Whiskey’s status as the “it” libation appears to be endless—which means it’s about time you bought a proper glass. When shopping for whiskey glasses, stay away from oversized options. While visually impressive, your iced beverages will water down and warm up before you finish. Stick to traditional glass sizes and go like a pro. These are our top picks.
By the way, these are the types of whiskey you really need to know.
The Tumbler
Basic barware begins with the whiskey tumbler—aka rocks glass, lowball or Old-Fashioned glass. It’s a multitasker, perfect for serving whiskey neat, adding cubes or for making a muddled cocktail. Choose this easygoing glass set ($25) or classic crystal ($100).
The Highball Glass
Use this tall, slender glass for lots of ice, booze and mixers. A classic scotch and soda, or an easygoing whiskey and lemonade (make your own!) are both perfection in a highball glass. Choose pure simplicity ($30) or timeless cut glass ($60).
The Cocktail Glass
Classic cocktails served up, like the Whiskey Sour, are enjoying a renaissance. The correct glass has an inverted cone-shaped bowl, and holds about 6 to 8 ounces. The traditional stemmed version ($78) keeps the beverage frosty longer, while stemless glasses ($25) are heavier and more stable.
The Copita Glass (aka Stemmed Tulip)
The wide body and narrow top of this tasting (aka nosing) glass make savoring single-malt (or scotch) whiskey memorable. Hold the stem to swirl the liquid, or cup the glass in your hand for warmth. The aromas remain in the glass—whether it’s long-stemmed ($90) or short ($22)—for your appreciation. Just don’t confuse this glass with a beer tulip!
The Glencairn
This Scottish Whiskey Association-endorsed glass ($18) takes sipping and savoring to the next level. Holding about 6 ounces of whiskey, this stemless glass’ inward curve traps aromas as you swirl, engaging your nose in the sipping process. A cut crystal Glencairn ($73) turns an exceptional scotch into an event.
The Shot Glass
Forget sipping and savoring; whiskey shots get tossed straight down. The shooter glass ($13) holds enough booze for a double shot. This allows for creativity when filling the glass with multiple ingredients. The classy cordial shot glass ($60) is stemmed, and holds between 1 and 2 ounces.
The Odd Balls
The result of a happy glass-blowing accident, the Neat nosing glass ($22) offers a gentler tasting experience. The wide top allows harsh ethanol molecules to escape, while the whiskey’s more palatable aromas remain. The engineered Norlan whiskey glass ($48) also makes sipping easy on the nose.
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Ellen Riley