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Since I’ve been drinking whiskey, there have been many different types of glassware I’ve used – some traditional, and some very much not. We are all familiar with the traditional tumblers or the Glencairns and the assumed superiority of these glasses when enjoying. And these glasses surely do have a place in our cabinet, with Glencairns used much more heavily than our tumblers, but what of other glassware?
Left to right, Glencairn, Tumbler, Mason Jar, and Weck Jar
All contain 1.5 oz. of Eagle Rare Bourbon
There are so many different types, and claims made in their favor, I thought I’d explore this topic and share my personal thoughts on a few. This list is not meant to be exhaustive, rather simply reflect what we keep in our cabinet, and hopefully answer the question, Does Whiskey Glassware Matter?
FROM THE FAMILIAR…
THE GLENCAIRN
This glass you have, no doubt, seen all over our site, from our home page to our actual reviews. These are very popular in tastings, as they certainly offer an elegance and graceful shape that make the whiskey inside look more sophisticated. With a large bulb that tapers to a smaller top, the theory is that aromas are more likely to stay trapped inside and make for good nosing. The bowl/bulb is also purported to assist in displaying the color of your whiskey to the fullest, all while still being very comfortable to fit in the hand.
It is for all of these reasons that you will see my father and I review with Glencairns. The clear crystal does make determining color (and thus perhaps inferring age on those non-age-statement pours) easier. And I agree the tapered top funnels aromas more potently for when we are writing up our “nose” sections in our reviews. Even for a non-reviewing whiskey drinker, I think these glasses offer a great deal to a collection and they can certainly heighten an experience.
In our time of owning Glencairns, we have certainly broken our fair few, and the crystal does tend to smudge with fingerprints. And naturally, most people are not buying many in bulk, as they can get pricy with the more you buy. But there are certainly offers that can act as great starting packs with four, six (or even two) glasses. You can find a link to try them out under our “Promoted Products” widget below or through this link here.
THE TUMBLER
Everyone is familiar, I think, with the tumbler. Shown in media from television to movies, the popular tumbler offers a strong base and a cylindrical, more typical drinking glass experience. With quite a wide bowl, you have more liberty to mix your drink (many Old Fashioned’s are offered in tumblers), and certainly more ability to include ice. As such, tumblers are great for those who don’t always drink their whiskeys neat.
While my father and I do own several tumblers, we aren’t as likely to use them in reviews, or in casual sipping. This is mostly due to the fact that neither my father or I are heavy mixers. Nor do we add ice to our whiskeys. Most often, if anything, we’ll add just drops of water, which we can do with any glass, including our reviewing glass, the Glencairn.
Despite not frequently using them, it certainly can be noted that these are relatively strong in comparison to the Glencairn, and they are often cheaper than the Glencairn. If you are a mixer, or like a bit of ice in your whiskey (No judgement! We promote drinking to YOUR taste), this may be just the right glass for you. Like the Glencairn, you can find sets of tumblers in the “Promoted Products” widgets or here.
…TO THE UNFAMILIAR
THE MASON JAR
Now we get into more unique territory, where my dad and I have experimented with glassware not made with whiskey drinking in mind. The humble Mason jar, believe it or not, was the first glassware we used in our whiskey tasting adventure. They are readily available, and chances are, many of us have a few unused ones just lying around.
I think the beauty in the Mason jar is really its simplicity. It looks pretty with its textured glass, yet rustic at the same with a brand labeled on the side and drinking from a rim meant for a screw-top lid. While its shape doesn’t lend itself much at all to reviewing properly, with a uniform shape throughout and inability to distinguish color and body, it’s still a glass I recommend. Perhaps it is for sentimental reasons, but these little jars do have a permanent place in our cabinet.
Mason jars are incredibly inexpensive and can be found virtually anywhere, not to mention in bulk. They make for great gathering glassware for this reason! Granted, we may be trudging along through a pandemic now, but we won’t always! When introducing the world of whiskey to friends or family, I think Mason jars are always the way to go. They make for fun little conversation pieces (I believe most beginners think we all drink out of tumblers). And they also make the drink accessible to novices too without looking at an intimidating, fragile glass. You don’t need to teach a rigorous reviewing technique with colors and aromas – just relax and talk about whiskey. It’s simple and fun, and I think we can all agree – that’s what whiskey should be.
Find some Mason jars for your collection in our “Promoted Products” widget or here.
THE WECK
Perhaps the most zany glassware in our collection (and the newest), Weck jars, are similar to your traditional Mason jars as they are meant for canning. However, they are much more short and stubby with the most robusticity out of the four glasses discussed here. They boast a fat lip and a bit of a hazy tint, making them unsuitable for reviewing purposes.
Nevertheless, when they came home only several weeks ago, we developed a fondness for them almost immediately. They sit comfortably in the hand, and you adapt to the fat lip surprisingly quickly. They are bulbous enough to add ice too, if we wanted, and they won’t break the bank. While exceptionally untraditional, they have actually become our casual drinking glasses! Not every pour has to be fancy, but Wecks are a little more unique than your common Mason jar. So even with the fun awkwardness, drinking with them feels like an occasion.
With this playful shape, they make for a good, inexpensive alternative to both Glencairns and tumblers if you’re looking for something a little light-hearted. You can find Weck glasses with the other glassware in the “Promoted Products” widget or here.
SO, DOES WHISKEY GLASSWARE MATTER?
There are many, many different whiskey drinking glasses people use and this is certainly not an exhaustive list. There are glasses, I am sure, others will swear by that are not included here – both traditional and untraditional. To me, the most important aspect of drinking whiskey is enjoying your pour, and glassware choice is only one of many ways to do that.
It’s important to know what you’re using your glass for. If you’re reviewing, consider a Glencairn, or something of a similar shape. (As I have only used Glencairns for tulip shaped glasses, I will restrict my opinion to just these.) If you want fancy, Glencairns or tumblers (again, many varieties/designs I will not go into here), are great choices. Or, if you’re trying to relax with a casual glass, canning jars like Mason or Weck can be fun options.
(Editor’s note: The Weck is a family favorite.)
Also note, my father has ALL of the types mentioned above (and more) in our glasware collection. Our mood can equally influence the glass we grab for, and sometimes I want a Glencairn for casual sipping. So don’t feel confined to drinking out of one glass type. Don’t even feel confined to drinking out of something CALLED a glass. Be innovative and experimental with your glassware just as you are with your choice of whiskey. Maybe your favorite whiskey in a Mason jar makes the experience that much better. Or maybe putting the cheap stuff in a Glencairn makes it taste more expensive.
In essence, have FUN with it. And let us know what kind of glasses you drink out of by clicking the ..LEAVE A REPLY.. button in the field below!
Cheers!
Does Glassware Matter?
written by Hannah Dawson
Whiskey for the Ages editor
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Photos taken by WftA editors, Brian and Hannah Dawson