World Whisky Day

“Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough.” — Mark Twain

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Not long now until one of our favourite days of the year - World Whisky Day, a celebration of the water of life that invites everyone to try a dram. At the Grant Macdonald London workshop, we know a thing or two about drinking whisky, and thanks to our collaboration with a group of excellent craftspeople based in Somerset, we’ve learned a great deal about the glasses it should be served in.

Choosing the right kind of whisky glass does a lot to enhance the flavour of the whisky - and everybody’s tastes are different, so finding the right one for you is important. The tulip-shaped glasses traditionally used to sample sherry are used by whisky connoisseurs around the world because of the bowl shape which concentrates the aromas through the narrow rim - easy cradled to warm the spirit, and with a long stem to prevent the drinker’s hand (and the cologne on his wrist) from getting too close to the nose during a sampling. The Glencairn whisky glass does the same thing, although it’s a little more robust, with a shorter stem and a thicker glass for convivial drinking - it’s less showy than the tulip-shaped glass, and has a size that lends itself perfectly to learning how to swirl, to open up the aromas of your whisky.

Our personal favourite is the tumbler - also known as the  lowballs, the rocks glass or the old fashioned glass. It has a wide rim, but you’ll still benefit from the aromas of your chosen tipple - but it’s an extremely versatile solution to your drinking needs. Fill this one with a rattle ice and your favourite whisky, and it’ll let the simplicity of your drink speak for itself. It’s also a great way to serve muddled drinks, because it has a wide, strong base, allowing you to serve up a wide variety of classic cocktails to guests who want to get creative with their tipples.

Our Paragon Tumblers are hand-blown in Somerset with 24% lead oxide added to help the crystal sparkle when it catches the light. If you want to complete your set, you could invest in our Paragon Bar Set, which comes with two of the superbly weighty hand-cut tumblers, and a solid crystal decanter with a sterling silver stopper. Decanters are a crucial element of the whisky appreciation toolkit, allowing oxygen to interact with the whisky as you pour it into the decanter - you’ll find that the aromas of your favourite spirit have a chance to bloom, allowing you to smell more than just alcohol when you raise it to your nose for that all-important first sniff.

There may not be time to get your hands on a pair of our Paragon Tumblers in time for World Whisky Day this year - but if you purchase one today, you’ll have plenty of time to get to know them before 20th May 2024 rolls around. And when it comes to appreciating whisky, practice makes perfect.

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