The 13 Best Whisky Glasses To Elevate Your Drop In 2024

There comes a time during every man’s life – often in his mid-twenties – when he’s more than happy to trade the weekend shot glass for whisky glasses (or ‘whiskey’ glasses depending on your dram); perhaps to accompany the appreciation of his growing record collection.

The desire to break into the high-brow world of whisky drinking is a great one, no question; but if you’re serious about getting the most out of your proverbial single malt, then spending some time thinking about the appropriate drinking vessel is more or less non-negotiable.

Before long, you’ll be pouring drams in the company of like-minded friends, sharing thoughts on the colour, aroma and maturity of the amber liquid with more and more insight after every sip. To do this, however, you’ll need a selection of the best whisky glasses on the market. And while you’re certainly free to drink whisky however the hell you please, we’ve made a few inclusions in our latest Buyer’s Guide below that will really take your enjoyment to the next level.

Of course, you’ll need to be across the best Australian whiskies available in the country before you even start to think about pouring that dram.

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Table of Contents

• The 13 Best Scotch & Whisky Glasses On The Market Right Now
  • Glencairn Crystal Whisky Glass
  • Everest Whiskey Glass
  • Denver & Liely Whisky Glass
  • Norlan Whisky Glass
  • Malt + Brew Whisky Wave Glass
  • Waterford Elegance Wine Story Single Malt Glass
  • Corkcicle Whiskey Wedge Glass
  • Norlan Rauk Heavy Tumbler
  • Anchor Hocking Glencairn Crystal Canadian Whisky Glass
  • Viski Seneca Faceted Crystal Tumbler
  • Royal Scot Crystal Scottish Thistle Tumbler
  • Riedel Shadows Tumbler
  • Luigi Bormioli Bach Tumbler
• How Do Whisky Glasses Make A Difference?
• How To Choose The Best Scotch Whisky Or Whiskey Glasses For You
  • What Glass Is Best For Whisky & Whiskey?
  • Glass Design & Structure
  • Glass Feel & Aesthetic
  • Types of Whisky Glasses
• Are You Still Asking Yourself, “What Is The Difference Between Whisky And Whiskey?”
• Best Whisky Glasses – Frequently Asked Questions

The 13 Best Scotch & Whisky Glasses On The Market Right Now

Glencairn Crystal Whisky Glass

Glencairn set the standard for premium crystal glasses and now, the design is synonymous with its namesake and reigns true across multiple manufacturers. With a thick-cut “tartan” or “hatch” design and tapered mouth, they’ll make those delicate nose elements easy to experience than a standard short glass.

Everest Whiskey Glass

The Everest whiskey glass is no novelty — this meticulously crafted drinkware boasts a 3D scale replica of the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest. Make no mistake: this is a bold design detail that’s sure to be a strong talking point at your next whisky-themed get-together.

Denver & Liely Whisky Glass

Rated the number one whisky glass by Forbes, the Denver & Liely vessel has been self-titled as “the best possible, highest performance whisky glass in the world.” They also do a dedicated bourbon whiskey glass which shows the brand’s dedication to delivering both a unique malt and corn experience. With top-notch customer service from an Australian brand, Denver & Liely are worth supporting.

Norlan Whisky Glass

The Norlan whisky glass is one of the best in the business. Made using a hand-blown, double-walled borosilicate construction; the design is unapologetically modern.

The hand-blown double-walled borosilicate glass embraces a modern design and a concave outer rim fits the lower lip of the mouth perfectly. As a bonus: Cape Byron master distiller Jim McEwan consulted on the glass’s shape and final design.

Malt + Brew Whisky Wave Glass

Malt + Brew is a family-owned business from Melbourne that is inspired by the world of Japanese aesthetics when it comes to its beautiful, sculptural whisky glasses. The range is wide and takes in many different styles, but these ‘Wave’ numbers are a particularly unique bestseller.

Waterford Elegance Wine Story Single Malt Glass

The Waterford Elegance collection’s ‘Wine Story’ single malt glasses are just what the doctor ordered when you’re pouring a rare dram from the top of your backbar.

These are uniquely designed to bring out the best of a finely distilled and full-flavoured whisky, with a slightly vinous aesthetic (reminiscent of a squashed-down port glass) thanks to the truncated stem.

Corkcicle Whiskey Wedge Glass

Say goodbye to overly watered-down whisky with this unique take on the whisky glass that captures the best of chilled scotch or bourbon with a strategically designed ice wedge. Lower ice surface area means slower melting, so you won’t be drinking punch by the time you get to the bottom of your glass.

Norlan Rauk Heavy Tumbler

Norlan’s Rauk heavy tumbler is seriously heavy in the hand and could stop a charging elephant if used as a projectile. Despite its heft, the design is balanced and articulate, sure to leave your mates asking what it’s called and how they can get their own.

Anchor Hocking Glencairn Crystal Canadian Whisky Glass

Designed to be enjoyed specifically with Canadian whisky, this hybrid between a neat glass and snifter allows for the fullest appreciation of colour, with a flat bottom providing reliable stability.

Viski Seneca Faceted Crystal Tumbler

This angular, mid-century crystal design looks great on any bar cart and can be rested upright or even on an angle without fully capitulating.

Royal Scot Crystal Scottish Thistle Tumbler

This crystal tumbler is a classically hand-cut whisky glass with a distinctive ‘Scottish Thistle’ diamond motif. The kind of glass you’d expect to see a certain secret agent being handed after a job well done — with a price to match the clandestine budget of British intelligence.

Riedel Shadows Tumbler

While Riedel is best known for its world-class stemware, the legendary Austrian purveyor of hand-blown crystal also knows its way around a Scotch glass — the Shadows Tumbler being a perfect example. With old-world art deco design cues and a charming in-hand weight, there’s quite a bit to be enjoyed here.

Luigi Bormioli Bach Tumbler

These Italian-made, smash-resistant glasses from Luigi Bormioli are available in a variety of sizes: perfect for covering all bases ranging from a neat drop of Scotch to sophisticated classic cocktails.

Note: the decanter pictured in the product listing is, unfortunately, not included.

How Do Whisky Glasses Make A Difference?

A good whisky glass matters more than most people seem to think. And there is no one-size-fits-all approach either. Similarly to wine, there are different glasses that are best used for different whiskies in order to maximise the nose and profile of each. That dram you’re about to start sipping is incredibly complex, and just like you wouldn’t want to drink wine from a cocktail glass, you’ll need to think carefully about what you’re using to deliver that sweet liquid straight to your palate.

Whisky glasses make a difference by allowing you to fully experience the many layers of a dream, from nosing it (smelling it), through to when it releases those finishing notes as it slides towards the back of your throat.

How To Choose The Best Scotch Whisky Or Whiskey Glasses For You

Choosing the right glass is mostly a matter of personal preference – think of it as an extension of your personality and your current whisky tastes. Your collection will likely evolve over time, but here are a few factors you need to consider before getting started. And don’t worry about the whisky/whiskey back and forth – it’s merely a reference to the country or origin or the dram mentioned in context (but more on that later).

What Glass Is Best For Whisky & Whiskey?

As mentioned above, there really is no one-size-fits-all solution to this, and the answer will largely depend on what type of whisk(e)y you’re about to pour. There are, however, a few general rules to keep in mind when looking for the best glassware for the job. A few things you’ll want to keep in mind are glass design & structure, as well as feel & aesthetic. Use the following guiding principles when it comes to pairing the right whisk(e)y with the right whisk(e)y glass and you’ll get much more out of your dream than ever before.

Glass Design & Structure

Ideally, a whisky glass’s design needs to be optimised for breathability. No one wins when the dram is suffocated, preventing the much-needed aeration of unwanted molecules. Likewise, it’s best if the whisky isn’t lost in the bottom of a deep glass, miles from your nose, either.

This is why professional whisky tastings are usually conducted with a Glencairn glass or snifter, as they appropriately funnel the whisky out of the glass and heighten the nose of the dram overall. They also perfectly connect with the lips by way of the glass’ curled rim. We’ll get to these types of glasses soon enough.

Glass Feel & Aesthetic

If you’re paying good money for a whisky glass, you should rightly expect a premium touch, balanced weight, and one that comfortably fits your hand. If your hands run on the slightly larger side, perhaps consider a wider tumbler to enjoy nursing the drink. While money should buy you quality, it should also buy you a glass that’s easy on the eye and fits well in a well-appointed apartment or office setting. Half of the battle is looking the part, right?

Types of Whisky Glasses

A Snifter is a short-stemmed glass vessel that has a wide bottom and a relatively narrow top. Think Mad Men or a member’s club vibe.

A Glencairn glass, as we mentioned previously, is likely the most common whisky glass you’ll come across during a tasting. They’re slightly thicker and more suited to sociable drinking, and, due to their size and shape, are fantastic for learning how to swirl whisky.

A Tumbler glass – AKA the rocks glass, the old-fashioned glass, or the lowball – is the most common scotch glass or whiskey glass you’ll come across when ordering a drop at the bar.

The Tulip glass is based on the ‘copita’ – the traditional Spanish drinkware used to sample sherry. Its slightly longer stem than the snifter prevents the oils from the hand from coming into contact with the rim of the glass and interfering with the nose.

Now the Neat glass might sound like an age-old staple of whisky drinking, but the relatively new invention was designed to expertly direct harsh vapours away from the nose. It actually stands for ‘Naturally Engineered Aroma Technology’, and it expels the ethanol molecules out of the opening, leaving behind the heavier, more enjoyable parts of the whisky within the glass.

Are You Still Asking Yourself, “What Is The Difference Between Whisky And Whiskey?”

Don’t be shy, we’ve all asked the answer to this question at some point during our whisk(e)y drinking careers. Essentially, ‘whisky’ is typically the spelling of the spirit from Scotland, Canada & Japan. ‘Whiskey’ on the other hand is predominantly the American (bourbon) and Irish variant; though some American bourbons such as Maker’s Mark use the Scottish spelling as a nod to their ancestral heritage.

For a crash course on easy whisky terms every drinker should know, we’d suggest checking out this article. If you’re still wondering what the difference between cheap and expensive whisky might be, head here.

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Best Whisky Glasses – Frequently Asked Questions