Whisky may have originated from the British Isles, mostly Ireland and Scotland but it is an iconic spirit enjoyed around the globe. Because whisky is now made and enjoyed so widely, everybody has their favourite style and way of drinking it. One of the most basic but important choices people will make is the glass they’re drinking from.

Each whiskey glass has its own story and everybody has a reason for drinking out of their preferred glass. There are many types of glassware to drink whisky out of but you could narrow it down to seven basic shapes.

The Rocks Glass

Also known as the tumbler or lowball glass, this is the one most casual whisky drinkers will know about.

The rocks glass originates from Ireland and Scotland where whisky was originally made but they weren’t made from glass. Alcohol was drunk from a quaich “quake” which was more of a drinking bowl with handles on the sides.

High-class individuals used to engrave their glasses with their family crests which is still done today. This trend is still popular with all kinds of brand engravings and beautiful imageg, no matter the material they’re made of.

The rocks glass is named as such because it’s one of the best glasses to enjoy your whiskey with one or a few blocks of ice. It’s also short and flat, which makes it look like there’s more in the glass which is more appealing. It’s also not going to be knocked over. It’s also called an “Old Fashioned” glass because it’s used to make the classic cocktail which has few ingredients but makes the glass look full and the drink appetizing.

The tumbler is seen as a high-end but inexpensive whisky glass, making it the perfect all-rounder, no matter your financial situation.

The Highball glass

The tall rocks glass, the highball has its origins in the USA on trains and at golf clubs. It may still have originated from Irish settlers.  The highball is a tall rocks glass but they can be narrow, wide, very tall and shorter.

This glass is more commonly used from all kinds of cocktails, especially when more ice and mixer is included. The layers of ingredients and garnish shine with this style of glass.

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Bulbed glasses

If you want to drink your whisky neat, a bulbed glass is going to be your best bet. These styles of glasses were originally used by spirit makers, especially whiskey. This is because the bulb at the bottom of the glass captures the aromas in the middle and most of the alcohol harshness is pushed to the edges. The aromas are then funneled to the top of the glass and opens at the top. This is where you’ll spend your time smelling the whisky, exploring each aroma and finding the notes that tickle your fancy.

The Glencairn

The Glencairn was developed in the 1980s by whisky makers in Scotland and is based on the nosing cupita.

The glass has the classic bulb shape and opens slightly at the top to help you smell and capture the aromas. It has a short stem used to hold the glass so that your hands don’t warm the liquid too much.

Whenever you see whisky enthusiasts and connoisseurs enjoying whisky, this is going to be the most popular glass.

Canadian Glencairn

Similar to the original Glencairn made by Glencairn Crystal Ltd, the Canadian Glencairn is often slightly smaller and has no stem but a thicker bottom.

The Cupita

The cupita, also known as a “shooner”, snifter or sherry glass is made for aromatic alcoholic beverages, such as sherry, port, aperitifs, and liqueurs. It looks very similar to a Glencairn but with a longer stem, similar to a champaign or wine glass.

The bulb shape can also look very similar to a Glencairn but can often be narrower.

This glass is most widely used by whisky makers due to the aromas being captured in the middle of the glass and pushed to the top for inspection.

These bulbed glasses can be made relatively cheaply with ordinary glass or from more expensive crystal with various different shapes and decorations.

The Snifter

The snifter looks like a Glencairn and a whine glass had a baby. It’s got a short stem with a wide bottom. The bulb is short and wide giving more space for the aromas to meld together.

The glass comes in smaller shapes but a larger version will look like a classic Cognac glass. They are also often made with more expensive crystal and beautiful shapes.

It’s another glass that’s perfect for neat pours but looks even fancier.

The Neat Glass

The neat glass is a very short bulbed glass but usually only has space for a single pour of whisky. The bulb is very short with the rim opening up relatively wide. It looks like a Glencairn was almost flattened. 

It’s a short glass that is perfect for tastings because they’re easy to measure small pours while having all of the benefits of the bulbed shapes like a Glencairn.

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Which glass is for you?

The first rule of whisky is that the best whisky is the whisky you like to drink, the way you like to drink it, as per the Whiskey Tribe. It means you should enjoy the whisky you like, whether it’s in a different glass, on ice or with mixers like cocktails.

If you are looking for a more casual drinking vessel that’s not just great for different pours but looks great and feels comfortable in your hands, it’s the rocks glass. If you prefer cocktails, you might like a coup glass or the highball.

When you want to enjoy whisky in its purist form, exploring the aromas and flavours, and maybe adding a drop of water, you would probably prefer the Glencairn variations, cupita and snifter glasses.

Enjoy your favourite whisky in your preferred glass and it’s always best enjoyed with great company.