This article originally appeared March 29, 2016 at Bourbon & Banter. Cheers!
If you are new to the world
of whiskey, you may be wondering what the best whiskey for you to try is. Let’s
be honest. If you’re an experienced whiskey drinker, you’re still probably
searching out that perfect pour. There are plenty of choices out there just in
the field of Bourbon. And, as if that isn’t confusing enough, there’s the
matter of choosing the right glassware.
Wait… what? Glassware? Why
can’t I just use any old glass to enjoy my Bourbon?
In all actuality, you could grab
a glass from your cupboard and pour yourself a drink. There are unlimited
options for enjoying your Bourbon. You could select an Old Fashioned glass
(also called a rocks glass), shot glass, wine glass, brandy snifter, Highball
(also known as a water glass), Glencairn nosing glass, Canadian whiskey glass,
NEAT glass, or a variety of other glassware. Some are explicitly designed for
whiskey. Some look “cool” to drink from because a character drank from it in a
movie.
The real question, however,
is, does the glass matter? The answer is a definite “Yes.” Your choice of
glassware is going to determine what experience you want.
For the sake of brevity,
today’s discussion will be limited to five types of glassware: Shot, Rocks,
Wine, Glencairn, and NEAT. I invite you to partake in a little experiment with
me and pour a dram into each type of glass. You’ll quickly understand the
nuances of each one.
Before you get too far ahead
of yourself, consider that with ten or so ounces, that’s a great way to get
drunk. You won't discover any differences by the time you get to the third or
fourth. I recommend a single pour into one glass and then transferring the
contents into the next. I go through the cycling of glasses twice: Once for
nosing and the second for tasting. You may need to top off as you taste to
maintain the experiment's integrity.
In case you’re wondering, what
Bourbon you use really doesn’t matter. Pick a favorite bottom-shelf dweller or
a high-end allocated whiskey. The results will be similar no matter what you
pour. I’ve done similar experiments with American Rye and Scotch. For complete
transparency, I’m using perhaps the most commonly found Bourbon: Evan
Williams Black Label (86-proof). I’m also measuring out a two-ounce pour.
Let’s get on with the
experiment.
SHOT GLASS
The initial pour goes into a
shot glass. No matter how many ways I try, the nose is very weak because
there’s nothing to direct the alcohol vapors. I could best describe this as dull.
My sip is also on the bland
side. The entire mouth experience is the finish. There’s nothing upfront
because there’s no real aroma, just alcohol vapor. The olfactory experience has
a direct effect on the tasting experience. With a shot glass, you are missing
that vital sense.
Time to transfer the
contents. What do I get when I stick my nose in the glass and inhale? A face
full of fumes. It won’t be inviting, especially to those new to Bourbon, and
can, for some people, be a turn-off. Due to those fumes, it isn't easy to sort
out what flavors you might otherwise pick up.
As I can get more than just
my lips to the rocks glass, my nose helps my mouth taste the whiskey, and there
is definitely more depth than from the shot glass. The flavors are present but
heavily muted.
Next, the Bourbon gets
poured into the wine glass. You can’t swish Bourbon in a shot glass, which is
cumbersome in a rocks glass. But you can easily accomplish this in a wine
glass. Go for it. Get some air mixed into the Bourbon. If you’re like me,
you’ll notice a considerable change. The nose from the wine glass is much
softer. I can pick up subtleties that weren’t evident in the previous glasses.
This is because the glass is curved to direct aromas to the nose.
Just as the nose is softer,
so is the up-front on the palate. The shape of the glass helps offer a chance
for the Bourbon to build on the tongue, which allows tasting the different
essences.
After the Bourbon is
switched to the Glencairn glass, I’ll swish it around again, then bring it up
to my nose and breathe in. The tulip shape of the glass enhances how the
fragrance hits, and it is much easier to pick up different smells than from the
wine glass.
The shape of the glass,
which directs the aroma at my nostrils as the liquid hits my tongue, brings out
prominent flavors missed in the previous glasses. On a side note, the glass
fits easily in my hand and has some weight, making it easy to handle and swish
air into the Bourbon.
The last exchange of liquid
sunshine is to the NEAT glass. Most obvious is the very unique appearance of
it, being both short and squat. When I sniff, the bouquet just explodes. It
leaves one wondering if this is even the same whiskey in the rocks glass a few
moments ago.
I might assume the NEAT
glass will give me the best mouthing experience, and surprisingly, I’d be
wrong. Aside from being difficult to drink from, translation is lost by the
time it hits my palate. I find the Bourbon relatively flat and lacking any
complexity. As taste depends so heavily on the nose, this failure is a
curiosity, just like the glass. My only guess is that the lip of the NEAT glass
is so large and distant from the bowl that any nosing benefit is lost when the
whiskey hits your mouth.
So, what’s the right glass?
- The shot glass is for you if you want to slug something back and feel the burn.
- If you are mixing a cocktail, adding some rocks, and letting your drink sit, your pick is the rocks glass.
- Grab that NEAT glass if having a conversation piece and being different is the bigger part of your experience.
- Suppose you really want to enjoy your Bourbon as the Master Distiller intended. In that case, the Glencairn glass is one of the best vehicles available.
- Finally, if you’re in a pinch and want to experience some of the subtleties of your Bourbon, a wine glass will do.
In the end, drink from what
makes you happy. Your results may differ from my own. However, as you
experiment with glassware, you’ll learn how much of a difference the glass
affects the Bourbon you drink. As for me, while I’m sold on the Glencairn
glass, I am always looking for new glassware to make the best drinking
experience possible.
My Simple, Easy-to-Understand
Rating System
- Bottle =
Buy It
- Bar =
Try It
- Bust =
Leave It
Whiskeyfellow encourages you
to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.
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