Toasting the success of cocktail glass designers

WHAT’S a functional martini cocktail glass?

Capable of holding a cocktail, no doubt, whether shaken or stirred. Thereafter let the imagination flow.

Ten young men and women hope theirs will be the one the judges raise in the Bombay Sapphire designer glass competition Irish showdown.

Master craftsmen at Waterford Crystal are creating the 10 “functional” glasses that will go on show in the trendiest bars around the country from January.

A €1,000 prize awaits the national winner, plus a work placement with the wizards at Waterford Crystal. Then it’s Milan’s Salone del Mobile in April for the world decider and a top prize of nearly €12,000.

Apart from making the premium botanical gin, Bombay Sapphire down the years has been commissioning internationally acclaimed designers to create “the ultimate” martini cocktail glass for use in global press advertising.

The distiller came up with design competitions for emerging young designers. The competition is open to design students in third-level courses or designers who graduated during the past three years.