Riedel

[Dennis]

I bought some of the Riedel single malt scotch whisky glasses from Amazon. They just came in so I poured a dram of some Balvenie Double Wood 12 year, and I must say, the glass DOES make quite a difference. Feels great in the hand, and it allows you to get the nose of the whisky without a hint of alcohol fumes. Definite thumbs up - quality glassware.

Dennis

[ouch]

Great score! :thumbup1:

[TromboneGuy]

Very nice. Although I have to admit, I like the looks of the Glencairn Glass better:

http://www.glencairn.co.uk/shop/product.asp?numPageStartPosition=1&P_ID=210&strPageHistory=cat&strKeywords=&strSearchCriteria=&PT_ID=73

[TimmyBoston]

Those are some great glasses. They have drastically improved my Scotch experience.

[Doc4]

Very nice. Although I have to admit, I like the looks of the Glencairn Glass better:

http://www.glencairn.co.uk/shop/product.asp?numPageStartPosition=1&P_ID=210&strPageHistory=cat&strKeywords=&strSearchCriteria=&PT_ID=73

that's a cool looking glass too. I wonder how the two compare performance-wise? Anyone have any experience?

[letterk]

Anyone have experience with the Riedel Tequila glasses on Amazon?

[TromboneGuy]

Never tried the Riedel, but when I moved from using a regular rocks glass to the Glencairn I noticed I was getting a lot less "alcohol in the nose" sensation and a much better flavor.

[TimmyBoston]

Anyone have experience with the Riedel Tequila glasses on Amazon?

I drink both tequila and bourbon out of the Riedel Cognac Hennessy glass. It works extremely well for both types, IMO.

[galpman]

I bought some of the Riedel single malt scotch whisky glasses from Amazon. They just came in so I poured a dram of some Balvenie Double Wood 12 year, and I must say, the glass DOES make quite a difference. Feels great in the hand, and it allows you to get the nose of the whisky without a hint of alcohol fumes. Definite thumbs up - quality glassware.

Dennis

Hi Dennis, Are they called any special name? Thanks

[boboakalfb]

Hi Dennis, Are they called any special name? Thanks

Riedel Vinum Single Malt Whiskey Glasses...like these (http://www.amazon.com/Riedel-Vinum-Single-Whiskey-Glasses/dp/B00021YXFU).

[Dennis]

Yup Bob - those were the ones. Thanks!

Dennis

[TimmyBoston]

I also have a review of those specific glasses in the Durables, Speakeasy Reviews section. Here (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13928).

[JaDubb]

I prefer Riedel Cognac Hennessy over Single Malt Whisky, when having some afternoon scotch. Cognac certainly keeps the aroma around and if I haven't understood it wrong that is a form of glass whisky should be served from. Of course it's up to each and everyones personal taste.

[Ginns]

This is going to blow your mind.

Riedel wine and liqour glasses are incredibly well made, and well researched. I'm sure some other companies are also, but I don't have any first hand experience, so I won't speak of them.

The glass can, and does, change the way you taste the liquid you are drinking. If you don't believe it, pour the same scotch (or wine) into a tumbler, and into your Riedel (or other performace stemware). Take a sip from the tumbler, pay attention to the taste. Now sip from the performance stem. Pay attention to the taste. Notice a bit of a difference, or a big one? Maybe you didn't notice anything, and so you think I'm full of it. Now this is the part that will blow your mind:

Now take another sip from the tumbler. But this time, don't pay attention to the taste. Pay attention to the shape that your lips and your tongue make. Feel the shape they make to embrace the glass and receive the liquid. Now take a sip from the performance stem. BANG. Totally different shape, and you didn't even think about it. Your tongue and lips are INSTINCTIVELY tuned to receive liquid differently based on the shape of the vessel that it is in. Because of the different shape your mouth makes, as you pour the liquid in your mouth it contacts different parts of your mouth in a different order. The order in which your tastebuds/mouth are contacted forms the fore pallete, or "begining taste" of the beverage (followed by mid pallete and finish). THe fore pallete has a huge impact on overall how the liquid tastes to you. Thus the glass literally chages the way the liquid tastes. The more different the glass, the more drastic the effect. This will blow your friends away at your next party, dinner or otherwise.

Oh, and some party tricks:

High quality crystal, such as that found in Riedel glasses, is very flexible. Put your thumb on the top rim of the glass, and your index finger on the top rim of the glass on the opposite side. Now squeeze the rim of the glass between your finger and thumb, and release. Not too hard, but enough that it gives a bit. As you squeeze and release, the opening will bow in and out a lot more than you would guess possible. Next, put the glass on the table (this requires a longer stem). Place one hand, open palm, firmly on the top of the glass, and with the other hand hold the foot of the glass firmly to the table top. Now rock the globe of the glass back and forth, the stem will bend back and forth. Don't push too hard, just a bit, and let the crystal tell you when to stop. Now if you really have a pair, go out back with two of them, grab them by the stems and bang them together lightly. Harder. Harder. You can bang them together so hard it will scare the crap out of you, and they won't break. You can't hit them as hard as you can, but hard enough it will scare the crap out of any friends watching. I wish I could demonstrate it for you, but of course I can not. But I would not try to get you to shatter your lovely glasses. It works, I have done it to mine for years.

Oh, by the way: NEVER, EVER, EVER hold the base of the glass, and the globe of the glass and TWIST!!!! NEVER!!!! The joint between the globe and the top of the stem is the weakest link, with almost NO force at all, you can twist it right off. So never stick a towel into it and twist to dry it. BE CAREFUL.

Have fun. PM if you need details, or have any related questions.

G

[msandoval858]

The difference Reidel makes is quite amazing. My red wine glasses are great for heavy bodied cabernets. When you drink from them the wine flows right on to the tongue much smoother than the rounded edge you find on other glasses. I haven't had a chance to pick up some of the scotch and cognac glasses, but they are on the list.

Target recently started offering a line of low cost Reidel glasses called the Vino series. Obviously not as high of quailty as Sommolier and Vinum serires, but definately great buys for the money.

[Bricktop]

Their single malt scotch glass also works great for cognac, IMO.