Baccarat, the older of the two dominant luxury glassware makers, was founded in 1764 by a wealthy French cardinal named Louis-Joseph de Montmorency-Laval. Montmorency-Laval created the company with the express permission of King Louis XV, who is probably best known for losing the French-controlled lands in North America before the Revolutionary War (and setting the table for a revolution a little closer to home). The company went on to make stained-glass windows, chandeliers and all the fancy-people-in-the-19th-century accoutrements they were commissioned to—including some drinkware. The quality of the crystal and craftsmanship of the glasses is unparalleled. Romanticization is a fundamental tenet of whiskey marketing. The makers of the NEAT glass didn’t get the memo. Though you can never be sure if a name was created with its acronym in mind, NEAT stands for Naturally Engineered Aroma Technology, and the glass is designed for sipping whiskey neat. Even more than drinking, it’s designed for smelling. The designer’s manifesto argues traditional tulip-shaped glassware is more likely to burn your nose with a rush of ethanol than highlight a spirit’s quality. The way around this is a flared rim which works to instigate a more diffused evaporation than a traditional whiskey sipping glass. Another stand-out in our list of the best whiskey nosing glasses, the Norlan Whisky Glass, makes for an ideal accessory to try. It's easy on the hands, designed with a modern style inspired by ocean movements; this glass is made with fluid dynamics intact.

Its tulip shape escalates the nosing experience by allowing the liquid to swirl enough to retain the alcohol vapors. With its small opening, pouring your whiskey in and covering it with a tasting cap will activate the aromas well sufficient for an excellent finish on your palate. The official whiskey nosing glass by Glencairn comes gift-boxed for a ready-set gift to your favorite people. Who Should Buy It Versatile and made with top-notch material, the Norlan Whisky Glass makes for a great gift with a little character. Its unique tri-agonal sides add to a built-in light show. It may not give light refraction for added visual appeal, but it bodes well for sound fluid aromatics. Glencairn whisky glass is a nosing glass best of its kind – and they are not expensive whiskey glasses. So probably the best whisky glasses in the world don’t even cost much. Unless you want the engraved version, those Glencairns are some expensive whiskey glasses. Worth the price, though. There are lots of designer whisky glasses out there, that will do the same Glencairn does, but it will cost you extra money. Schott and Riedel are brands who produce similar kind of glasses as Glencairn does. Glencairn do make higher priced whisky glasses as well, I’ve bumped into more detailed crystal glass versions of the original Glencairn whisky glass. But for me, the original will do just fine. Maybe I’ll get it engraved at some point. It's also perfect for drinking whiskey straight with its unique 2-ounce pour indicator etch (the top of the triangle at the bottom measures exactly 2 ounces),” adds Voisey. Note that the larger size allows for a few chunks of ice to a dram of whiskey. Like their marketing texts state, this is most suitable for great single malts and bourbons, but of course you can feel free trying any kind of drams in it. It’s nice to try a cheap blend for example – just to see if it has any good aromas trying to break free. According to Spiegelau, the Snifter glass for whisky has improved breakage resistance, brilliant clarity, exceptional durability and it is safe to use it in a dishwasher. These statements usually do go with all products coming from a reliable whisky glass manufacturer.For sipping, we recommend something akin to the Glencairn or the NEAT, which are essentially whiskey-specific snifters that are much smaller than the brandy version. Glasses of this style are frequently used at serious whiskey tastings and competitions. Similar to a tulip glass—though stemless, with a heavier base, and generally featuring a wider bowl—the floral shape helps funnel aromas to your olfactory receptors so you’re better able to appreciate the nuances of your whiskey. It's also easy to eyeball a full dram pour, and the heavy base feels nice in the hand. This contender for the best whiskey tasting glasses is another one of Germany's finest. The Nachtmann Noblesse Whiskey Tumbler comes in a set of four and is made with non-lead Bavarian crystal for premium elegance. Broadly, whiskey glassware design is very nostalgic. So much Gilded Age. So much Art Deco. This means the combination of well-made and simple can be hard to find. Where there is a niche—but very annoying—problem in the barware world, Riedel usually has an offshoot collection to fill the gap.

Don't apply pressure between your thumb and index finger when polishing the stem to avoid snapping. That said, it’s particular shape isn’t the most natural to sip from. For tasting, this glass is excellent but for sipping over a long period, opt for a more sessionable glass Need a cool gift for a whiskey drinker? Consider these Urban Map glasses from the Boston-based Well Told design shop. The vessels themselves are made in Ohio and then etched in New Hampshire. Each detailed design flows around the glass. From Atlanta to Los Angeles and Miami to Pittsburgh, there's a large number of cities from which to choose, whether your recipient left his heart in San Francisco or she calls the Windy City home sweet home. The glasses are 11 ounces, so they are big enough to hold a sizable drink.Of course I won’t be pouring myself a Lagavulin 16yo or some other high quality whisky into a tumbler. But for the bulk stuff, even for the better stuff at some point, a whiskey tumbler is just fine. For fast consumption, when you in a hurry, drinking whisky almost for thirst. And I know, whisky really isn’t a drink for thirst, but I’m sure many whisky lovers know the feeling when you just drink the stuff probably a bit too fast. Just for the pure enjoyment, because after all: it is whisky! These glasses are incredibly durable, so try breaking these out with a rowdier crowd—the weight and cut suggests you’ve broken out your good glassware, but the durability will keep the glass intact until the last drop in the bottle.

According to industry experts, Riedel is a consistent top performer since 1991. Riedel's Vinum Single Malt Whisky Glass is a top contender that boasts durability and versatility in the best whiskey glasses category. Best for Malt Whisky and Single Malt Whisky, Riedel has traditional and modern designs that boost your nosing and tasting experience. 3. Why are whiskey glasses shaped the way they are?The ideal glass, so I've been told by many whisk(e)y distillers, for tasting is a stemmed glass that has a wider base than the nose, like ISO or Cordial glass,” explains Goodfellow. “You can see the spirits well—the glass tapers towards the top to concentrate the smell when you nose it, and the stem removes any unintentional heat to the spirit.”

Many people ask, which are the best Scotch glasses you can get? The best whisky glasses for tasting, the ultimate way to drink whisky? You bump into terms like nosing glasses, whiskey tumblers, Glencairn whisky glasses, nosing Copita glasses – just to mention a few. It doesn’t matter, whether it’s called a Scotch glass, whiskey glass or a whisky glass (with an “e” or without one). What matters most, is it a nosing glass or a regular whisky tumbler. Again, it can be a whiskey tumbler as well (with an “e”). So never mind the terms, the field of whisky is so twisted that there are lots of different terms, you can use, whether you are Scottish, American, Irish or some other nationality. Another promising entry to our list of the best whiskey nosing glasses is the Eisch Malt Whiskey Nosing Glass. Handmade in Germany, a sleek touch on craftsmanship includes a classic whiskey tumbler with a slightly flared rim that aids in activating the dynamic layers on your palate. A beginner whiskey drinker will find this glass rather useful in contrast to other single malt whiskey glasses. Hope you enjoyed my take on best whisky glasses, or whiskey glasses with an e. Just to be sure we are talking about the same thing. Remember, whether it’s some nosing glass for whisky, a whiskey tumbler, nosing Copita glass or the Glencairn whisky glass – you’re always drinking the nectar of gods, water of life aka “uisge beatha”. It will taste good. A classic whiskey set, complete with two six-ounce glasses, chilling stones and a nifty storage box We recommend the Riedel Vinum's Whiskey Glass for its overall performance. It’s the best whiskey nosing glass in our book due to its modern take on the stemmed Glencairn whiskey glass. The fluid dynamics of this whiskey glass's out-turned lip does a great job in activating all the layers overlooked in a good bottle.

Scotch lovers are more likely to enjoy this glass more than anyone. This is an excellent add-on to a whiskey collection. Are you tired of putting ice repeatedly to your bourbon because it inevitably warms up when you’re holding your whiskey glass? This stemmed whiskey glass can solve your problems. Its stem prevents you from increasing the temperature of your drink and allows you to enjoy it hassle-free! Most “industry standard” products aren’t crafted with home users in mind, but the Glencairn can go from tasting room to living room with ease. Designer Raymond Davidson developed the glass hand-in-hand with master Scotch blenders to accentuate whiskey specifically, rather than borrowing glassware from other booze industries. (Before the Glencairn’s release in 2001, the professional whiskey sipping vessel of choice was the humble copita, a long-stemmed glass with a tulip-shaped bowl designed for drinking sherry). Davidson removed the stem and replaced it with a kind of glass knob on the base, making the glass less prone to breaks and much easier to store. The base of the bowl was widened to allow for more swirling, as well as to provide a clearer view of the spirit’s hue. Mercifully, the outward taper of the rim lessens the likelihood of whiskey running from the glass and straight down your chin, too, which is a big plus.