Artisan Oak Whiskey Tumbler Review

What you may not realize is that I’m very passionate about whisky glassware. Some may pish-posh the notion that glassware makes any difference; however, my real-world experience and head-to-head comparisons tell a different story. Because of those, I’ve settled on a Glencairn nosing glass to be the standard to which I compare others.

 

I’m not close-minded about my glassware preference. If there’s a new glass to be tried, I’ll review it. I’ve tried glasses from NEAT, Libby Perfect, Norlan, Reidel, Duradram, Aged & Ore, shot, rocks, and even wine glasses. When you consider nosing, sipping, tasting, and even hand feel, I think the basic Glencairn nosing glass wins out in most categories, and that’s why nearly every whiskey review begins with a Glencairn glass.

 

Today’s review is of the Artisan Oak Whiskey Tumbler. It is made from oak. Oak. Yes, you read that right. And, this isn’t even my first review of an oak-based whiskey “glass.” Two years ago, I reviewed one from Whiskey Grail.

 

While both are made from oak and have charred interiors, there are some striking differences between them. Artisan Oak’s tumber is carved from what looks like a solid piece of oak; the Whiskey Grail is at least two pieces. Both have charred interiors; Artisan Oak’s is completely charred, while Whiskey Grail’s has some exposed oak. Artisan Oak’s is round with a slightly bowed-out center; Whiskey Grail’s is a tapered octagon. The Artisan Oak Whiskey Tumbler has a solid, weighty feel unlike the Whiskey Grail. Taking all of these things into consideration, I do not expect these to perform the same. And, with that, I’m done talking about the Whiskey Grail.

 

So, why wood?

 

“For centuries, we’ve drank our whiskey from plain glasses that did nothing more than hold the spirit. We decided to change that. Our oak tumblers don’t just hold your whiskey; they enhance it. Each pour is richer and smoother, drawing out finer flavors and aromas that glass simply can’t.” – Artisan Oak

 

Artisan Oak offers several drinking vessels, all hand-made in the United States from “top-grade” American hardwoods. The char level used is #1. They’re available in White Oak, Cherry Oak, or an Oak Nosing Glass. I opted for the first. Each holds about 5 to 6 oz of whiskey (or whatever else you pour in it) and costs $68.00; you can have it custom-engraved for an additional $16.00. I opted for the engraving option and sent them my Whiskeyfellow logo.

 

Before we go further, you should know that Artisan Oak invited me to try its Whiskey Tumbler at no cost and that, if I liked it, I could set up my own affiliate shop. I am happy to try it out and share my thoughts, but I would never, ever set up an affiliate shop.

 

Are you ready for the head-to-head test? For the nosing and tasting, I opted for a Russell’s Reserve barrel pick that I selected back in 2019. It has plenty of character and should perform differently in each vessel. Let’s #DrinkCurious!

 

Appearance

The Artisan Oak tumber is made from oak and has a 3” opening. It weighs 6.8 oz, and I found that holding the bottom in the palm of my hand felt most natural. It holds 6 oz of whiskey.

The Glencairn nosing glass is made of crystal glass and is tulip-shaped. It has slightly less than a 2” opening. It weighs 4.8 oz and features a footed base, making it easy to hold. It can hold 6.7 oz of whiskey, but performs best with 1.75 oz or less.

 

Nose

After nearly 30 minutes of waiting (there’s an explanation for why I took this long that had nothing to do with the whiskey), the Whiskey Tumbler imparted a very smoky character that made judging the whiskey inside challenging.

 

The whiskey inside my Glencairn performed as it should, without the added smoke.

 

Palate

The first sip was horrible. But, as I’ve said for years, never judge a whiskey on the first sip. There’s a thing called palate shock. The second sip is when your palate is prepared for what’s coming, and you can usually get past the shock. However, what happened to my lovely Russell’s Reserve was that, instead of adding character, it made it smoky and intense, with black pepper notes – enough to make me try a third time. It never got better.

 

The Glencairn did what the Glencairn should do. It allowed me to taste the Bourbon as the distiller intended.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Many issues with Artisan Oak’s Whiskey Tumbler need to be addressed. First is its care instructions. Here’s what Artisan Oak states on its product insert:

 

“Let your tumblers sit and acclimate for a few hours after delivery

DO NOT leave why sitting in the tumbler for more than 4+ hours

DO NOT put in the dishwasher, refrigerator, or microwave

Between uses, store in a temperature controlled area

Immediately after use, rinse by hand with warm (NOT HOT) water

Wipe out excess liquid and turn upside down to dry

After dried, lightly apply our Wood Rub to the interior and exterior

IMPORTANT: After each use, apply our Wood Rub as mentioned above”

 

The Wood Rub that’s included is made from food-grade mineral oil and beeswax, but it comes in a tiny 0.5oz tin. You can buy a 4-oz tin for $16.00. Still, that’s a lot of upkeep compared to a simple rise-and-dry (and, while I don’t recommend it, the Glencairn can go in the dishwasher). It should be noted that the Wood Rub is not odorless.

 

There are times when I’m enjoying a pour, and I may need to stop and assist Mrs. Whiskeyfellow with something. With a Glencairn, I put a ginger jar lid on the top and can go about my business. Many evenings, I purposefully leave the empty Glencairn unwashed so I can smell it the next day (some of you may think that’s weird, and that’s okay). There’s no damage done. With the Whiskey Tumbler, I have to rinse and dry it immediately (per their instructions).

 

There’s a lack of consistency, and for a whiskey reviewer, that’s critical. Artisan Oak suggests the more you use its tumbler, the better the whiskey tastes. Obviously, that’s the char influence. I don’t want my whiskey to taste different each time. It is the main reason why I wait 15 minutes before I even begin nosing a whiskey. The Wood Rub’s odor is very unsettling.

 

The biggest problem of all is that the tumbler started leaking a few minutes after I poured my whiskey! I was allowing it to rest while starting the nosing comparison, and my desk was soaking wet beneath it. I’m assuming this is a flaw in construction, perhaps unique to this tumbler.

 

I double-checked the instructions, and aside from giving it time to acclimate for a few hours (I gave it nearly two weeks), there’s no mention of having to “waterproof” it with the conditioner for first use.

 

I really wanted to review the other aspects, so I went to my kitchen sink to nose and sip. But by the time my usual 15 minutes had elapsed and I cleaned my desk, it was closer to 30 minutes before I could begin nosing.

 

For nosing, the clear winner was the Glencairn. A Glencairn’s shape is designed to enhance the nosing experience, but it doesn’t change the quality of the whiskey. Artisan Oak added the distraction of smoke, which, while I could get through, created an unnecessary barrier.

 

For tasting, the Artisan Oak failed miserably. I immediately tasted barrel char. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; I like barrel char. It morphed the whiskey. Again, a glass should enhance, not change the whiskey.

 

Did I need to use something at a lower proof? Considering there was nothing in the instructions about limiting the proof, and given that the vessel leaks, I wasn’t going to explore that option.

 

Pricewise, there’s no contest. Glencairns can be had for about $7.00 on up, depending on where you shop. You can have them custom-etched for $25 or less (including the glass). To do something similar with the Whiskey Tumbler, you’re looking at $103.00, including the extra wood conditioner. It is definitely an investment and perhaps an incentive enough to follow the care instructions.

 

Is there a positive aspect? Yes. Appearance-wise, the Whiskey Tumbler is attractive and a conversation starter. Someone unfamiliar with Glenciarn glasses may find its shape and size intriguing, but most whiskey drinkers will accept it as the tool it is. Maybe you’ll get a comment on the logo. However, even that is rare.

 

Now, before I reveal my final rating, I must share with you one last thing, and this has nothing to do with the Whiskey Tumbler itself. When Artisan Oak provided me with the tumbler, they also offered to engrave it. I’m not sure what happened during the engraving process, but as you can see, something is definitely missing. I’m shocked that quality control would miss this, but hey, mistakes happen, right?

I'm not "hiskeyfellow"

 

I contacted Artisan Oak about this to see if they would correct it, and, as of the time this review was published, I’ve still not had my request acknowledged. Of everything that a company does, customer service is the most important aspect, and not responding is the worst way to handle something.

 

Could I have tried contacting Artisan Oak again? Sure. Will I? No, because I’m not giving this as a gift or showing it off. But if I were, I’d be pissed. And, saying all of this, it still had no impact on my rating, but it is something you, as a potential consumer, should be aware of, and if you’re looking to set up an affiliate shop, it’s definitely something to keep in mind.

 

Taking into consideration all of the other factors, I believe the Artisan Oak Whiskey Tumbler is a Bust. A drinking vessel shouldn’t leak. It shouldn’t change a whiskey’s character. The Whiskey Tumbler did all of those things. Did I get a “defective” one? I have no idea, but even if it didn’t leak, I found too few positives. A replacement won’t fix the other negative aspects.

 

I want to cycle back to the Whiskey Grail. While I was not the biggest fan, my experience was completely different from that of the Whiskey Tumbler. It didn’t leak, it didn’t significantly change the whiskey. So, while charred oak vessels may seem strange, I’m still hopeful that I’ll find a great one. Cheers!

 

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.