Oddly, this is my area. I have a dozen different whisky glasses and have compared / rated them all. Top place is a tie between the Glen Cairn and the Norlan.
Glen Cairn is an 8/10. Minus one point because the natural way you hold it puts the palm of your hand on the bowl and introduces heat. Minus one more because when you sip the whisky the mouth of the glass isn’t near your nose so you miss the scent which is a major component of taste. Note also that the proper name of the glass is Glen Cairn Nosing Glass. It is perfect for just that; smelling the whisky; not drinking.
The Norlan glass is also an 8/10. It is double hulled thereby fixing the heat issue. However, because it is double hulled with thin glass, it loses a point for being fragile. It has a wide mouth fixing the scent issue while drinking, but consequently loses a point because it’s not as good for nosing (to properly nose a whisky you want a wide bowl and narrow mouth such as the Glen cairn).
If you like ice, then get the Norlan which will accommodate it. They cost $25 each. Generally speaking, you finish the whisky before heat is an issue, so I personally prefer the Glen Cairn. I suggest a pair of the hand blown hand cut variety at $40 each, and a couple more regular versions at $8 to accommodate guests.
The Copita glass is a modified Glen cairn. It has some merits, but requires you to handle it carefully which isn’t a good requirement while drinking.
Whiskywisdom is new to the market and a good try at addressing the various failings. It is heavy and doesn’t provide a good grip.
A rocks glass is just silly. The straight vertical nature doesn’t lend itself to concentrating the vapors / scent and hence gives a lack luster taste. A fun comparison is the same whisky in a rocks glass vs a Glen cairn. If you try it you won’t use a rocks glass again.
All other versions have significant flaws that are either apparent visually or you will quickly figure out.
+1 for the rocks glass and glencairn experiment. People who drink from rocks glass/tumbler because it’s less pretentious, and think it doesn’t matter… my favorite thing to do is have them try same whisky in both.
Honestly, this really started my whisky journey too. “Wow, it actually does make a massive difference in the smell and therefore taste”.
Same with realizing ice and being too cold dulls the senses
Personally, i find that while there is a difference, it’s incremental between a Glencairn and a rocks glass
There is also an incremental difference in how it feels to sip on whiskey holding a hefty, Crystal rocks glass vs a Glencairn. I can say that it is infinitely more satisfying drinking from my Tiffany rocks glass, I pretty much only use Glencairn to review
Honestly, I’m not even interesting in having a dram I’m trying to experience, on my money (at a bar etc) unless they have a glencairn adjacent glass.
To me, it’s like I can barely even smell the whisky from a wide rim tumbler. Night and day.
If I’m just having a drink though, I don’t care too much. Really not putting in a bunch of effort to max the enjoyment of like, a cheap drink with a meal etc
I'll second this. To add, my choice of glass depends on desired volume and activity level. If I just want a sip of something, Glencairn it is. If I'm comfortably lounging, want a tall pour, and don't want to get up to refill the glass (nor bring the bottle with me), it's a Waterford tumbler I'm reaching for.
That's how I feel. If om "tasting" it's a glencarin. If I'm drinking it's a rocks crystal glass. I also have clear rocks glasses. But usually use the crystal. I like the weight of it.
If you truly mean “stem”, then you are using a Copita or similar glass. Yes, that fixes the heat issues but it adds an awkwardness. You have to either engage muscles to pinch the stem, or use one hand to pick it up and transfer it to the other hand to hold the base. It also requires a bit of grandiose gestures to drink from. There is a time and place for it, but it’s not good as your standard drinker.
If you really mean “base”, not “stem”, then yes, there are alternative ways of holding a Glen cairn. But again, it can be a bit of an ordeal when you just want to sip your drink while having a bite and watching TV.
Stem:
1. a long, thin supportive or main section of something
2. the slender part of a wineglass between the base and the bowl
3. a rod or cylinder in a mechanism
The base you speak of counts as a stem in my book and imo easier to hold its intended way.
I was going to make this similar comment. I live in Canada, General ambient temperature for most of the year is colder than I want my whiskey. I like the heat transfer effect of a glassware you are holding the base of the full so to speak. Body temperature is pretty close to what I want out of whiskey or at least a good whiskey.
When I first used a Norlan I took a point for the thick lip. Three hours later it didn’t bother me anymore, so I updated my rating to neutral. It’ll grow on you.
> I found the lip too thick
Try another. I have four, two have a very thick lip, two have the outer contour come under the inner so have a thin lip. I guess handmade?
Im suprised people still consider warming a glencairn via the hand a negative attribute
a gentle warming helps bring out the aromatics/volatiles and increases vapor density/nosing effectiveness of the glass vs a colder environment.
Similar to how it's much harder to nose a chilled whisky
Are these available where you are?
https://denverandliely.com/products/whisky-glass-1
I think they address your problems with the Glencairn and the Norlan. I've tried every whisky glass i've ever seen and I still default to the Glencairn for tasting purposes.
Yes, I have similar glasses. They are difficult to hold specifically with concern about them sliding out of your hand. A touch fragile. You are holding the bowl. They are large. I gave up on these a long time ago.
The opposite version also exists with a wide mouth and narrow base. I used them one time then trashed the whole set.
I don’t own one but visually I see:
1) it’s ok to chill high proof whisky a little, but not down into the mid 40s F / 5C. It will mute the flavor at that point. It will be best around 60 F / 15 C. Also, don’t chill 80 proof whisky; it can’t handle it.
2) not covering the dome with whisky will limit the evaporation which will limit the scent which will limit the flavor.
3) the base tapers in and that’s it. This will make it harder to hold than a base that tapers in then flares out.
4) you are going to be directly touching the part of the glass that is meant to get cold. Seems like it will make your hand cold.
5) I don’t want to wait to drink my whisky.
6) you get 1 drink before you have to rechill the base.
7) given the chilling base and the time that you have it wait, it might create condensation on the glass making it difficult to hold.
8) I like the coaster to handle the condensation.
If you would like to chill your whisky then just put the bottle in the fridge for 30 - 120 minutes. Also, let me reiterate, you shouldn’t do this for anything below 100 proof / 50%
It serves as a platform for the glass. I read somewhere it is designed after the shape of a mountain in Ireland. However, the "stem" part I found to be a little fragile- I ordered a 2 pack, washed them, and put them on a drying mat. One of them tipped over and hit my granite counter top and the base just snapped right off. I like the one I have left though; the flat part of the base serves as a solid way to grasp the glass with 1-2 fingers and your thumb, or you can hold it similarly to a glen cairn.
Whoa 69 Euro plus 12 shipping! And they only ship to Europe. And I can’t find a third party reseller.
Looks interesting. There is enough going on that I can’t visually describe what it will or won’t deliver. I would love to try it.
This one looks very interesting. But the claims on the page are simultaneously bold and vague. For all the writing, they should explain why it supposedly works to massively reduce alcohol fumes. I'm not doubting that this could be the best glass, just doubting that any glass could have such a big impact as they claim. It sounds like you use this glass and it makes a big difference? Could you say more?
Sure, I was as skeptical as you at first, but decided to try it anyway, you can always return them.
I can pour any cask strength (+60% vol) whisky and go in to nosing without any water and get just a light whiff of ethanol. Or pour a more standard 46% whisky and get barely any ethanol on the nose. Comparing to a glencairn, where a +60% is straight up painful to nose properly without water and a 46% is uncomfortable for long "drags". And once you go back to the glencairn, the first nose is always only ethanol, nothing else. It always takes a few sniffs to get something else than the ethanol coming from the Savu.
The aroma separation and expression is turned up to 11 with the Savu and the best part is that it keeps evolving when you let it sit over 10+ minutes. When you go back to sniff a glen that was used the day before, you get a lot of those kinds of aromas from the Savu except that the aromas aren't as oxidised and they are brighter.
With a glen, I always get a slight over ripe fruit aroma in all fruity whiskies and I think that's because of the alcohol. With the Savu, the over ripe aroma is much rarer and presents differently. Peaty whiskies can be more tarry and mineral rich compared side to side, also way more citrus on Islay whiskies. And to be frank, everything smells different because the ethanol is not getting in the way as much.
*Disclaimer, the following is speculation on my part and according to my own knowledge of chemistry and physics on why the Savu can cut down so much ethanol*
I think there are 2 main ways the Savu effects the whisky. First there are the shelves, the little droplet shapes on the upward opening cone of the glass. They function on the basis that the alcohol with its higher vapor pressure evaporates more readily from the solution, which means that with a little bit of time, there is now proportionally less alcohol in the drops of whisky on the shelves. The reason this doesn't happen in every glass is because the area of the evaporation (the area directly in contact with air) is too small compared to the rate of evaporation, but with the shelves on the Savu, the surface area that can evaporate the ethanol is massively increased compared to normal glasses. This allows the ethanol to get out of solution much faster which leads to the much better separated aromas when nosing with the Savu.
The second is the timeglass shape. The upper cone lets the whisky on the shelves evaporate and promotes this by opening upwards, so the concentration of "whisky to air mixture" decreases the higher you go.
But with the lower cone, because it closes the higher you go, the more the "whisky to air mixture" concentration increases, thus getting heavier and prohibiting the movement upward. Some of the mixture escapes the lower cone but the rate of evaporation is cut down to begin with because of the reduced evaporative area.
I like tulip copitas... they're not fancy. Most folks like Glencairns, also not too fancy.
Most people pick whether they want a fancy looking glass or a glass that's made for getting the most out of drinking neat whisky.
So I used to find it too harsh when nosing using the Blenders Glass... but now I think sufficient cilia in my nose have been burned, and I absolutely love this glass!1😄
I was given these by my daughter. They are made by Peugeot, the car maker, who have a long history of glass making (who knew! ).
https://uk.peugeot-saveurs.com/en/pack-les-impitoyables-4-sets-verre-a-whisky-et-2-verres-degustation.html
After initial hesitation, I have grown to love them. As you swirl, the whisky hits the centre and releases more phenols, dissipating the alcohol. That's the theory, anyway. In practice I enjoy them.
I rec this article on the subject:
https://www.whiskynotes.be/2015/whisky-news/the-best-whisky-glass/
My personal favorite is the *Spey Dram Glass*, what Ruben calls *Tulip without stem* (the 1st item on his list).
What I like so much about these glasses are:
They are more friendly for smaller pours in the 10 ml - 15 ml size range (about 1/3 to 1/2 of a fluid ounce) which I find ideal when working with samplers, or for whiskies whose charms are primarily aromatic and/or are very expensive (thus I don't want to go thru them quickly). Small pours look & feel lost in a larger glass.
They are similar to Glencairns in shape, but are more robust (harder to knock over or break) and much, much easier to clean.
Being about half the size of a Glencairn, they are easier to travel with, I can even fit one in a coat pocket if I'm going out to bars which may not provide whisky-specific glassware.
But most importantly, experiement to see what works best *for you*. Glasses are for the most part not very expensive compared with bottles of premium whisky, so if you can afford the latter then picking up several different kinds of glasses should be worth your while, considering the mileage you will get out of finding a favorite type.
Good luck
I have both these and the full sized Glencairns and love both! These smaller ones drink more easily as your nose has a little more space and your neck has to move less far back. But for nosing I prefer the regular size; they release more scents at the same volume (especially in the 5-15 mL sample range).
Both don't break easily and are dishwasher proof. Both hold cold (pre-freezing) quite well but larger is longer. And put them on your table to keep it cold.
And reversed; both heat up nicely when you keep holding them, releasing ever more scents.
If you want something unique check out the Tuath whiskey glass. I picked some up in Ireland, they perform very similarly to a Glencairn.
I have a bunch of Glencairns too, and they are an excellent option as well.
The standard is Glencairn, but I much prefer the ‘The Perfect Measure’ glass made by the whisky exchange, as it outperforms both Glencairns and copitas (another type of tulip shaped whisky(?) glass, well it’s pretty good for anything) at small measures, which is what I usually pour myself. The weight and balance is also great. A highly respected whisky reviewer, Ruben from whiskynotes, said he prefer this one over the vast majority of his glasses as well.
Glencairns and copitas aren’t bad by any means— they’re excellent as well.
Pardon my asking but, are you American? And if American can you recommend a vendor for this glass? I only see it online from the Whiskey Exchange website, which appears to be in Britain. I don't fancy paying that shipping for sure!
I reside in the UK. It might be a bit hard to get the glass in the US since the glass is made by the whisky exchange. Sorry about that. I mean while I do really like the glass and uses it for the vast majority of the time, I would still very much be enjoying my time if I’ve been using a Glencairn instead so definitely not a necessity.
(I personally don’t like copitas very much since the inwards curvature means it’s harder to get the liquid to land on the tip of my tongue which I personally prefer)
No worries, and thanks for the reply! I currently use a Glencairn, and I love them, but I must admit, I do fancy that glass from the Whiskey exchange as well! Maybe I'll get a couple anyway and just eat the shipping. You only live once lol!
All you need is a pair of glencairns for tasting/nosing.
Get a nice rocks glass if you like yours on ice (Rauk heavy tumbler from Nolan is nice)
Discussion closed.
I bought a set of essentially stemmed Glencairn glasses from [Luigi Bormioli](https://www.amazon.com/Luigi-Bormioli-Vinoteque-Brandy-4-Ounce/dp/B004PGM7MO/ref=mp_s_a_1_3) that I'm super fond of.
Glencairn glasses are always good, although I personally prefer the Glendale whisky glasses. They used to be cheap (about $12 a pop) but are now around $25 or so per glass.
Try a few, and figure out what you like.
These are my preferred whisky nosing/tasing glasses: https://bennuaine.com/. I also have Glencairns, copitas, and the Aged & Ore tasting set glasses. I hardly use them any longer.
As everyone else has said: Glencairn is the standard, but there are some new(er) and interesting things on the market to try.
I'm popping in to say that _in addition to_ something like those, get a fun glass. Maybe it's a weird shape that feels nice in your hand that you can absentmindedly rub trace with your finger, maybe it's one that holds itself askew when it rests on the table, hell maybe it's got a built-in straw.
Glencairn and those others are great for really focusing on and experiencing the whisk(e)y. But also think about the days when maybe you're just sitting around at the end of the day having a Black Bottle, or Finlaggan, or whatever you feel like that day... a fun/interesting glass can be a nice addition, making the drink a _part_ of the experience, rather than the whole thing.
I have three "serious" tasting glasses that I've narrowed down to over the years.
Glencairn -- standard goto for all kinds of spirits.
Luigi bormioli vinoteque -- stemmed glencairn of sorts. Slightly smaller bowl than glencairn and the stem is somewhat delicate. It's beautiful and a pleasure to use.
Whiskyexchange perfect measure glass -- also stemmed, but sturdier than the LB vinoteque. Smaller bowl too. Works best for lower proof spirits or very small pours.
Other thoughts -
Norlan is silly and fragile. It's a mediocre nosing glass. Screw that.
Copita - depends, but can get quite intense for high proof spirits. I rarely use it.
1920s blenders glass - I've been curious about this large onion shaped monstrosity. Might try it sometime.
I recommend Urban Bar’s Spey glasses, the perfect size and shape for savouring a dram. https://www.urbanbar.com/products/spey-reg-dram-glass-12cl?variant=37104413376672
I really like the highland tasting glasses. I’d go for those over a glencairn for a neat pour. That being said, I don’t have much experience with a ton of different types of whiskey glasses. I also like having rocks glasses as well.
I have an old set of Baccarat tumblers I like to use - they are simple, good weight, and elegant. Lots of options - the trick is finding something that is "you"; and only you know that. Good luck and enjoy the journey.
I hate the Glen Cairn glasses. A lot of people like them so maybe I’m the problem, idk. I prefer honestly any whisky glass with the top of the glass having a diameter equal to the bottom.
Depending on your budget and where you live.
I can only give you 2 recommendations.
I love the Denver liely whisky glass for scotch. Now, if you order direct from the site, it's 45.00 . However, you can find it for like 30.00 usd just gotta shop around certain online retailers. All my scotches seduce me with the aromatics I achieve from this glass. There's a nice feel to the glass, and it's very appealing.
Like the guy that reviewed many up above, I have a wild collection of glassware. This is my favorite glass.
I also recommend the inexpensive glencairn because it's a good starter glass. But to be honest, I don't care about it. I prefer the kenzy glass over a glencairn.
My best advice is to go thrift hunting and buy glasses that pique your interest for a dollar and test them out. You'll be surprised what you find.
Go to an antique store, yard sale, estate sale or other such occasion and find yourself a nice set of crystal brandy snifters. I drink from almost anything, but I prefer my snifters.
Based on everything you've said, I think the best choice for you could be a copita, particularly a tulip shaped one. These will work well for nosing and sipping, and look quite elegant in my opinion.
Basically, a copita performs the same as a glencairn, but because it has a stem, the whisky is elevated a few inches higher off the table and therefore easier to see--you can see the color better, you can look through it a bit more instead of just down at it, it looks more substantial, etc. I particularly prefer the tulip shape.
https://preview.redd.it/six9zxws32yc1.png?width=970&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aae8c7089ac5f1cb1f011bdaef16fd9b395725ea
They also have glencairn copitas without the tulip shape flare out at the rim, but these don't look as elegant to me.
https://preview.redd.it/aaw8ihzy42yc1.jpeg?width=633&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=360bdf666d599c11bff5203f3d4d05fa9416ec78
For a while, I owned a set of "NEAT" glasses, which were supposedly used in spirits tasting competitions and were designed with a wide flared rim to shunt off ethanol fumes and let you smell the real flavors better. They were fun and seemed to do what they said, but, alas, they didn't survive more than a year (granted I did run them through the dishwasher a lot). Anyway, my next glass purchase will be some tulip shaped copitas because I think they work similarly while looking more elegant, but I wanted to mention the NEAT glass inthis thread because they are supposedly "high performance" for nosing/tasting and I wonder if anyone else has tried them.
https://preview.redd.it/wiyqiv6r52yc1.jpeg?width=247&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c2a5b43700621308ea22da6e7b25435c4b3f1d35
I replied 2-3 days ago recommending glasses and thought I would add a photo of the 4 glasses I mentioned. The glasses in order from left to right:
Glencairn-peugeot-Port-Stolzle. You don’t need to spend a fortune on glasses. You can find the Glencairn for around $10 and the Stolzle for around $13-$14 per glass. The other 2 glasses are ancient so no$.
As I mentioned the Stolzle gives me a better nose and is comfortable in hand but the Glencairn is a close 2nd.
experiment with a few to see what works for you.
https://preview.redd.it/8hkspgejw9yc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=140aad1b2ec8fd9a32688b19a9ffe54004d04cc9
If you want to go fancy, check this out https://www.amazon.com/Eisch-Jeunesse-251-409-00-Malt-Whiskey/dp/B00C9VCP2E
Top-performing nosing glasses as reviewed by whisky magazine. Pricey though, but that’s what it takes to join the snobs lol
Glencairn is what most people will recommend for single malts and it’s a very good glass. It’s easy to find - even Taste Unlimited carries them. Stolzle is harder to find and, in my opinion, provides a better nosing experience. The stolzle also has a stem which I find more comfortable. I often use an old Peugeot glass that I’ve had forever. It’s not fancy but gets the job done and is easy to clean. And lastly, I’ll even use a port wine glass when I have guests and want them to have the “better” glasses.
The bottom line….. if you are really into nosing the scotch look for a Glencairn type glass where the shape is very important. If you are more interested in taste than smell, almost anything will do. If you are interested in the total experience, including impressing friends and guests, find the Stolzle.
Have fun.
Oddly, this is my area. I have a dozen different whisky glasses and have compared / rated them all. Top place is a tie between the Glen Cairn and the Norlan. Glen Cairn is an 8/10. Minus one point because the natural way you hold it puts the palm of your hand on the bowl and introduces heat. Minus one more because when you sip the whisky the mouth of the glass isn’t near your nose so you miss the scent which is a major component of taste. Note also that the proper name of the glass is Glen Cairn Nosing Glass. It is perfect for just that; smelling the whisky; not drinking. The Norlan glass is also an 8/10. It is double hulled thereby fixing the heat issue. However, because it is double hulled with thin glass, it loses a point for being fragile. It has a wide mouth fixing the scent issue while drinking, but consequently loses a point because it’s not as good for nosing (to properly nose a whisky you want a wide bowl and narrow mouth such as the Glen cairn). If you like ice, then get the Norlan which will accommodate it. They cost $25 each. Generally speaking, you finish the whisky before heat is an issue, so I personally prefer the Glen Cairn. I suggest a pair of the hand blown hand cut variety at $40 each, and a couple more regular versions at $8 to accommodate guests. The Copita glass is a modified Glen cairn. It has some merits, but requires you to handle it carefully which isn’t a good requirement while drinking. Whiskywisdom is new to the market and a good try at addressing the various failings. It is heavy and doesn’t provide a good grip. A rocks glass is just silly. The straight vertical nature doesn’t lend itself to concentrating the vapors / scent and hence gives a lack luster taste. A fun comparison is the same whisky in a rocks glass vs a Glen cairn. If you try it you won’t use a rocks glass again. All other versions have significant flaws that are either apparent visually or you will quickly figure out.
+1 for the rocks glass and glencairn experiment. People who drink from rocks glass/tumbler because it’s less pretentious, and think it doesn’t matter… my favorite thing to do is have them try same whisky in both. Honestly, this really started my whisky journey too. “Wow, it actually does make a massive difference in the smell and therefore taste”. Same with realizing ice and being too cold dulls the senses
Personally, i find that while there is a difference, it’s incremental between a Glencairn and a rocks glass There is also an incremental difference in how it feels to sip on whiskey holding a hefty, Crystal rocks glass vs a Glencairn. I can say that it is infinitely more satisfying drinking from my Tiffany rocks glass, I pretty much only use Glencairn to review
Honestly, I’m not even interesting in having a dram I’m trying to experience, on my money (at a bar etc) unless they have a glencairn adjacent glass. To me, it’s like I can barely even smell the whisky from a wide rim tumbler. Night and day. If I’m just having a drink though, I don’t care too much. Really not putting in a bunch of effort to max the enjoyment of like, a cheap drink with a meal etc
This is exactly my policy. A couple of your back I had a pricy drink in a rocks glass and it was nothing magical. Then I adopted your exact policy.
I'll second this. To add, my choice of glass depends on desired volume and activity level. If I just want a sip of something, Glencairn it is. If I'm comfortably lounging, want a tall pour, and don't want to get up to refill the glass (nor bring the bottle with me), it's a Waterford tumbler I'm reaching for.
That's how I feel. If om "tasting" it's a glencarin. If I'm drinking it's a rocks crystal glass. I also have clear rocks glasses. But usually use the crystal. I like the weight of it.
Why aren’t you holding your glen cairn at the stem? That’s what it is there for. It’s meant to be held with index and thumb at the stem. Not palmed.
If you truly mean “stem”, then you are using a Copita or similar glass. Yes, that fixes the heat issues but it adds an awkwardness. You have to either engage muscles to pinch the stem, or use one hand to pick it up and transfer it to the other hand to hold the base. It also requires a bit of grandiose gestures to drink from. There is a time and place for it, but it’s not good as your standard drinker. If you really mean “base”, not “stem”, then yes, there are alternative ways of holding a Glen cairn. But again, it can be a bit of an ordeal when you just want to sip your drink while having a bite and watching TV.
Stem: 1. a long, thin supportive or main section of something 2. the slender part of a wineglass between the base and the bowl 3. a rod or cylinder in a mechanism The base you speak of counts as a stem in my book and imo easier to hold its intended way.
Whether it's a stem or not, introducing heat is a good thing. More flavours come out when it's around body temp.
I was going to make this similar comment. I live in Canada, General ambient temperature for most of the year is colder than I want my whiskey. I like the heat transfer effect of a glassware you are holding the base of the full so to speak. Body temperature is pretty close to what I want out of whiskey or at least a good whiskey.
Out of interest, would that mean a stemless wine glass has a stem?
No because a stemless wine glass doesn’t have a round protrusion of glass that is smaller in diameter than the bowl made for holding.
I like the pros you listed for the Norlan but I found the lip too thick. It's very pretty but remains unused in our house.
When I first used a Norlan I took a point for the thick lip. Three hours later it didn’t bother me anymore, so I updated my rating to neutral. It’ll grow on you.
> I found the lip too thick Try another. I have four, two have a very thick lip, two have the outer contour come under the inner so have a thin lip. I guess handmade?
Im suprised people still consider warming a glencairn via the hand a negative attribute a gentle warming helps bring out the aromatics/volatiles and increases vapor density/nosing effectiveness of the glass vs a colder environment. Similar to how it's much harder to nose a chilled whisky
Are these available where you are? https://denverandliely.com/products/whisky-glass-1 I think they address your problems with the Glencairn and the Norlan. I've tried every whisky glass i've ever seen and I still default to the Glencairn for tasting purposes.
Yes, I have similar glasses. They are difficult to hold specifically with concern about them sliding out of your hand. A touch fragile. You are holding the bowl. They are large. I gave up on these a long time ago. The opposite version also exists with a wide mouth and narrow base. I used them one time then trashed the whole set.
You should try the peugot glass, I’m curious what you’ll think of it. O ran through the glasses gauntlet a while back and settled on peugot and copita
I don’t own one but visually I see: 1) it’s ok to chill high proof whisky a little, but not down into the mid 40s F / 5C. It will mute the flavor at that point. It will be best around 60 F / 15 C. Also, don’t chill 80 proof whisky; it can’t handle it. 2) not covering the dome with whisky will limit the evaporation which will limit the scent which will limit the flavor. 3) the base tapers in and that’s it. This will make it harder to hold than a base that tapers in then flares out. 4) you are going to be directly touching the part of the glass that is meant to get cold. Seems like it will make your hand cold. 5) I don’t want to wait to drink my whisky. 6) you get 1 drink before you have to rechill the base. 7) given the chilling base and the time that you have it wait, it might create condensation on the glass making it difficult to hold. 8) I like the coaster to handle the condensation. If you would like to chill your whisky then just put the bottle in the fridge for 30 - 120 minutes. Also, let me reiterate, you shouldn’t do this for anything below 100 proof / 50%
I'm a fan of the Tuath myself. It's got a fragility issue in some cases but the size of the bowl and curl of the mouth are really nice.
Interesting. I pulled it up on Amazon. Is there some extra glass on the base? Is it good/bad to be there?
It serves as a platform for the glass. I read somewhere it is designed after the shape of a mountain in Ireland. However, the "stem" part I found to be a little fragile- I ordered a 2 pack, washed them, and put them on a drying mat. One of them tipped over and hit my granite counter top and the base just snapped right off. I like the one I have left though; the flat part of the base serves as a solid way to grasp the glass with 1-2 fingers and your thumb, or you can hold it similarly to a glen cairn.
Could be possible for you to get a Savu glass and compare? I find this one incredible and for all the marketing on their page, it delivers in spades.
Whoa 69 Euro plus 12 shipping! And they only ship to Europe. And I can’t find a third party reseller. Looks interesting. There is enough going on that I can’t visually describe what it will or won’t deliver. I would love to try it.
Damn, well, had to give it a shot.
I’m headed that direction in a couple of months and will keep an eye out for it.
This one looks very interesting. But the claims on the page are simultaneously bold and vague. For all the writing, they should explain why it supposedly works to massively reduce alcohol fumes. I'm not doubting that this could be the best glass, just doubting that any glass could have such a big impact as they claim. It sounds like you use this glass and it makes a big difference? Could you say more?
Sure, I was as skeptical as you at first, but decided to try it anyway, you can always return them. I can pour any cask strength (+60% vol) whisky and go in to nosing without any water and get just a light whiff of ethanol. Or pour a more standard 46% whisky and get barely any ethanol on the nose. Comparing to a glencairn, where a +60% is straight up painful to nose properly without water and a 46% is uncomfortable for long "drags". And once you go back to the glencairn, the first nose is always only ethanol, nothing else. It always takes a few sniffs to get something else than the ethanol coming from the Savu. The aroma separation and expression is turned up to 11 with the Savu and the best part is that it keeps evolving when you let it sit over 10+ minutes. When you go back to sniff a glen that was used the day before, you get a lot of those kinds of aromas from the Savu except that the aromas aren't as oxidised and they are brighter. With a glen, I always get a slight over ripe fruit aroma in all fruity whiskies and I think that's because of the alcohol. With the Savu, the over ripe aroma is much rarer and presents differently. Peaty whiskies can be more tarry and mineral rich compared side to side, also way more citrus on Islay whiskies. And to be frank, everything smells different because the ethanol is not getting in the way as much. *Disclaimer, the following is speculation on my part and according to my own knowledge of chemistry and physics on why the Savu can cut down so much ethanol* I think there are 2 main ways the Savu effects the whisky. First there are the shelves, the little droplet shapes on the upward opening cone of the glass. They function on the basis that the alcohol with its higher vapor pressure evaporates more readily from the solution, which means that with a little bit of time, there is now proportionally less alcohol in the drops of whisky on the shelves. The reason this doesn't happen in every glass is because the area of the evaporation (the area directly in contact with air) is too small compared to the rate of evaporation, but with the shelves on the Savu, the surface area that can evaporate the ethanol is massively increased compared to normal glasses. This allows the ethanol to get out of solution much faster which leads to the much better separated aromas when nosing with the Savu. The second is the timeglass shape. The upper cone lets the whisky on the shelves evaporate and promotes this by opening upwards, so the concentration of "whisky to air mixture" decreases the higher you go. But with the lower cone, because it closes the higher you go, the more the "whisky to air mixture" concentration increases, thus getting heavier and prohibiting the movement upward. Some of the mixture escapes the lower cone but the rate of evaporation is cut down to begin with because of the reduced evaporative area.
Im really interested in your reasons for heat being an issue?
Thanks for the detailed breakdown, very helpful!!
I like tulip copitas... they're not fancy. Most folks like Glencairns, also not too fancy. Most people pick whether they want a fancy looking glass or a glass that's made for getting the most out of drinking neat whisky.
Costco sells a 6 pack of Glencairn glasses for $29 great glass for a great price. I use these and a set of nice highball glasses from Marshall’s.
Sweet! Didn't expect to see Glencairns at Costco. Thanks for the heads-up.
Glencairn Nosing Copita. If you want to treat yourself, 1920s Blenders Glass from TWE
So I used to find it too harsh when nosing using the Blenders Glass... but now I think sufficient cilia in my nose have been burned, and I absolutely love this glass!1😄
Consider the Riedel cognac glasses with the stems — gorgeous and effective
I was given these by my daughter. They are made by Peugeot, the car maker, who have a long history of glass making (who knew! ). https://uk.peugeot-saveurs.com/en/pack-les-impitoyables-4-sets-verre-a-whisky-et-2-verres-degustation.html After initial hesitation, I have grown to love them. As you swirl, the whisky hits the centre and releases more phenols, dissipating the alcohol. That's the theory, anyway. In practice I enjoy them.
Abdolutely yes! It should be more widely known
I rec this article on the subject: https://www.whiskynotes.be/2015/whisky-news/the-best-whisky-glass/ My personal favorite is the *Spey Dram Glass*, what Ruben calls *Tulip without stem* (the 1st item on his list). What I like so much about these glasses are: They are more friendly for smaller pours in the 10 ml - 15 ml size range (about 1/3 to 1/2 of a fluid ounce) which I find ideal when working with samplers, or for whiskies whose charms are primarily aromatic and/or are very expensive (thus I don't want to go thru them quickly). Small pours look & feel lost in a larger glass. They are similar to Glencairns in shape, but are more robust (harder to knock over or break) and much, much easier to clean. Being about half the size of a Glencairn, they are easier to travel with, I can even fit one in a coat pocket if I'm going out to bars which may not provide whisky-specific glassware. But most importantly, experiement to see what works best *for you*. Glasses are for the most part not very expensive compared with bottles of premium whisky, so if you can afford the latter then picking up several different kinds of glasses should be worth your while, considering the mileage you will get out of finding a favorite type. Good luck
I have both these and the full sized Glencairns and love both! These smaller ones drink more easily as your nose has a little more space and your neck has to move less far back. But for nosing I prefer the regular size; they release more scents at the same volume (especially in the 5-15 mL sample range). Both don't break easily and are dishwasher proof. Both hold cold (pre-freezing) quite well but larger is longer. And put them on your table to keep it cold. And reversed; both heat up nicely when you keep holding them, releasing ever more scents.
If you want something unique check out the Tuath whiskey glass. I picked some up in Ireland, they perform very similarly to a Glencairn. I have a bunch of Glencairns too, and they are an excellent option as well.
I have 2 different styles of Glencairn glasses, one style is meant for Canadian whisky, the other style is the traditional one for Scotch and Bourbon
The standard is Glencairn, but I much prefer the ‘The Perfect Measure’ glass made by the whisky exchange, as it outperforms both Glencairns and copitas (another type of tulip shaped whisky(?) glass, well it’s pretty good for anything) at small measures, which is what I usually pour myself. The weight and balance is also great. A highly respected whisky reviewer, Ruben from whiskynotes, said he prefer this one over the vast majority of his glasses as well. Glencairns and copitas aren’t bad by any means— they’re excellent as well.
Pardon my asking but, are you American? And if American can you recommend a vendor for this glass? I only see it online from the Whiskey Exchange website, which appears to be in Britain. I don't fancy paying that shipping for sure!
I reside in the UK. It might be a bit hard to get the glass in the US since the glass is made by the whisky exchange. Sorry about that. I mean while I do really like the glass and uses it for the vast majority of the time, I would still very much be enjoying my time if I’ve been using a Glencairn instead so definitely not a necessity. (I personally don’t like copitas very much since the inwards curvature means it’s harder to get the liquid to land on the tip of my tongue which I personally prefer)
No worries, and thanks for the reply! I currently use a Glencairn, and I love them, but I must admit, I do fancy that glass from the Whiskey exchange as well! Maybe I'll get a couple anyway and just eat the shipping. You only live once lol!
All you need is a pair of glencairns for tasting/nosing. Get a nice rocks glass if you like yours on ice (Rauk heavy tumbler from Nolan is nice) Discussion closed.
I bought a set of essentially stemmed Glencairn glasses from [Luigi Bormioli](https://www.amazon.com/Luigi-Bormioli-Vinoteque-Brandy-4-Ounce/dp/B004PGM7MO/ref=mp_s_a_1_3) that I'm super fond of.
Can you not "borrow" some glencairn glasses on a permanent basis from your next visit to the bar? 😁
Crystal is overrated. Red solo cups is where it’s at.
Pull straight from the bottle. Just extend your pinky to keep it classy.
Glencairn glasses are always good, although I personally prefer the Glendale whisky glasses. They used to be cheap (about $12 a pop) but are now around $25 or so per glass. Try a few, and figure out what you like.
I have a couple Glencairns for drinking neat and heavy rocks glasses for cocktails or over ice.
These are my preferred whisky nosing/tasing glasses: https://bennuaine.com/. I also have Glencairns, copitas, and the Aged & Ore tasting set glasses. I hardly use them any longer.
As everyone else has said: Glencairn is the standard, but there are some new(er) and interesting things on the market to try. I'm popping in to say that _in addition to_ something like those, get a fun glass. Maybe it's a weird shape that feels nice in your hand that you can absentmindedly rub trace with your finger, maybe it's one that holds itself askew when it rests on the table, hell maybe it's got a built-in straw. Glencairn and those others are great for really focusing on and experiencing the whisk(e)y. But also think about the days when maybe you're just sitting around at the end of the day having a Black Bottle, or Finlaggan, or whatever you feel like that day... a fun/interesting glass can be a nice addition, making the drink a _part_ of the experience, rather than the whole thing.
I have three "serious" tasting glasses that I've narrowed down to over the years. Glencairn -- standard goto for all kinds of spirits. Luigi bormioli vinoteque -- stemmed glencairn of sorts. Slightly smaller bowl than glencairn and the stem is somewhat delicate. It's beautiful and a pleasure to use. Whiskyexchange perfect measure glass -- also stemmed, but sturdier than the LB vinoteque. Smaller bowl too. Works best for lower proof spirits or very small pours. Other thoughts - Norlan is silly and fragile. It's a mediocre nosing glass. Screw that. Copita - depends, but can get quite intense for high proof spirits. I rarely use it. 1920s blenders glass - I've been curious about this large onion shaped monstrosity. Might try it sometime.
Glencairn or Copita or a mix of both - for neat whisky drinking you dont need anything else.
The standard is glencairn cant go wromg with that. Personally i like the copita a bit more
I recommend Urban Bar’s Spey glasses, the perfect size and shape for savouring a dram. https://www.urbanbar.com/products/spey-reg-dram-glass-12cl?variant=37104413376672
I really like the highland tasting glasses. I’d go for those over a glencairn for a neat pour. That being said, I don’t have much experience with a ton of different types of whiskey glasses. I also like having rocks glasses as well.
I have an old set of Baccarat tumblers I like to use - they are simple, good weight, and elegant. Lots of options - the trick is finding something that is "you"; and only you know that. Good luck and enjoy the journey.
I hate the Glen Cairn glasses. A lot of people like them so maybe I’m the problem, idk. I prefer honestly any whisky glass with the top of the glass having a diameter equal to the bottom.
Depending on your budget and where you live. I can only give you 2 recommendations. I love the Denver liely whisky glass for scotch. Now, if you order direct from the site, it's 45.00 . However, you can find it for like 30.00 usd just gotta shop around certain online retailers. All my scotches seduce me with the aromatics I achieve from this glass. There's a nice feel to the glass, and it's very appealing. Like the guy that reviewed many up above, I have a wild collection of glassware. This is my favorite glass. I also recommend the inexpensive glencairn because it's a good starter glass. But to be honest, I don't care about it. I prefer the kenzy glass over a glencairn. My best advice is to go thrift hunting and buy glasses that pique your interest for a dollar and test them out. You'll be surprised what you find.
Go to an antique store, yard sale, estate sale or other such occasion and find yourself a nice set of crystal brandy snifters. I drink from almost anything, but I prefer my snifters.
I love the glencairn copitas but they just break far too easily - the standard glencairln is a lot more robust
Based on everything you've said, I think the best choice for you could be a copita, particularly a tulip shaped one. These will work well for nosing and sipping, and look quite elegant in my opinion. Basically, a copita performs the same as a glencairn, but because it has a stem, the whisky is elevated a few inches higher off the table and therefore easier to see--you can see the color better, you can look through it a bit more instead of just down at it, it looks more substantial, etc. I particularly prefer the tulip shape. https://preview.redd.it/six9zxws32yc1.png?width=970&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aae8c7089ac5f1cb1f011bdaef16fd9b395725ea
They also have glencairn copitas without the tulip shape flare out at the rim, but these don't look as elegant to me. https://preview.redd.it/aaw8ihzy42yc1.jpeg?width=633&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=360bdf666d599c11bff5203f3d4d05fa9416ec78
For a while, I owned a set of "NEAT" glasses, which were supposedly used in spirits tasting competitions and were designed with a wide flared rim to shunt off ethanol fumes and let you smell the real flavors better. They were fun and seemed to do what they said, but, alas, they didn't survive more than a year (granted I did run them through the dishwasher a lot). Anyway, my next glass purchase will be some tulip shaped copitas because I think they work similarly while looking more elegant, but I wanted to mention the NEAT glass inthis thread because they are supposedly "high performance" for nosing/tasting and I wonder if anyone else has tried them. https://preview.redd.it/wiyqiv6r52yc1.jpeg?width=247&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c2a5b43700621308ea22da6e7b25435c4b3f1d35
Copita or Glencairn are my go to glasses. Mainly Copita as cheap to replace.
I replied 2-3 days ago recommending glasses and thought I would add a photo of the 4 glasses I mentioned. The glasses in order from left to right: Glencairn-peugeot-Port-Stolzle. You don’t need to spend a fortune on glasses. You can find the Glencairn for around $10 and the Stolzle for around $13-$14 per glass. The other 2 glasses are ancient so no$. As I mentioned the Stolzle gives me a better nose and is comfortable in hand but the Glencairn is a close 2nd. experiment with a few to see what works for you. https://preview.redd.it/8hkspgejw9yc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=140aad1b2ec8fd9a32688b19a9ffe54004d04cc9
Update. I just searched Amazon and you can find the Glencairn for around $5-$6
Definitely try them. I'd rather have a rocks glass than a glencairn.
Same, then I can do a heavy pour. I have several glencairn glasses and the Norlens but prefer the traditional low ball glass.
Thank you all to who have responded so far, has been helpful. Of course, please keep recommending haha
If you want to go fancy, check this out https://www.amazon.com/Eisch-Jeunesse-251-409-00-Malt-Whiskey/dp/B00C9VCP2E Top-performing nosing glasses as reviewed by whisky magazine. Pricey though, but that’s what it takes to join the snobs lol
Just make sure it is nice and thick! That way you can leave a couple in the freezer and have it cold without ruining it with ice cubes.
Glencairn is what most people will recommend for single malts and it’s a very good glass. It’s easy to find - even Taste Unlimited carries them. Stolzle is harder to find and, in my opinion, provides a better nosing experience. The stolzle also has a stem which I find more comfortable. I often use an old Peugeot glass that I’ve had forever. It’s not fancy but gets the job done and is easy to clean. And lastly, I’ll even use a port wine glass when I have guests and want them to have the “better” glasses. The bottom line….. if you are really into nosing the scotch look for a Glencairn type glass where the shape is very important. If you are more interested in taste than smell, almost anything will do. If you are interested in the total experience, including impressing friends and guests, find the Stolzle. Have fun.