And that others prefer glasses on stem so they can control the heating of the whisky. So the Glencairn is more of a "drinking glass" and the Spiegelau would be a "tasting glass".

To be honest, I'm not a big fan of either the Glencairn or Riedel whisky glasses. I probably have about fifty different glass geometries in my collection, many of which shine with particular whiskies, and do injustices to others.

The Glencairn is essentially a "tulip" on a solid base. It has the advantage of feeling solid. But you are going to get fingerprints on the glass itself, which will detract from the appearance of the whisky. I do use tulips, but even those I use on a stem (something as cheap as Ikea "liqueur" glasses work.)

In my opinion, every time one drinks single malt, it should be a tasting, not a drinking session. The liquid is just too expensive and too rare to have a "daily dram" of. It deserves better than that.

The Spiegelau is very nice: it is essentially a large, flared copita on a stem. Here's how that breaks down in a tasting:

1. Large: The volume allows the vapor cloud to develop properly, and the height keeps the stinging vapors far from your nose to help one really appreciate the bouquet.

2. Copita: Narrows to form a concentration of vapors, here calibrated to be about the midrange of vapor weight at the point of constriction. All professionals, without exception, use copitas — frequently "black glasses" (dark blue with graduated volume lines that hide the color of the whisky.)

3. Flared: The copita opens up, so that the lighter vapors can float in a larger "pool". By moving your nose from the rim of the glass all the way into the glass, you can "surf" different aromas.

4. Stem: Pros include easy aeration, keeps fingerprints from getting on the glass, allows one to judge color better, appears more elegant. Cons include "more likely for cat to knock over". ‹(•¿•)›

Less pretty and more expensive, but very, very good is the Riedel "Vintage Port" glass, a stemmed copita without a flare. I use this regularly, too.

If you are drinking high-proof Islay malts and love the peat smoke and sting (if you ever use the term "Peat Monster", for instance), you might go for something "lower tech", that concentrates the heavy notes. The best thing for this is a (small) brandy snifter. Again, cheap is fine, and is actually better for you, as it is less likely to include lead. A heavy cut-crystal glass, though, feels reassuring in the hand. But this glass would be wildly inappropriate for the Doublewood (everything here is just my opinion, but assuming you got here from my tasting notes [1], I do know what I'm talking bout.)

By far my favorite whisky glass ever was the "freebie" that Andrew Murray Vineyards in California gives/gave out for wine flights in their tasting room, one of those "and you keep the glass!" things. It is remarkable. I was crushed when I lost it in a move.

Joshua McGee

Thank you again for the long and thorough answer. I have now ordered a pair of Spiegelau. I hope he will like his present. Then he will just have to keep the cat away while enjoying the whisky. :)

I just found your tasting notes for "White Ardbeg", and was very interested, since I have a bottle I procured while visiting Islay. Where do you get your rare bottles?

Chris Lunt
"ScotchBuddy"

Some I purchased in Scotland, some in Southern California at the great Wine and Liquor Depot, some from domestic and overseas auctions, and a few from random small liquor stores that didn't know what they had (like the Talisker 12 I bought a couple years ago for $27.99).

That "White Ardbeg" is a bottle that definitely grew on me as an acquired taste. At first, it tastes almost spoiled, but one quickly comes to love it.

I agree with your view of Highland Park single malts. They are just the very best - especially the 18 year HP that was released in 2008. I cannot imagine not having a bottle of Highland Park in stock.

Subject: Express freight from ShenZhen
Valid to:31, July 2009
Currency: RMB per kg; Prepaid.

U.S.A RMB30/kg (above 100kg+); By DHL
Canada RMB33/kg (above 100kg+); By UPS
Mexico RMB33/kg (above 100kg+); By UPS
Singapore RMB25/kg (above 100kg+); By UPS
Malaysia RMB25/kg (above 100kg+); By UPS
Australia RMB39/kg (above 100kg+); By UPS
New Zealand RMB39/kg (above 100kg+); By UPS
U.K. RMB34/kg (above 100kg+); By UPS
Germany RMB34/kg (above 100kg+); By UPS
France RMB34/kg (above 100kg+); By UPS
Italy RMB34/kg (above 100kg+); By UPS
Denmark RMB34/kg (above 100kg+); By UPS
Finland RMB34/kg (above 100kg+); By UPS
Brazil RMB52/kg (above 100kg+); By DHL
U.A.E. RMB36/kg (above 100kg+); By DHL



** Collect goods on ShenZhen, DongGuan, GuanZhou city; Warehouse to Door service. ** The freight include BAF, include express customs clearance;
** When shipping lightweight, bulky packages, use the formula (the product of length and width and height (cm) divided by 5000) to help you determine their volumetric weight. Airline charges are based on a minimum shipment density. The greater of the volumetric weight or actual weight of your packages will be used to calculate your shipping costs. ** For delivering to areas not covered by DHL regular service, Remote Area Service Charge may be added as RMB3.6 per kg, with a minimum of RMB180 per shipment.

---
Lead One Trans Int'l Ltd. DongGuan Branch
Tonny MOB:+86-13602327029
TEL:+86-769-22306350 FAX:+86-769-22306361

Our scope:
1. Ocean Freight(FCL,LCL)
2. Air Freight
3. Express (DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT)

Subject: Express freight from ShenZhen
Valid to:30,Aug 2009
Currency: RMB per kg; freight Prepaid.
Warehouse to door service.

U.S.A : RMB29/kg, above 100kgs
Canada : RMB30/kg, above 100kgs
Mexico : RMB34/kg, above 100kgs
Singapore : RMB21/kg, above 100kgs
Australia : RMB33/kg, above 100kgs
New Zealand : RMB33/kg, above 100kgs
Germany : RMB34/kg, above 100kgs
Great Britain : RMB34/kg, above 100kgs
Spain : RMB34/kg, above 100kgs
Italy : RMB34/kg, above 100kgs
Denmark : RMB35/kg, above 100kgs
Ireland : RMB35/kg, above 100kgs
Norway : RMB35/kg, above 100kgs
Sweden : RMB35/kg, above 100kgs
Brazil : RMB50/kg, above 100kgs
Argentina : RMB50/kg, above 100kgs
U.A.E. : RMB50/kg, above 100kgs
Kuwait : RMB50/kg, above 100kgs



** Collect goods on ShenZhen, DongGuan, GuangZhou city; Warehouse to Door service. ** The freight include BAF, include express customs clearance;
** When shipping lightweight, bulky packages, use the formula (the product of length and width and height (cm) divided by 5000) to help you determine their volumetric weight. Airline charges are based on a minimum shipment density. The greater of the volumetric weight or actual weight of your packages will be used to calculate your shipping costs. ** For delivering to areas not covered by DHL regular service, Remote Area Service Charge may be added as RMB3.6 per kg, with a minimum of RMB180 per shipment.

---
Lead One Trans Int'l Ltd. DongGuan Branch
Tonny MOB:+86-13602327029
TEL:+86-769-22306350 FAX:+86-769-22306361
Our scope:
1. Ocean Freight(FCL,LCL)
2. Air Freight
3. Express (DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT)

To: qtopic-3-5DBMc2FMegg92o6HOEJ3
Subject: Express freight from ShenZhen Valid to:30,Sep 2009 Currency: RMB per kg; freight Prepaid. Warehouse to door service. U.S.A: by DHL RMB28.6/kg above 101kgs Canada: by DHL RMB32.0/kg above 101kgs Mexico: by DHL RMB30.1/kg above 101kgs Singapore : by UPS RMB25.2/kg above 101kgs Australia : by UPS RMB32.6/kg above 101kgs New Zealand: by DHL RMB39.3/kg above 101kgs Germany : by UPS RMB33.1/kg above 101kgs Great Britain: by UPS RMB33.1/kg above 101kgs Spain: by UPS RMB33.1/kg above 101kgs Italy: by UPS RMB33.1/kg above 101kgs Brazil : by DHL RMB48.4/kg above 101kgs Denmark : by UPS RMB33.5/kg above 101kgs Ireland: by UPS RMB33.5/kg above 101kgs Sweden: by UPS RMB33.5/kg above 101kgs U.A.E.: by DHL RMB30.9/kg above 101kgs India: by UPS RMB34.0/kg above 101kgs Pakistan: by UPS RMB40.5/kg above 101kgs
** Collect goods on ShenZhen, DongGuan, GuangZhou city; Warehouse to Door service. ** The freight include BAF, include express customs clearance; ** When shipping lightweight, bulky packages, use the formula (the product of length and width and height (cm) divided by 5000) to help you determine their volumetric weight. Airline charges are based on a minimum shipment density. The greater of the volumetric weight or actual weight of your packages will be used to calculate your shipping costs. ** For delivering to areas not covered by DHL regular service, Remote Area Service Charge may be added as RMB4 per kg, with a minimum of RMB200 per shipment. --- Lead One Trans Int'l Ltd. DongGuan Branch Tonny MOB:+86-13602327029 TEL:+86-769-22306350 FAX:+86-769-22306361 Our scope: 1. Ocean Freight(FCL,LCL) 2. Air Freight 3. Express (DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT)