Glencairn is a specially shaped whiskey glass designed by the Scottish company Glencairn Crystal. Glen is translated from Gaelic as “valley”, cairn is a type of low-alcohol drink from the roots of the mountain rank (grass of the legume family), but there is no official evidence that the name of the organization comes from these words.
Glencairn is a pot-bellied glass on a thick, stable stem with a rounded bottom of the bowl. The edges of the vessel are first narrowed, but immediately at the edge they are aligned and run parallel, like a glass flask.
History
Glencairn Crystal staff joke: “The world didn’t know it needed Glencairn until it got it.”
The Glencairn glass first appeared on the market in 2001. The height is 115 ml, the volume is 175 ml. The vessel is made of crystal, until 2008 there were models made of silicate glass.
The author of the project, managing director Raymond Davidson, borrowed the shape of the vessel from the copita wine glass, also used for whiskey and sherry. Davidson came up with a prototype back in the 1980s, but was in no hurry to implement it. First, he consulted with the five largest distilleries in Scotland, and only after he was convinced of the relevance of the plan, he brought it to life.
Glenkern was developed specifically for noble scotch, this is the only such invention approved by the Scottish Whiskey Association (Scotch Whiskey Association).
Advantages and disadvantages
The shape of the vessel allows the taster to fully experience the bouquet of the drink, while the classic tumbler gives only a delicate aroma. This advantage is at the same time a disadvantage – not all whiskey connoisseurs like a strong smell, especially when it comes to a not very high-quality drink.
Most often, the glenkern is used at official competitions and tastings of single malt whiskey, when it is important to capture the slightest nuances of taste and aroma, but this vessel is considered a sign of its owner’s good taste and an indispensable attribute of any self-respecting bar.
Other advantages of the glass:
- the rounded shape of the bowl serves as a lens and allows you to properly consider the color and texture of the drink;
- The tulip-shaped edge minimizes whiskey contact with the lips, preserving the original taste from the first to the last sip.
