Glencairn Whisky Glass Set of 4

I bought these as a gift and the recipient was very pleased. These are the real deal, not a cheap copy. They are perfect for drinking whiskey.

If you are a whisky drinker, these glasses are a must. The quality of these glasses is very good and affordable (since they don't have someone's logo on the outside). As with any glass, take care in handling as they do have a thin lip.

Glad I got these. For the price I give 5 stars. I didn't necessarily "have to have" the "official" scotch glass (I don't like overpaying for hype), but after poking around online I didn't really see anything cheaper that still had a good shape for nosing/tasting. I ordered 2 sets of 4 - so 8 glasses - and they arrived in a Glencairn box of 6 plus 2 extra glasses wrapped separately :) Makes no difference to me. Perhaps just offer sets of 6, some people would want exactly that. Mine are etched "The Glencairn Glass" on the bottom - in a way that you read it looking into the glass. I'm not a crystal or glassware snob, but I do prefer quality vessels for beverages and food - IMHO it contributes to the enjoyment. My guests always smile when I insist that they use a beer mug or beer tulip instead of drinking from the bottle (what are we, animals? ha-ha :) Anyway, I have a bunch of Mikasa lead crystal red wine glasses (similar to Riedel quality), which I love (so elegant) and the Glencairn is "not quite" the same quality. It's just slightly thicker and less lustrous and should cost a bit less, but I don't mind, still looks and feels proper. The coolest thing about it is that the shape slightly resembles the shape of a pot still, just like some of the more classic Scotch bottles do (usually it's in the neck of the bottle, i.e. Old Pulteney). I wanted these instead of brandy snifters, because those just feel "stuffy", pretentious and in my mind are associated with corrupt fat cats, cigar smoke, etc. and I didn't want that (but malts do taste delightful out of brandy snifters). I would've liked these to be a bit larger, especially the bulb of the "tulip", but I don't see taking away stars for that - this is what the designers intended and this is "the" malt glass, which is why we are buying it. If I don't like that, I should design my own glass, which I won't, because I have no skills/resources. I'd rather just enjoy me malt ;) UPDATE and TIP: I've used mine for a few months drinking single malts, cognac and armagnac. Drinking solo most days I use one and the same glass and wash it every time, but it still developed a yellow rim that wouldn't come off with dish soap. Yesterday I used some plain bleach and it disappeared, so if you observe the yellowing, it's a quick fix. Hydrogen peroxide would probably also work well. This is not the glass' flaw, IMO, just the nature of the drink :)

3rd Purchase, Great Glass.

I love single malt whisky & US bourbon. I was somewhat skeptical that this glass would greatly improve my enjoyment but I'm now a believer! The glass truly does allow you to pick out the subtle nuances more precisely. If you're spending $50 and more on single malt scotch, why would you want to miss out on the nuances of each? The design of this glass is based on the traditional "nosing" glass used by master whisky blenders. The pinched waist holds the aroma and the tapering neck directs the bouquet up to your nose. The smaller opening keeps the air in the room from confusing your senses so you get a more precise "nose". A traditional nosing glass has no cuts in the glass or other decoration because it would distort the color of the whisky. The Glencairn glass was originally designed for pub/bar use so it is a sturdy little glass. The bottom is heavy so it's not easily tipped over and is easily grasped. It feels good in the hand. The only glass that would provide a better hand feel (in my opinion) would be a small brandy snifter. A sherry copita would also be a good substitute glass. The size of the bowl was designed to hold the "proper" amount of scotch which is between 35 & 50 mL or approximately 1.5 fluid oz. in a US bar. You pour the scotch to the area on the glass where it just starts to taper up. The photo on the box shows a "proper" pour. The opening is a comfortable size for nosing and drinking. Glencairn also sells a crystal version of this glass but I prefer this lead free version because it is sturdy. The lead free version can go through the dishwasher if you choose but I always hand wash mine so that I don't get any soap or rinse agent residue in the glass. I find this glass to be the right combination of sturdy and elegance. And they make that lovely "ting" sound when bumped against another glass - "Slainte"! I also use this glass for drinking aged rum. It has the same effect on rum as whisky; makes it even more delicious. Some rum fans feel it concentrates the aromas too much because rum is not as subtle as whisky. For young rums, I agree but for older rums, I like using this glass for sipping/tasting. Glencairn does not manufacture these glasses in Scotland but has glass manufacturers in other countries manufacture them to their specifications. Glencairn designs, packages and distributes their glassware from East Kilbride, Scotland. There really is no glass blowing industry left in Scotland at this time. Each glass in this 4-pack, comes in its own box; perfect for gifting & also good for protecting the glass from shipping breakage.

Glen Cairn whiskey glass set has been a great purchase. Use them for my bourbon sipping and they really help to air out the liquor. Fits comfortably in your hand to allow a nice swirl before getting the full aroma. Well made and cleans up well in the dishwasher. No problem with any chipping or breakage. You will enjoy these for years.

This glass is not well-suited for straight shots. It also isn't well suited for those who like to drink their whiskey on the rocks (ice). The small mouth and a wide base makes it awakward to drink a quick straight shot. The same small mouth also makes it difficult to insert ice. So if you like to drink your whiskey straight (mostly reserved for cheaper whiskies), then I recommend using a shotglass instead. What this glass is made for is sipping delightful aromatic whiskies such as Lugavulan, Laphroaig, and Balvenie. Many high quality whiskies should be sipped, almost like wine, while enjoying the rich aroma and flavors. The heat from your hands will warm the whiskey enough to help release some of the flavor as well. This is also a surprisingly good glass for wines. This glass is fairly small and fits nicely within the palm of average sized hands. Pros: 1)Great for sipping (not straight-shots) whiskey. 2)Good design and looks aesthetically pleasing. 3)Designed to release the flavor of the whiskey using the warmth of your hands. 4)Surprisngly good glass for wines (it can't hold a lot of volume). Cons: 1)Hard to use with ice (I never use ice but the mouth is too small and the glass is not too large). 2)Not ideal for straight shots.

Perfect size. Wish they weren’t so fragile though.