Vesper Through the Eyes of Václav Vojíř from Bugsy’s
When a Glass Changes the Cocktail Experience
The new Vesper collection was created under the Květná 1794 brand as a set of hand-blown barware for cocktails, whisky, gin & tonic, and home entertaining. It was designed by Klára Janypková and Tomáš Kučera in collaboration with Prague’s Bugsy’s Bar, a venue that has been synonymous with classic cocktail culture for more than thirty years.
Bugsy’s became an important partner in the development of the collection. Not as a formal collaborator, but as an environment where the glassware could be considered from the perspective of real service, specific drinks, and the everyday experiences of bartenders and guests.
“Bugsy’s is a classic bar that has focused entirely on cocktails since the very beginning. Cocktails are our core product,” says Václav Vojíř of Bugsy’s Bar.
Vesper collection
It Was Not About Filling a Gap in the Market
When Václav Vojíř talks about the creation of the Vesper collection, he does not describe it as a response to something missing from standard barware. In his view, today’s market offers countless options. What matters more for an established bar is finding its own distinctive expression. “I wouldn’t say that anything was missing from the barware market. Today, the market is completely saturated with every possible option,” he says. “The truth is that the longer you’ve been in the market and the more successful you become, the stronger your need to differentiate yourself.”
Distinctiveness became one of the starting points of the collection. Vesper is not intended to be extravagant or overly decorative. Its strength lies in restraint, proportion, and the contrast between the delicate upper part of the glass and its bold base. In an environment where guests often have a clear expectation of the glass in which they will receive a gin & tonic, a Dry Martini, or a Manhattan, Vesper introduces a subtle shift from convention. “I liked the opportunity to be part of developing something that would be different, distinctive, elegant, and at the same time slightly provocative,” adds Vojíř.
Glassware Tested on Real People
One of the advantages of working with a professional bar was the opportunity to observe how the glassware performs in real life—in the hand, at the bar, during service, and in direct interaction with guests.
Vojíř jokingly says that, unlike pharmaceutical companies, hospitality professionals can “test on people.” Guest reactions were an important part of the process and were not always straightforward. The bar environment is, to some extent, conservative, and guests have established ideas about what a glass for a specific drink should look like. Vesper works with these expectations while gently challenging them. “Perhaps no one had thought that instead of an elegant stem, there could be a heavy, solid platform supporting a delicate bowl,” says Vojíř. “But once someone has a drink from it, I think they’ll want to do it again.”
Every Detail Influences Taste
During development, it became clear that a glass is more than just an aesthetic accessory. Its shape, rim, wall thickness, and the way the drink reaches the lips all influence the overall impression of the cocktail.
“What surprised me was how important every single detail is when designing glassware for beverages,” says Vojíř. “A tiny nuance in shape, the curvature of the rim, or the thickness of the glass wall can have a significant impact on how guests perceive the drink.”
This understanding is reflected throughout the collection. Vesper includes a decanter and five types of glasses: long drink, gin & tonic, water/whisky, coupé, and shot. Each shape has its own character while remaining part of a cohesive whole.
“We didn’t want to design just another type of barware. We were interested in how a glass can enhance both the character of a drink and the serving experience itself. Vesper is built on precise proportions, stability, and contrast,” say the collection’s designers, Klára Janypková and Tomáš Kučera.
For Selected Drinks, Not for Everything
At Bugsy’s, Vesper will not be used across the entire menu. Each shape will be assigned to specific drinks where the bar believes a natural synergy exists between the beverage and the glass.
“For each glass shape, we will select one or two premium drinks or cocktails to serve in it,” says Vojíř. “They will be the drinks that we feel truly suit that particular glass.”
One example is the large glass designed for gin & tonic. Bugsy’s plans to serve its own Bugsy’s DNA Gin in it, a recipe developed using botanicals chosen by members of the current bar team. This demonstrates how closely Vesper is connected to the living environment of a cocktail bar: it is not merely an object, but part of the story of a specific drink.
Vojíř was involved in the development of the collection.
Vesper, Bond, and the Evening Ritual
The name Vesper refers both to the atmosphere of the evening and to the famous cocktail from the novel Casino Royale. For Bugsy’s, the connection is especially fitting; the bar has long been associated with Bond culture, and the world of classic cocktails, elegance, and storytelling is very much part of its identity.
From the Bar to the Home
Although the collection was developed in dialogue with a professional hospitality environment, its use is not limited to bars. The experience gained at Bugsy’s helped confirm that the glassware performs exceptionally well wherever attention to detail matters. As a result, Vesper can bring the culture of refined serving into the home—whether for an evening cocktail, a gathering with friends, or a special occasion.
According to Vojíř, gastronomy has evolved. Today’s guests do not come only for taste or refreshment; they come for the complete experience.
“The gastronomy we once knew is gone. Today, guests don’t just come to satisfy hunger and thirst—they come for an experience,” he says. “When the standard elements we have traditionally used evolve into the realm of design or glassmaking art, everything starts to come together.”
The Vesper collection brings together the hand-crafted glassmaking tradition of Květná 1794, contemporary product design, and the expertise of one of the Czech Republic’s most respected cocktail bars. It was born from a professional dialogue but is equally intended for private homes—wherever serving a drink deserves its own atmosphere.
Vesper is available in a crackled-glass version that evokes ice and the fragility of a moment. A gold edition with a more festive character is also in preparation.
Discover the Vesper collection in the Květná 1794 e-shop.
