By Richard Thomas
(Credit: Norlan)
Choosing a whisk(e)y gift for an enthusiast poses a common problem for everyone, whether you are an enthusiast or not: buying a bottle can be tricky. After all, even if you know something about whiskey and about your subject’s tastes in it, you also need to know something about his or her collection to make an educated guess about what they might want.
One way around this problem is to go with glassware. For one thing, if you’ve every been over to your subject’s place for drinks, you’ve seen their glassware. Remembering what their glasses look like is easier than a plethora of bottles. Moreover, classy cups have a way of making everything in them special. Although I’d be the first person to tell you “drink your whiskey in a Dixie cup if that is what makes you happy,” I enjoy having nice glasses and enjoy trotting them out for company even more.
Here is some choice glassware to consider this Christmas season:
Norlan Rauk Heavy Tumbler
The standout for new glassware in 2018 is undoubtedly Norlan’s Rauk. Dubbed a heavy tumbler, it is certainly that; even empty, this leaded crystal tumbler has the heft of a small dumbbell.
But what makes the glass such a winner is Norlan’s esteemed sense of design. The base sports what the company calls a “muddling chevron” design, but with a digital sense of style that give the glass a look sitting at the intersection of art deco and sci-fi. It’s the kind of thing Grand Moff Tarkin might have kept on the bar cart in his Death Star quarters. I’ve got one, and I love it for any pour that doesn’t require a nosing.
Mazama Wares Cocktail Glass
Mazamas are handmade from soda-lime glass and sport a minimalist design, but this is a plus in that no two are alike. The simplicity allows the differences to stand out.
Two Mazama Wares Cocktail Glasses are suitable for spirits. The Pure glass is strikingly clear, putting the contents on full display. The alternative is the Smoke glass, which has the kind of smoky finish the name implies. It’s not opaque, but instead merely smudges the contents a bit, giving your whiskey a moodier look.
Litalla Ultima Thule Tumbler
A longtime contender in the class department is the tumbler from Litalla’s Ultima Thule series. Created by the famous Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala, the look is inspired by melting ice in Lapland. The simple-but-intricate appearance looks almost too delicate to touch, but make no mistake: these are robust, practical tumblers.
Ox Horn Tumbler
Sometimes it’s the material that makes the glass special, because it isn’t made from glass. In past years, we’ve seen tumblers made from machined aluminum, soapstone and oak.
Is your whiskey-loving subject a hunter or Vikings fan? This is the glass for them. You can’t see the whiskey inside, of course, but drinking from an ox horn cup conjures a Dark Ages atmosphere in the same way that cut crystal often looks Victorian or Edwardian.
