The 11 Best Whiskey Glasses in 2023, According to Experts

Best Overall

Whiskey Peaks Set of 2 Whiskey Glasses

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Overall Rating: 5/5

Huckberry’s Whiskey Peaks line boasts as much form as they do function: Made of hand-blown glass, the handsome conversation pieces are almost paper-thin and designed to let the spirit shine. Best of all, topographic impressions of famed mountains and peaks—including Mount Everest, the Grand Canyon, Denali, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Rainier and Mount Washington—float up from the bottom of each glass.

Whether you’re keen on climbing up rock faces or looking for a spirited souvenir, the 11.5-ounce Whiskey Peaks glass is a unique way to elevate a drinking experiment. Think of them as a great gift for bosses, bachelors and beyond.

Best Glencairn Glass

Wine Enthusiast Glencairn Crystal Whisky Glass Set of 4

5

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Overall Rating: 4.8/5

"I'm quite stuck on the traditional Glencairn glass,” describes Nicole Ross, the head bartender of New York City's The Chester. “A Glencairn glass really lets you fully appreciate the notes you get on the nose and the layering of the flavors.”

These Glencairn glasses are beloved by whiskey drinkers as they concentrate the aromas—something a rocks glass does not. Each 6-ounce glass is designed to show off the color and the aroma of the spirit.

“The ideal glass, so I've been told by many whisk(e)y distillers, for tasting is a stemmed glass that has a wider base than the nose, like ISO or Cordial glass,” explains Goodfellow. “You can see the spirits well—the glass tapers towards the top to concentrate the smell when you nose it, and the stem removes any unintentional heat to the spirit.” 

Kristen Voisey, the owner of Cocktail Emporium and the brand’s glassware designer, agrees: “This is the standard tasting glass used at most distilleries. The shape is meant to enhance the aromas of fine whisk(e)y, and I find it does that job well.”

Good to Know:

Goodfellow recommends adding a bit of room temperature water to the Glencairn glass to help open up the spirit.

Best Double-Walled

Norlan Whisky Glass

4.4

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Overall Rating: 3.4/5

This isn’t your ordinary whiskey glass. Initially launched by a successful Kickstarter campaign, Norlan’s original glass models were each conjured up via a 3D printer. Although the design process sounds unconventional, the company, comprised of designer Sruli Recht, brand director Brian Fichtner and CEO Shane Bahng, created the glass with some of the most well-respected figures in the Scotch world. Now, the glasses are all hand-blown into these tried-and-tested shapes.

The founders used biomimicry and fluid dynamic modeling to produce the perfect whiskey glass, combining the easy-sipping nature of tumbler glasses with the technical qualities of nosing glasses. Plus, the 7-ounce glass’ double-walled design keeps hand heat away from liquid: The round curves of the outer wall nestle the glass comfortably in your hand while the tulip-shaped inner wall focuses and diffuses the aroma to reveal nuanced flavors.

Related: The Best Whiskey Decanters

Best Rocks Glass

Riedel Crystal Rocks Glass, Set of 2

4.8

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Overall Rating: 4.8/5

A rocks glass is good for anything: single-ounce pours, spirits on the rocks cocktails or even water. For Voisey, Riedel’s 9-ounce heavy-base tumblers are particularly “great for drinking Old Fashioneds or classic whiskey cocktails on the rocks.”

For this drink-specific collection, Georg Riedel tapped a range of bartenders and industry experts to create these glasses. Each design showcases both spirits and cocktails, and can hold up in a high-energy bar environment—it’s common to spot these glasses on bar tops across the country. 

“It's also perfect for drinking whiskey straight with its unique 2-ounce pour indicator etch (the top of the triangle at the bottom measures exactly 2 ounces),” adds Voisey. Note that the larger size allows for a few chunks of ice to a dram of whiskey.

There’s more to a whiskey glass than sipping it neat, you also want a vessel in your arsenal that is perfect for cocktails, this is it.

Related: The Best Ice Makers

Most Unique

Dragon Glassware Diamond Whiskey Glasses

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Overall Rating: 4.2/5

Not only are these diamond-shaped glasses from Dragon Glassware aesthetically pleasing, but they're also made to enhance your whiskey drinking experience. The unique shape of the glass helps aerate your drink as it is poured or swirled in the vessel. Even more, it rests at a 50-degree angle that's both anti-rocking and spill-proof. With a 10-ounce capacity, these lead-free crystal glasses are also dishwasher and freezer safe. 

Though they are ideal for aerating, the lip is quite thick - reserve these for sipping Old Fashioneds or other cocktails. Gift them to a friend or add the glasses to your home bar for an excellent conversation piece.

Related: The Best Whiskey Stones

Best for Japanese Whisky

NEAT Glass Official Competition Judging Glass

4.8

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Many of the world’s top tasting competitions use this Neat Glass option as their standard tasting glass, and with good reason: Each glass is thoughtfully mouth-blown from lead-free crystal. The heavier weight of the glass—similar to what you’d get from antique crystal—is also a nice touch.

The glass holds 4 ounces and is wider than the traditional tasting glass. This opening is designed to amplify the aromas and flavor characters of the spirit, like the delicate flavors of Japanese whisky, while avoiding the nose-numbing, overpowering ethanol scent. This design, a result of nine years of tastings and studies, also points out any potential flaws within the liquid. Each glass comes in an elegant burgundy and silver box, making it a go-to gift. If you’re looking to comparatively taste spirits, these glasses let flavors shine their brightest. Keep them on hand for documenting your notes on new bottles.

That said, it’s particular shape isn’t the most natural to sip from. For tasting, this glass is excellent but for sipping over a long period, opt for a more sessionable glass 

Good to Know:

While antique and vintage glassware is a beautiful addition to a home bar, many older pieces were made with lead oxide (this added a reflective sheen to the exterior of the glasses). Keep this in mind when you buy antiques, or opt for new glassware with a retro design.

Best Splurge

Riedel Vinum Whisky Glasses

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Overall Rating: 4.8/5

A crowd-favorite across the board is Riedel’s 7-ounce Vinum whiskey glass. "They’re great for nosing spirits,” says Marissa Mazzotta, bar manager at New York Distilling’s The Shanty. “It's a particularly ideal glass to use when we are tasting through barrel samples.” 

Leveraging the thin lip often seen in Riedel’s wine glasses, this larger-sized glass has plenty of room to swirl your brown spirits.

These elegant glasses were designed in collaboration with Scotch whiskey experts back in 1992 when the Riedel family brought in Scotland’s finest master distillers to help fine-tune every step of the design process. “The shape of the glass really allows you to get the top notes as you smell and a full sip across the palate when you go in for it,” explains Mazzotta. “Though a bit pricey, they’re totally worth it if you’re able to splurge."

Related: The Best Whiskeys

Best Small Glass

Villeroy & Boch Boston Shot Glass

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Even if you own a venerable selection of snifters, there may be an occasion (or two) that calls for drinking whiskey in a more festive manner. These crystal shot glasses evoke the style of elegant barware, thanks to patterned designs and classic coloring (including pale blue, bright red, rose and grey), yet they boast the fun of a solid shot glass. Each glass also has a 2.5-ounce capacity.

“I prefer a shot glass that holds at least 1.5 ounces, allowing 1 ounce to comfortably rest without spilling over the top," explains Goodfellow. “I’m also a fan of the short shot glasses that slightly fan out and have some weight to them, rather than the ones that just go straight up like a test tube." Dishwasher safe, these durable glasses are ready to survive jostles, slips and slam downs on the bar.

Related: The Best Shot Glasses

Best Design

NUDE Beak Crystal Drinking Glass

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This NUDE glass is a more modern take on the traditional snifting glass, with an angular silhouette and lead-free crystal construction. Designed by Swiss glassware expert Tomas Kral, the glass has taken home top awards for design. Pick up the matching carafe to decant your favorite whiskeys in style, and choose from a traditional clear color, a smokey grey hue or a striking purple. The handmade glass is also excellent for whiskey-based cocktails, wine, and water. 

Note the color makes it tough to take in the color of a whisk(e)y, but certainly makes a statement. The angular design fits snuggly in your hand. Whiskey fans love these glasses because they have weight to them—they're a particularly excellent glass to swirl. 

Best Themed

Gemsho Glass Golf Ball Whiskey Glass

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“I love unique glassware especially for my home bar,” describes Cristina Suarez, the beverage manager of KUSH Hospitality Group. “[These glasses] have an almost snifter-like shape on the top which enhances the whiskey flavor by trapping the aroma on top while the rounded bottom allows the glass to be fully cupped in your hand to warm it up. It would definitely make a great gift for the whiskey-loving golfer in your life.”

Even though the glasses resemble a golf ball, they are abstract enough to fit in with any home bar - it’s not kitschy. Available in a set of two, each 10-ounce whiskey glass is handcrafted in the Midwest. The larger capacity means these glasses lend well to cocktails.