Whisky glasses are a personal preference and your choice will be influenced by your budget, how you enjoy your whisky, your storage space, your desired aesthetic, and which type of glass you consider practical.
How will you be enjoying your whisky?
How you enjoy your whisky will determine the size and shape of the glass you should purchase. You can drink your whisky:
- Neat, meaning that you drink it plain and at room temperature
- With a small amount of water added
- On the rocks, meaning that you add ice to your whisky using either ice cubes or whisky stones
- In cocktails
If you’re drinking your whisky neat, you may want to choose shot glasses. On the other hand, if you’d rather make cocktails or drink your whisky ‘on the rocks’, you should opt for a higher volume glass, such as a tumbler.
What is your budget?
Like other glassware, whisky glasses vary in price substantially. Consider your budget before selecting the whisky glass that suits you. You may also want to try shopping online to get the best deals.
Consider the bowl shape
Bowl size affects how well you can swirl your whisky. Our smell and taste are intricately linked. By swirling your whisky, you direct the whisky’s scent towards your nose by encouraging evaporation. The more your whisky evaporates, the stronger its scent will be. Larger bowls allow the drinker to swirl more freely, which in turn enhances the whisky drinking experience.
Consider the stem
Stems are a personal preference and will not affect the taste of your whisky. However, drinking whisky from a stemless glass can cause it to heat up faster, as your hand is holding the glass itself. On the other hand, glasses with stems are often easier to knock over or spill. Stemmed glasses are also considered ‘classier’ and more elegant, while glasses without stems, such as tumblers, are considered more of an everyday glass.
Are they easy to clean?
Choosing glasses that are dishwasher safe will save time and energy. Many stemmed glasses cannot be placed in the dishwasher and you’ll need to wash and dry each one by hand. Compared to stemless glasses, stemmed glasses are also more fragile, meaning care needs to be taken during the cleaning process.
Can they be stacked?
Choosing glasses that can be stacked on top of each other makes storing them easier. Stemmed glasses, such as tulips and snifters, cannot be stacked, while stemless ones, such as tumblers and shot glasses, can be piled on top of each other, making them easier to store.