Guide to Different Types of Whiskey Glasses — Best Ways to Use Them

It’s essential to choose the right whisky glass if you want to enjoy your favorite whiskeys to the fullest. There are different shapes and styles of glasses for every whisky lover. There are many different types of glasses, ranging from the compact Glenc­airn to the extravagant sipper. We hope our guide will help you find the perfect one for yourself or for any whiskey connoisseurs or whiskey drinker in your life.

Here are the most common whisky glasses:

• Highballs (aka tumblers)
• Shot Glass (two types: Shooter Glass, Cordial Glass)
• Rocks Glass (aka Old Fashioned Glass, Whiskey Tumbler, lowball)
• Whiskey Tasting Glass (two types: Snifter Glass, Glencairn Glass, tulip)

Characteristics of a Whiskey Glass

Finding the perfect Whiskey glasses that complement the type of whiskey being served creates an excellent tasting experience. Crafted with three factors in mind, whiskey glasses are designed to be sturdy, elegant, and functional.

Appearance

The appearance and feel of the proper whiskey glass highlight the appearance and presentation when served.

Drinkability

The shape of the whisky glass can affect the flow of the drink if it is tilted. The type of glass designs may feature narrow or wide openings to reduce the amount of liquid in a sip during taste experiences or wide openings for cocktails.

Nosing

The shape of the whisky glass can either direct a whisky's aroma towards the drinkers' nose or into the air so that the ethanol fumes that might otherwise be present can escape. Smelling the whiskey before drinking it lets you detect different flavors and scents that could affect the overall taste of the drink.

Highballs

Other names: Tumblers

A highball glass or whiskey tumbler is a tall whisky glass with straight sides and usually holds 8 to 10 ounces (240 to 300 mL). Use it to serve scotch, Irish, bourbon, used as cocktail glasses for another whiskey directly or with ice (on ice) or for mixed drinks such as manhattans or bourbons and coke.

Features:

• Best Used for: Whiskey cocktails, Highball, 7 and 7
• It has a Heavy-weight appearance, with a solid base, tall straight sides, wide opening
• It has a High Sip Volume
• The nosing is towards the Atmosphere

Shot Glass

Rocks Glass

Other names: Whiskey Tumbler, old-fashioned glass, lowball

The most common whisky glass of them all. Because of its wide rim, the glass isn’t ideal to use for nosing, but don’t let that stop you from using it for anything else. This crystal tumbler is perfect for serving up any number of any of your favorite cocktails and even classic cocktails. This traditional whiskey glass has a wide and robust base makes this muddler ideal for "muddling" cocktails ingredients, while its plain shape allows simple drinks to speak for themselves. A classic cocktail glass, it is a must-have for any whisky fan who wants to enjoy the entire spectrum of the enjoyment of the spirit.

• Best Uses: Whiskey neat (no ice), Whiskey on the rocks (with ice), Whiskey cocktails such as double Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour, Sazerac
• It has a solid, heavy base, straight sides, wide opening, and is heavyweight.
• It has a High Sip Volume
• The nosing is towards the Atmosphere

Whiskey Tasting Glass

Whiskey tasting glasses provide an immersive experience for people who want to enjoy their whiskey tastings by providing them with sights, smells, and tastes. A whisky-tasting glass has a slight ballooned shape that highlights its color while providing the perfect shape for swirling the drink in the glass to create a beautiful presentation. The narrow, tulip shape of the opening directs the aroma outward so that it reaches the drinker before the taste does. It regulates how much liquid is to be dispensed when tilted making it a perfect whiskey glass for a whiskey neat.

There are two types of whisky tasting glass:

Snifter Glass

This one oozes class - think whisky and cigars in a gentlemen’s club after dinner. This is one of the popular types of glass and is now commonly used for brandy, but it’s also used for dark, top-shelf whiskey, and aged spirits in genera­l. The snifter glass is usually designed so that, when they're held horizontally, the spirit doesn't spill out. However, all these extravagant associations don’t always make for a superior drinking experience. The snifter glass has an excessively wide broad base and tight rim may encourage the release of harsh ethanol burn, overpowering any other aromas.

• Best Uses: Whiskey neat (no ice), Upscale tasting experiences, Cordials, Brandy, Cognac
• It has a solid stemmed base, ballooned and bulbous shape, narrow opening, and is Medium-weight.
• It has a Low Sip Volume
• The nosing is towards the nose

Glencairn Glass

It has the same shape as the tulip glass, but it’s more robust than the tulip-shaped glasses. It has a short, solid base which makes it suitable for people who don't prefer stems. The glass is also slightly thicker and this means it is more substantial for social drinking. Because of its size, the Glen­cairn is the perfect vessel for learning how to swirl whiskey too, a practice commonly employed to open up the aromatics of whiskey for full appreciation. A wide bowl shape directs smells towards a narrower rim. It’s an alternative to the tulip-shaped whisky glass, and is used for single malt whiskies.

• Best Uses: Whiskey neat (no ice), Upscale tasting experiences, Single Malt Whiskey, Scotch, Single Barrel Bourbon
• It has a solid base, ballooned sides that narrow towards the opening, and is Light-weight.
• It has a Low Sip Volume
• The nosing is towards the nose

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