bormioli is designed with a punch style drink in mind. Use this glass to serve large mixed drinks or as the namesake suggests, your favourite Gin & Tonic.
