What We Love: Modern functional design, bottom is heavy and stable, crystal is clear of imperfections Here are the best whiskey glasses for everyone’s personal taste, according to my tests. It's a glass for fun whiskey drinking rather than super studious tasting." My tested winner, the Riedel Crystal Rocks Glass, is similar in style.
Large whiskey glasses professional#
"It's not the type of glass with curves I use for professional tasting, but it still allows for good aromatics to come from the whiskey. "Most of the time I drink whiskey neat or on one big ice cube, and prefer it in a straight-sided glass, otherwise known as a single or double old-fashioned glass," says English. “The Glencairn glass is ideal for tasting whiskey neat," says May. "It has a thick, sturdy base and the shape allows for easy swirling and color observation. The opening is more narrow than your everyday glass, which allows for more intimate nosing and tasting."Ĭamper English, a cocktail writer, prefers a straight-sided rocks glass. LC May, grandson of Clyde May, the original bootlegger, and brand ambassador to Clyde May’s Alabama Whiskey prefers Glencairn whiskey glasses for at-home tasting or special occasions. Whiskey glasses are actually a pretty personal thing. Yes, I’m that pretentious guy that will swirl the glass around and look at color, noting if it’s a honey amber or a darker oak color before taking a sniff and sip.Īnd yes, I pick and choose my whiskey glasses depending on whether I want to really investigate the smell and taste of a new-to-me bottle of bourbon, or if I just want to casually sip and relax. The complex smell of the barrel-aged liquor with hints of vanilla or caramel, woodsy oak or cedar, and spices like pepper or nutmeg all mingle together as I sip and relax in the evening. It's a more exaggerated version of a Glencairn, with a deep, wide bowl, short stem and very narrow rim.I’m not a big drinker but there are occasions that I love to unwind with a glass of whiskey, rye or bourbon.
Its wide, flat base also gives you room for muddling if you’re making short whisky cocktails.Īlso known as a snifter, this is most commonly used for brandy, but can also be used for whisky. Its wide shape means it doesn’t funnel aromas in the same way as the Glencairn, but this isn’t as relevant for all styles of whisky. Easy to hold, this glass style leaves plenty of room for ice if you like your whisky on the rocks. The short, narrow stem helps you swirl the glass, opening up the spirit and letting more oxygen in, which again enhances aromas. It has a narrow rim that funnels the aromas towards you as you drink, making them more intense. This glass style is carefully designed to maximise the whisky drinking experience. These are designed to trap aromas, enhance subtle notes hidden in the spirit and display its colour the most clearly. Whisky glasses come in several different shapes and styles, and each one is best suited to different ways of drinking whisky. Everything sits neatly on a hexagonal wooden tray to display on a side table or bar cart.Īvailable from: Dartington Crystal (£46) What are the different shapes of whisky glass? Two Dartington Crystal whisky experience glasses (with a wide bowl and narrow rim, designed to efficiently harness the aromas and flavours of the whisky) are the heart of the set, but come complete with a small water jug for diluting whisky, too. More than just a whisky glass, this set has everything that a beginner whisky connoisseur needs.