Glencairn Whisky Glasses Analysis: For Whiskey Lovers

We bought the Glencairn Whiskey Glass so our reviewer may put it to the look at of their residence bar. Be taught on for the general analysis.

The Backside Line:

In case your thought of ingesting whiskey consists of taking in its aroma, scrutinizing its shade, and pondering its nuances, the Glencairn Whisky Glass is the official drinkware for the job.

Testing Notes

Design: Inside the event you have gotten been served a dram of whiskey in a Glencairn Whisky Glass, instinctually you’d know what the following step was before taking that first sip. Its tulip-shaped design appears to instruct you on merely get acquainted alongside alongside together with your whiskey.

Provides: The Glencairn glass is created from lead-free crystal, backing up its dainty dimension and light-weight, sturdy high-quality.

Cleansing: Even though the Glencairn Crystal web page says its glasses will in all probability be washed all through the dishwasher, which is what number of bars clear them, hand-washing could also be very useful.

Value: The Glencairn Whisky Glass, although preciously made, is definitely not as precious-priced. You’ll discover that that they’re will in all probability be bought one after the opposite for spherical $10 or in objects of two ($16.99) all among the finest methods as rather a lot as 12 (about $70). Take into account that to competitor Riedel Vinum Single Malt Whisky glasses, which retail for $65 for a set of two. Even though the Glencairn is a single-purpose glass, the truth that it is constructed of top of the range crystal makes it increased than undoubtedly positively well worth the value.

Our Analysis

There is a express glass for ingesting Bordeaux, brandy, pilsner, or cordial. Nonetheless amazingly, though whiskey has been spherical for many of years, whiskey lovers have been sipping their drams from tumblers, highballs and shot glasses as not too approach again as 30 years before now. Then Glencairn Crystal founder Raymond Davidson designed the Glencairn Whisky Glass in 1976 and promptly shelved it as a result of it’d want value an excessive amount of to offer. After his sons found the design 20 years later and consulted with prime grasp blenders to spice up upon it, the glass was launched in 2001 at a whiskey pageant in London. Since then it is develop to be the official whiskey glassware, endorsed by the Scotch Whisky Affiliation and populating distillery tasting rooms and bars all all over the world.

Nonetheless does one truly need a express glass to drink whiskey? And why this glass? How heaps does it contribute to the precise enjoyment of the spirit? Does it dwell as rather a lot as a finest whiskey glass distinction? I attempted fairly a couple of drams all through the Glencairn Whisky Glass to ensure.

As you flippantly protect the 1.41-ounce glass, wrapping your index finger and thumb spherical its neck and balancing the underside of “The Glencairn Glass”-etched base all by your center finger, you will then elevate it as rather a lot as a result of the sunshine to get a wonderful have a look on the colour of the spirit. Its clear crystal permits for this and as well as you could end up placing one among your finest whiskeys or finest doable scotch in it to drink. And naturally, you’d truly actually really feel compelled to swirl the whiskey spherical all through the Glencairn’s bowl and stick your nostril into the 1.75-inch opening that tapers up from the physique to breathe in these scrumptious aromas. Can you identify up on its fruity, candy or grain notes? The slender opening furthermore forces you to tilt your head as soon as extra additional than you are used to when ingesting to stop the choice side of the glass from hitting your nostril as you sip. Because of the skinny rim, it is easy to take a small, neat pondering sip.

Measuring 4.5 inches tall and a pair of.5 inches large with a 6.5-ounce performance, the wee glass is just capable of accommodate the whiskey and, in case you happen to’re so inclined, a small ice dice or some water. It isn’t a flexible vessel and may’t double as a cocktail or water glass, however that’s high quality if all you need it for is to know your whiskey the right approach.

So far as provides is nervous, the crystal’s readability that makes up the Glencairn Whisky Glass is conducive to admiring the whiskey’s physique and shade. Every glass is claimed to be individually handcrafted and will subsequently have slight variations, akin to tiny air bubbles or sample and shade irregularities. Nonetheless I did not uncover any such imperfections in any of my 4 glasses.

Close to cleansing the glasses, handwashing them is particularly the case in case you wish to defend “The Glencairn Glass” etching on the underside, which is able to fade over time.

The Opponents

The Glencairn Whisky Glass has been pitted in opposition to the Riedel Vinum Single Malt Whisky Glass (view at Amazon) on account of the earlier debuted 20 years before now. Each crystal glasses are the an equivalent peak at 4.5 inches and have related performance (Glencairn 6.5 ounces vs. Riedel 7 ounces). They have been created to showcase the spirit, however it was the tulip-shaped Glencairn that was adopted on account of the “official whisky glass,” though it confirmed up on the scene years after the Vinum.

The Riedel’s outurned lip is claimed to spotlight a single malt’s sweetness, whereas the Glencairn is tapered to facilitate nosing the whiskey. Nonetheless, of the 2, the Glencairn appears additional adaptable to bar life. Its sturdy, sturdy crystal base, as in contrast with the Riedel’s thinner, flat foot, is additional capable of stand as a lot as being set down on a bar with loud enthusiasm. I might cringe to goal that with the Riedel. And there could be the matter of pricing. A set of two Riedels retails for $65 when you may purchase 12 Glencairn glasses for about $5 additional.

The Last Verdict

You aren’t allowed to name your self a whiskey connoisseur in case you happen to do not already non-public a Glencairn Whisky Glass (view at Amazon). As quickly as additional, this glass was designed to know the spirit, from admiring its shade by the clear crystal to nosing its aroma by the slender opening to taking a thoughtfully small sip from its skinny lip.

Why Notion Liquor.com?

We bought these glasses for our tester, Caroline Pardilla, to check out for a month and analysis. Caroline is a creator specializing in cocktails and bars. She is predicated in Los Angeles and has contributed to Liquor.com since 2016. She has practically twenty years of expertise as a creator and editor for publications together with BBC Journey, Eater, LAist, LA Weekly and Los Angeles journal.