Type of glass?

[Mr Fjeld]

I recently picked up a couple of Spiegelaus. I plan to do a little blind nosing between that and the Riedel's to see if the tulip shape really does make a difference.

I've got the Spiegelau single malt snifters myself. In my opinion they are quite good but compared to the Glencairns I would say they suffer from having a too large copita. I've got the Riedels too but they are now purely a decorative item in the bar cabinet. Personally I prefer the Glencairns and haven't looked back after I got them.

Please let us know what you think Peergynt?

[Ann-Helen]

glass A; I have exatly these in my kitchen the kids drink milk out of them.

[Muskrat Portage]

I use a Czech glass made by Bohemian Crystal, the pattern is the Florence (Belfor) whisky glass. I pick them up at the Rob Mcintosh display in Sears around Christmas. It's the only time I seem to find them. The closest example would be "D" without the long stem.

Muskrat

[karlejnar]

I like many others prefer the Glencairn glass for everyday use. I also use it for nosing and tasting, but not always.

[Deactivated Member]

The brachyonus rotifer. Nice, although the serrated lip takes some getting used to.

[kljostad]

The brachyonus rotifer. Nice, although the serrated lip takes some getting used to.

Nice "tumbler", but if memory serves me right, the Brachynos does not hold much whisky...

I have to update my own post on this thread. Since my last post, I have purchased a few Glencairn glasses, and I just love them! Specially since I have started to take tasting notes whenever I try I new whisky. I have not used my Riedel glasses after I got the Glencairn.

[WestVanDave]

Glencairn glasses are my everyday glass (they take the abuse). I have oodles of them... and they are great to "cuddle" with...

For our club tastings we use the ISO Tasting glasses and they work great (have the advantage of being easier to "hand warm").

I also like the "B" and "D" glasses from lexvo's pic - and I have an Ardbeg glass that best resembles "B"... I'm just too afraid to use it everyday (fear of breaking it)...

[Ardbeg311]

I have a couple of the Glencairn glasses which, as many have noted, are very sturdy and take a lot of punishment. My glass of choice at the moment, however, is a tulip-shaped Moscadello Vendemmia Tardiva by DaVinci Crystal. Yes! I know it is a wine glass, but with with its long, elegant stem and wonderfully-structured lip the whisky just flows beautifully into the mouth as one is scenting the whisky. Purists will probably say that it should be narrower at the top for a proper snifting glass for whisky, but the way it delivers the goods on the tongue more than makes up for its deficiency as a snifting glass. Besides this glass more easily accomodates my fat head.

[Deactivated Member]

That would be this:



Funny, I recently bought a similarly-shaped glass, a little broader and with a short stem. A liquor-store cheapie. I like it quite a bit.

Like I really need more glasses....

[sparky]

Can you believe that after all of this great info I still am using the same old brandy glass? Recently I switched to using port glasses because I like the form factor. But, the real reason is that I just can't find a decent "Whisky" glass. Every time I am near a store that sells any kind of glassware I go sniffing for a "Whisky" glass but I can't find one. The port glasses are easy to come by -- IKEA carries them. When are those IKEA folks going to wise up and offer a proper whisky glass?

So far it sounds like the Glencairn is the best bet, especially as I am apt to knocking my glass over from time to time. Anyone know where I can get one?

[les taylor]

Hi Sparky Whisky mag sells them as do LFWand Royal Mile Whiskies. I'm sure some of our friends your side of the pond could advice you as to getting them locally to you.

[Deactivated Member]

Lawrence will give you one if you attend the Victoria Whisky Festival in January.

[LeoDLion]

I also have an ardbeg nosing glass but I never use it. I like a regular scotch glass, straight and cylindrical, about 3 1/2 inches tall and 3 inches wide. I think I am describing the lexvo (A) glass. And I have a set of these so whatever I grab from the cupboard is fine. I dont like heavy ornate scotch glasses. Pardon me but the nosing glass I think is too dainty.

[SoMK]

I bought a few funny glasses from distillers like Talisker or Bruichladdich as well. I have a few lidded Ardbegs but my favs still are the Glencairn type. Sturdy and beautiful imho.. !

[bond]

While this is a Whisky forum and most of us will be more than particular about glassware etc, its strange that glassware is not too important to the average whisky drinker.

In these parts of the world, almost everybody drinks from a tumbler. I noticed the same in London pubs too. One is often dismissed as being overly snobbish when suggesting people shift to tulip shaped glasses.

Strangely, I have never found anyone drinking wine in a whisky glass. Wonder why "snobbery" in wine is par for the course but the same rules do not apply to whisky.

[Deactivated Member]

I think it's simply that most people think the tumbler is the appropriate glass. When you make a point of contradicting the conventional wisdom, you will be regarded as either a heathen or a snob. One should face such criticisms with good humor and confidence, without arrogance--"I know what I like" rather than "I'm right and you're wrong".

I've never had any trouble asking for a snifter at a bar. In fact, on several occasions, I've noticed other customers following suit after seeing me order.

[les taylor]

Mr T you're such a trend setter, a leader of men.

[mithril]

Can you believe that after all of this great info I still am using the same old brandy glass? Recently I switched to using port glasses because I like the form factor. But, the real reason is that I just can't find a decent "Whisky" glass. Every time I am near a store that sells any kind of glassware I go sniffing for a "Whisky" glass but I can't find one. The port glasses are easy to come by -- IKEA carries them. When are those IKEA folks going to wise up and offer a proper whisky glass?

So far it sounds like the Glencairn is the best bet, especially as I am apt to knocking my glass over from time to time. Anyone know where I can get one?

The Strath over in Victoria carries them and there's also now a CDN distributor for Glencairn Crystal but as I recall his prices were actually a good bit more than ordering the 6 pack from RoyalMile Whiskies and paying the shipping. I took the RoyalMile route last year and the total was £33.98 which works out to about $72CDN at current exchange rates (plus whatever your credit card company charges for foreign currency).

[bond]

I think it's simply that most people think the tumbler is the appropriate glass. When you make a point of contradicting the conventional wisdom, you will be regarded as either a heathen or a snob. One should face such criticisms with good humor and confidence, without arrogance--"I know what I like" rather than "I'm right and you're wrong".

.

Oh no doubts on that. The point I was making is that the purveyors of wine seem to have done a better job of propagating glassware and other preferred accompaniments than the whisky world has.

[mithril]

Can you believe that after all of this great info I still am using the same old brandy glass? Recently I switched to using port glasses because I like the form factor. But, the real reason is that I just can't find a decent "Whisky" glass. Every time I am near a store that sells any kind of glassware I go sniffing for a "Whisky" glass but I can't find one. The port glasses are easy to come by -- IKEA carries them. When are those IKEA folks going to wise up and offer a proper whisky glass?

So far it sounds like the Glencairn is the best bet, especially as I am apt to knocking my glass over from time to time. Anyone know where I can get one?

The Strath over in Victoria carries them and there's also now a CDN distributor for Glencairn Crystal but as I recall his prices were actually a good bit more than ordering the 6 pack from RoyalMile Whiskies and paying the shipping. I took the RoyalMile route last year and the total was £33.98 which works out to about $72CDN at current exchange rates (plus whatever your credit card company charges for foreign currency).

The CDN Glencairn distributor is WhiskyGlass.ca and their pricing on 6 glasses is $81 + $12 shipping + GST for a grand total of $98.58 CDN. It's a good $20 cheaper to order from Edinburgh and have them shipped across to Vancouver, rather loopy if you ask me. The only advantage to ordering from the CDN distributor is they are naked glass whereas the RoyalMile glasses are etched with RMW's logo (not sure if you care but I prefer no etching). WhiskyGlass.ca also carries the copita made by Glencairn for $10/ea but since you've already got a bunch from Ikea it's likely not of interest. If you do want more copita's, since you're in Vancouver, Herzog Crystal in Park Royal sells Belfour Bistro iso tasting glasses for about $6.95/ea + tax which is my glass of choice.

[psr-740]

I use this type of glass.
the taller one for the better whiskeys.

[hiccy]

Always the Glencairn for me. I have nearly twenty of the darn things. They just will not break!!!

Try knocking it off the cabinet with your jacket as you fling it onto the chair back, making sure it falls precisely onto the 10mm spanner you left strategically on the floor. Worked for me!

Just as well I have a couple of spares otherwise last night could have gotten messy.

[mattbuty]

I used to use grappa glasses...

Now thanks to whisky live I need never worry about not using the appropriate receptacle again.

[randall fairbrook]

is what i use

[Willie JJ]

I've been using a tulip glass (Lexvo's type B) for years.

Hadn't really appreciated the Glencairn until recently, thinking that the chunky base would take longer to warm when first taken from the cupboard, (thus delaying the warming and drinking of the dram, ... tremble ... ).

However in the last few months I have tried the Glencairn and found it to be a splendid glass. Not only does it warm a lot quicker than I thought, but it is a bit wider and allows for better swirling of the dram (wonderful for viscimetrists apparently) and it offers less chance of the glass slipping through anaesthetised fingers. (Not that that has ever happened, but I suppose its theoretically possible )

In short I am a convert. I will use a Glencairn whenever possible from now on.

PS It is also more manly than the tulip

[Muskrat Portage]

I used to use grappa glasses...

Now thanks to whisky live I need never worry about not using the appropriate receptacle again.

Wait until you do an online live tasting with Ganga and Mikey! Then, all your carefully structured preconceptions about having found the right whisky glass, get thrown out the virtual window!

Muskrat Portage

[Ganga]

I used to use grappa glasses...

Now thanks to whisky live I need never worry about not using the appropriate receptacle again.

Wait until you do an online live tasting with Ganga and Mikey! Then, all your carefully structured preconceptions about having found the right whisky glass, get thrown out the virtual window!

Muskrat Portage

[bongoman]

I've just purchased a couple of the Riedel O-series spirits glass.

They are the stemless glasses, sort of a cross between a tumbler and a snifter.

I use them for both brandy and whisky.

[Lawrence]

The Glencairn is good, the copitia is a little better and the SMWS glass is very good. I think the Glencairn benefits from a larger dram.

The Riedel is hopeless but ideal for sticky flowers in.

You can read some observations on the subject of glassware at;

http://maltmaniacs.org/malt-103.html

[Willie JJ]

I think the Glencairn benefits from a larger dram.

That'll be why I like it then

[MacAttack80]

I just got some medium sized Brandy Snifters. I like them due to the fact I can swirl the Whisk(e)y around and get more air to it. What a difference they make

[mikeymad]

Good call Mac,

And if you move to a large brandy you can blow your head off with some beverages.

Be careful out there....

Cheers,

[hook55]

For me, it's the Riedel Whisky Glass, have not seen many other suitable glasses here. Oh when I just want to drink without tasting I use the Waterford whisky glass. i would add pictures but don't know how to do it yet?

[laphroaig10_65]

It is not easy to find a Glencairn glass where I live, so I use four kind of glass: a Michael Jackson-like glass, a wine balloon, and two tulip-shaped. I think it is very enlightening to try the same whisky by different glasses. I am not sure if there is "the best glass", but I think it depends on which whisky you are drinking.
Bye
Luca

[mikeymad]

I am not sure if there is "the best glass", but I think it depends on which whisky you are drinking.

That is the best point in the thread... depends.

But it is fun to keep in looking. I tried too new glasses last night, and had a great time at it.

Cheers,