You don’t need a whiskey glass to drink whiskey. Any old cup will do. But if you’re paying real money for tasty bourbon or Scotch, drinking it out of a crummy cup is akin to using a plastic knife to cut a porterhouse. It functions, sure. But there’s something lost there — a feeling, maybe. Or a mood. If you believe good whiskey deserves better, read on for three glasses to add to the bar cart.
Snowe Short Tumbler
For Cocktails: With its thick base and tapered sides, Snowe’s Short Tumbler feels good in the hand. Like all of the brand’s glassware, the tumbler is made in Italy using lead-free crystallized glass that’s dishwasher safe.
Riedel Vinum Whisky Glasses
For Scotch: Made from thin, fine crystal, Riedel’s Whisky Glass was first designed in 1992 and bears resemblance to the classic Glencairn glass. The design features a curved lip that, unlike a brandy glass, for example, doesn’t trap too many of the alcohol aromas, and also directs whisky to the proper part of the tongue, where sweetness is perceived.
Waterford Crystal Mad Men Tumbler
For Whiskey on the Rocks: Inspired by the glasses used by Don Draper, Waterford Crystal’s Mixology Mad Men Edition Double Old Fashioned tumbler features a gold band near the brim, along with a heavy, sculpted base. Waterford Crystal also offers highball versions in this style, as well as tumblers with platinum bands (which, though less elegant, are truer to the show).
