What's in a (whisky) Glass...

A brief entry today about what glass you should drink your whisky out of and why. It's important and completely changes your experience (no joke).

If you are unfamiliar, there is a different wine glass for every type of wine out there. Bunches and bunches. Each glass is supposed to accentuate a certain flavor from he variety of wine that no other glass can.

I'm not going to sit here are tell you that you need 5 different scotch glasses: 1 for each region plus a blended glass. No no no no no.

But you will need a whisky glass.

But where to start?

It looks daunting, but chill out! You'll notice something...there are 2 types of shapes on that large, long list of pictures. There is the standard "rocks" style glass (old Madison Avenue) that and roughly the same circumference on top as they are on the bottom, or the top is wider than the bottom. Also, usually the glasses are angles, not curved. Madison Ave Glasses, Rocks Glasses, etc. These are appropriate for rocks (duh) and mixed drinks, but should not be the go-to for whisky.

The other style of glasses have a gentle curve where the lip on the glass is smaller than the bottom. The idea is that the smells are concentrated into your nose at 1 area instead of seeping everywhere. Whisky begins evaporating with air, that's what liquids do and that's what you smell when you do smell. The smaller opening puts all the vapors in one p[lace for sniffing. Also, when drinking, the smells go into your nose instead of your face.

Richard Paterson recommends the Copita Nosing Glass.

This is my go-to scotch glass. 

He also reccomends the Glencairn Whisky Glasses 

This is my social set of 4. 

The reason these glasses rate the highest in my opinion is that the shape cradles the whisky at the bottom, and concentrates the smells at the top only if you smell it or drink it. The shape holds the whisky down in the glass. A rocks glass allows air currents to swirl and sneak in and steal your smells. Also, you never, NEVER want to hold your glass by the surface touching the whisky. Direct hand contact to the portion your whisky is touching will warm the whisky. No no. Instead, with the copita, hold the stem or the base. The Glencairn, hold the base.

You'll never see these glasses at a bar because they are delicate and would be destroyed. But you, you discerning whisky enthusiast you, will take care of it. 

Don't cheat yourself out of a wonderful experience by drinking out of a sippy-cup. 

Drink like a Scotsman. 

Slàinte mhath!