Let’s talk about… whisky glasses
Whisky glasses come in a variety of shapes of sizes, with each design offering something unique to enhance your whisky drinking (and nosing) experience. Your choice of glass will likely depend on a) where you are and b) what the occasion is.
Here are four of the most common whisky glasses:
1. Glencairn
Perfectly suited for appreciating the nuances of enjoying a dram, the Glencairn is one of the most common style of whisky glasses. It has a short, sturdy base with a bowl shape glass that narrows towards the rim. Relatively thick and durable, the design is also ideal for perfecting your whisky swirling (a practice used to open up the aromas within the whisky).
2. Copita
The tulip shaped copita is a Spanish glass, traditionally used to sample sherry. It has a lighter feel than the Glencairn and is arguably more elegant. The longer stem prevents any odours from the hand of the drinker influencing the aroma in the glass and stops you from heating up the whisky with your hands.
3. Tumbler
Ah, the whisky tumbler. Pure, simple and robust. This style of whisky glass is perfect for enjoying a digestif, it works well when adding ice and is also ideal for cocktails. Most people will develop an affinity to a particular type of tumbler down to weight, sentiment, size and feel. Once you find that tumbler, look after it!
Generally, the wider the shoulder of the glass, the more surface contact the whisky has with the air and therefore the faster the oxygenation. If you are conducting a sensory evaluation (i.e. nosing and tasting) of one of more whiskies, a tumbler would not be your go-to glass. You would instead use a glass that has a slightly narrower mouth to capture the aromas because the rate at which volatile particles are diffused will depend on the type of glass used.
4. Highball
A taller glass than the tumbler, the highball makes for a long, relaxing drink. Perfect for packing with ice, it is most commonly used for serving cocktails with a high ratio of non-alcoholic mixer to whisky.
