Thursday, March 17, 2011

Scotch Glasses

Most scotch aficianados agree that the indiviual pleasures of scotch appreciating were further enhanced by drinking from the right whisky glass. 

While I am personally not picky enough to insist on drinking from a specially designed whisky glass, I can appreciate the amount of work and thought put into creating the glass.  In this post, I will explore two of the most common type of glasses that people drink out from.

Whisky Tumbler:
One of the most common glass to drink scotch from is the whisky tumbler.  The whisky tumbler typically holds 8 to 10 ounces, and is the perfect glass to use if you are having your scotch with ice, or if you are adding a mixer such as coke or ginger ale (the horror!).  Of course, you can quite happily use the tumblers too if you are drinking your scotch neat, or with a bit of water. 

There isn't any inherently wrong with drinking from the tumbler, and do not let anyone make you feel bad for drinking from one.  Even though I find myself reaching for one quite often whenever I'm pouring myself a dram or two of scotch, the tumbler isn't really designed to facilitate the nosing and tasting of the aroma of the scotch, of which both elements are important to truly appreciate scotch. 

Tulip-shaped Glasses


The glass favored by most scotch aficianados is the tulip-shaped whisky glass.  These glasses come in two types: the Scotch Malt Whisky Society's tasting glass, and the Gelncairn glass.  Although differing slightly from each other in shape, both glasses have a slightly bulbous base tapering up to a narrow top. 

The bottom half of the glass encourages evaportation through its larger surface area and the contact to the warmth of your hand.  The narrow top focuses the smell, concentrating the aroma of the scotch at your nose.  All this comes together to enhance the aroma and this most certainly can enhances the drinking experience. 

70 comments:

  1. mmmm.... i can smell that scotch already. :)

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  2. Is it considered bad form to drink from the bottle?

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  3. I want a tulip-shaped glass..

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  4. I would love the fresh aroma of the scotch so I put choose the second one :D

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  5. I've always been distantly interested in alcohol that isn't beer or wine. Your last post about after taste and this post give me a good idea about what affects the decisions made by aficionados. Quite interesting.

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  6. I gotta say the tulip shaped one would be glass of choice. Very "leisure viking"...

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  7. That tulip glass looks really funky.

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  8. bad experience yesterday....I'd rather not even smell it for the next couple of days

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  9. ugh I don't feel like having whisky for at least... fuck it, I know I'll be having it this weekend, damn.

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  10. I always drink from tumblers, I didn't even know whiskey had it's own dedicated grail type glass.

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  11. I'll drink whisky from whatever lol!

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  12. My sister got me tumblers for my last birthday, I love those things. Though the tulips look classy.

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  13. thats some awesome info and it makes sense and oddly enough ii own those glasses

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  14. Thank you for this information!

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  15. Gotta have the right hardware that's the appropriate size.

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  16. interesting i had no idea different glasses made a big difference

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  17. both glasses are a bit low on the essential ingredient

    scotch =D

    good post. had no idea those fruity top glasses were anything out of the ordinary.

    The bottom one, thats good for ventilators!

    F&S

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  18. I've gotten in the habit of just using pint glasses for everything. They're available and they get the job done.

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  19. i hope someday my tastes for alcohol get more precise to where i enjoy it the way people enjoy cigars.

    at my age i just like to chug it to get the effects in my system.

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  20. nice. Have to get a few of these

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  21. I've always been a far bigger fan of the tumbler. I actually have several crystal tumblers in my bar.

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  22. Nice!
    I only drink scotch from the usual whisky tumbler. I thought that scotch is meant to be drank from that glass alone.
    I'm looking forward to try and drink from a tulip-shaped glass.
    Thanks for the information!

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  23. I don't do a lot of drinking but I do really enjoy your blog:)

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  24. not that it matters but pretty glasses i want them

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  25. with ice -> thumbler glass
    raw -> tulip glass

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  26. I like the second one. Just cus it's cute ^_^

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  27. I think the glass has a big effect on the experience

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  28. Try that the taste of the whisky is helped via the glass! Great post man!

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  29. Obviously tulip-shaped is going to be better for tasting, but unless doing a 'proper' tasting I'm a tumbler-man all the way.

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  30. do not like tulip glass. Too overpowering.

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  31. Tulip glass is one strange thing :D

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  32. Sounds like a lot of design work went into forming the perfect glass.

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  33. wow i have just read your comment that you never heard of gothic 2. you def. missed something there.. something amazing!

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  34. are scotch glasses supposed to be made out of glass or sometimes plastic?

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  35. Very interesting, you should post more pictures of glasses, for real

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  36. I've never seen one of the second glasses let alone see someone drink out of one. It looks kind of like a vase.

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  37. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  38. awesome. this blog makes me thirsty...

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  39. I've got a bunch of the standard tumblers, but that tulip glass... I think the home bar needs at least a pair, if not a 4-set.

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  40. I'm going to have to get me some of the second glasses.

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  41. Wow dude, thats some great info there, i insist science at Drinking. Cool stuff.

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  42. I like the weight in my hand of a tumbler! The manly and solid feeling when you place it down! Ill have to try the tulip one sometime!

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  43. I have a few tumblers in my kitchen. No whiskey though...

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  44. That second glass is great, sure, but you haven't tasted scotch until you've tried it in a sippy cup.

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  45. I always wondered why these glasses are so ugly.

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  46. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  47. Thanks for the info. Always learn something new.

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  48. I have a tulip shaped glass that i've only used a few times. It is quite amazing!

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  49. Glasses are the most important thing imo

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  50. It really looks good drinking from them

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  51. The tulip shaped one looks nice

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  52. Thanks for this.

    I follow and support those who do likewise.
    toastburnt.blogspot.com

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