🥃Whiskey Glassware Guide - What you need on your shelf

Go into your buddy's house and open their cabinet. What do you see? Probably a good number of differing glasses across shapes, sizes, and styles. Form follows function and this is especially true with glassware. The good news for whiskey drinking as opposed to wine is that the differences between glass types are limited. In this post, we'll go over the anatomy of a glass, common types, and my recommendation for a starting glassware set.

Parts of a Glass

The anatomy of a glass can be described in terms of four main parts:

Rim - Outer edge of the glass. Many varieties will have cupped or curved rims with a smaller diameter than the bowl to better hold in aromas for smelling. Thickness here can also have major impacts on the "feel" of the drink. Wider diameter glasses disperse any strong alcohol odors more quickly.
Bowl - The container. Bowls are typically either straight sided or curve. Bowls may increase in diameter and then decrease again to create an odor pocket.
Stem - A tapering in the glass below the bowl, the stem functions as a handle or grip to allow for easier swirling of the contents, reduce the risk of dropping the glass, or distance the bowl from a surface to prevent condensation/heat transfer.
Base - The contact point between the bowl, optionally stem, and a horizontal surface. Bases should provide stability and be appropriate in footprint relative to the height of the glass.

Common Types of Whiskey Glasses

Tumbler - The general catch-all for a glass. This category includes old-fashioned glasses, highball, lowball, and rocks glasses. These are typically solid or heavier feeling containers with semi-straight sides. They may have a wider rim. Great for most uses other than high intensity tasting/sampling.

Shot Glass - Straight sided small volume glass between 1.25-3ounces. Best used for cheaper pours or to help limit your consumptions. I typically drink out of these while gaming with the boys since it prevents me from guzzling through a hefty pour too quickly.

Snifter - Typically a tulip or tapering bowl glass for focusing aromas, often with a short stem. Best for fragrant small cocktails or intentional tastings.

Glencairn - Developed by Glencairn Crystal near Glasgow in 1981, the glass of the same name was inspired by nosing copitas used in Scotch Whisky labs. Standing about 4.5in tall, they enclose around 175ml/6oz. of space though they are intended to only hold about 50ml at a time. Use for sniffing the good stuff.

N.E.A.T. - Naturally Engineered Aroma Technology (obviously a backronym) and originally the byproduct of a glass blowing mistake. NEAT glasses have a roughly hourglass shape that proports to emphasize good aromas while dissipating the alcohol burn. Really a marketing gimmick but fun all the same.

Recommended Whiskey Glass Loadout

While there are a huge number of options on the market, I recommend starting with the below list for a minimum viable starting set. Stick to lead free glass and stay away from leaded crystal, plastic or metal options.

4 Lowball glasses 10-14oz. for cocktails or big ice balls, mostly for guests. Make sure they have a thick base to help with temperature. I do like versions that have a small amount of curved taper. These should feel heavy.
2 Glencairns - For getting your fancy nose on your better bottles. Get the normal Glencairn size, not the mini-glen or larger Canadian versions. You need two because good whiskey is to be shared.
4 Shot glasses - 1.5oz. glasses

🥃📰 First Look: NEW Old Fitzgerald 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon

In a TTB filing , Heaven Hill soft announces a new Old Fitzgerald edition whiskey: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 7-Year Bourbon. The Old Fitzgerald decanter line has long been a coveted edition, but low supply and high demand means that it is terribly hard to find, particularly for anything close to suggested retail price. Official press from the distiller has not yet occurred, but we have put together the following details. About Old Fitzgerald From Heaven Hill's wheated mash bill (68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Barley), the Old Fitzgerald decanter series is a Bottled-in-Bond offering released twice annually. This mash bill is also likely shared by the Larceny series of products, all aged in #3 char barrels. Old Fitzgerald Decanter Series Old Fitzgerald 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond credit @Bourbonconky posted on X.com by Bourb Your Enthusiasm The new product will have a seven year age statement, and per the bottled-in-bond act will consist of bourbon produced by Heaven Hill wit...

🥃Review #30: Kirkland Bourbon Casked Rum XO

XO stands for "Extra Old" but how does this bottle of Bourbon Casked Rum from Costco's Kirkland Signature line measure up? 📚 Background: Finished in used Cognac barrels, this bottle is a product of Guatemala, imported for Costco by MISA IMPORTS out of Dallas Texas. MISA, named after the founder's children Michael and Sarah, started primarily as a sourcing partner for fine wines, but has since expanded operations into sourcing spirits. MISA's rum brand partners include 1731 , Autentico Nativo , and Navy Island. We would have to guess the maker if not for the back label which clearly identifies one Olivier Dumont, Master Blender. Mr. Dumont works for Les Bienheureux , a French company growing at an alarming rate that has both a foothold in French Whisky and Costa Rican Rum. Les Bienheureux is the company behind "El Pasador De Oro " (roughly translated as "Gold Pin") which has two widely available iterations. The XO version retails for $46.99 a...

🍺🍷🥃 Beer, Wine, and Spirits Rebate Website Master List

If there is anything I love more than a good drink, it's saving money buying that good drink! The rules for providing discounts on alcohol differ substantially between states with some allowing outright discounts or coupons and others entirely disallowing any sort of purchase incentive. Thankfully though, in my native Georgia as well as most states, a simple reimbursement approach is permissible. Alcohol Rebate Site Master List The following sites are relatively stable for each manufacturer. New offers usually come out every few months. None of these are affiliate links and I provide no assurance as to the process. I have saved so much money using rebates and hope you have similar success. Best practices and general process advice will be presented at the bottom. New sites will be added as I uncover them. Beer Rebates Boston Beer Company Brands - Angry Orchard, Dogfish head, Hard Mountain Dew, Samuel Adams, Sun Crusher, Truly, and Twisted Tea. Some brands may not have active...

🥃 Review #40: Kirkland Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024)

Like Costco's other Scotches, the Kirkland Signature Islay Single Malt is bottled for Alexander Murray and imported by MISA Imports after being distilled and aged in Scotland (TTB.gov plant registry TX-I-1277). The isle of Islay is one of the southern most islands in Scotland and is one of the five whisky regions ensconced in law. There are only nine active distilleries on the island, and the Islay style is typified by strong peat or smoky flavors. As a single malt, we know that the juice in this bottle comes entirely from one of those nine! All of the distilleries are significantly smaller than Glenlivet and many of the mainland producers. Taste testing has people split between Caol Illa, Bruichladdich (Port Charlotte), and Bunnahabhain as being the source. Caol Illa and Laphroig both have done deals for private brand scotch without rights to name the source distillery, but Laphroig does not match the flavor profile for this bottle. Realistically, Caol Illa is the most likely cand...

🥃 Review #43: Jim Beam Black Label 7-Year Bourbon

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