Photo Credit: Brian Auer[/caption]When it comes to choosing the material of a shot glass, which is better - Metal or Glass?
The Merriam-Webster definition of Shot Glass is a glass holding one shot (as of whiskey).
A shot glass is a glass that people use in order to "do a shot," that is, a glass used to drink an amount of a strong alcoholic beverage, preferably straight, in one quick motion. Anybody who has ordered shots at more than one place knows that shot glasses come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Some are made of metal and others are made of glass.
In bars, they are usually made out of very thick glass, and probably because they can get dropped, and withstand the impact, without breaking. Flasks often come in a gift set, and since the flasks are usually made out of stainless steel, the shot glasses may be made out of it, as well.
The concept of the "shot glass" seems to be an American phenomenon. Many european countries have the tradition of a "cordial" or "aperitif" as an after-dinner drink, for which "special" glasses are used, but these are usually smaller and more fragile than our classic shot glass. Other countries that have a tradition of drinking alcohol "straight" do not have special glasses, they just seem to use normal glasses, or basically whatever glassware is available.
Whether someone chooses a glass or metal “shot glass,” is purely a matter of personal preference. If you are hanging out with a friend, and he or she suddenly pulls out a bottle or flask, filled with a delightful potable, and then produces two shot glasses, so that you can have a toast like two gentlemen, or two ladies, or a lady and a gentleman, would you care whether it was a glass made of metal or glass? I did not think so!