How do you clean your whiskey glass?

Well, for the glasses that only I personally use, I wash them by hand in hot water (no soap), and then dry them with an absorbant cotton cloth, such as a hankerchief. Glasses for use by others, I prefer to put in the dishwasher ... just out of respect for guests. As others have mentioned, the alcohol kills any germs, so there is not much to worry about other than cosmetics and expectations of guests. Soap or detergents are usually used when oil needs to be removed ... but not the case here. But I look forward to hear what others think about this, and to correct me if wrong ...

So @Hydron, do you like the Bowmore 12 ... not the usual beginner male ?

My personal opinion is that people are overreacting on this. Does your food taste like soap on a plate that has been cleaned with soap? Of course not. A glass that's cleaned with soap, rinsed with plenty of water and dried properly is perfectly okay.

To be 200% sure, pour 0,5 cl into the glass, swirl it around and pour it away.

I agree with @WhiskyNotes on this, if you rinse well soap won't be a problem.

Not using soap, on the other hand, means that a residue from the whisky will remain on the glass. Oils etc.

I've never had any negative effects from simply putting my glasses in the dishwasher. Easy peasy.

I agree, if you wash them properly and don't leave the soap suds on them then the glass shouldn't have any residue on it. My first single malt was a Bowmore 12 too.

I wash my whisk(e)y glasses by hand using dish soap and a thorough hot water rinse. I suggest the bigger issue is being sure to dry the glass immediately (so as not to leave water spots which is unsightly when sipping a good dram) while using a fresh, not "sour" drying cloth.

Ever smell a dish drying towel that has been used for a while? They can get fairly musty and "sour". This smell is something you certainly want to avoid adding to your favorite dram sipping glassware.

Thanks for the answers, @AboutChoice , What do you suggest as my second scotch bottle

@Hydron Hi Hydron, just wanted to add my $0.02 worth of info that might help you find some direction as you contemplate your next steps in the whisky journey.

What I found very helpful was the "Flavour Map" ---> www.lfw.co.uk/diageo/flavourmap.html. As you look at the map, you can see your Bowmore 12 in the upper right quadrant. You may want to explore and buy your next bottle from a different flavor profile in one of the other quadrants.

By going about it this way, you can hone in on what you prefer best, whether by mood, season, rich, light, peaty, etc. So if you like the Bowmore 12, your next move in that quadrant might be a Talisker 18 or Lagavulin 16. Hope this provides you with some useful info.

@Hydron, I would agree wih HP12 that a look at the Diageo Flavor Map is a very good idea. I just wish someone (or a committee) with a good sense of flavor, would place all the other popular malts on the map :)

There are a ton of whisky suggestions all over Connosr, but before I recommend anything, I would first ask you how much (and why) you liked (or did not like) Bomore 12, and then, how much do you want to spend ? My feeling about B12 is that it is a heavily peated, classic Islay style whisky, with the most pungent, oily, road tar and fireplace type of peat character (there distinctive differences in peated whiskies). Bowmore in general, has a following, but I have gleaned that most people would rather choose something else. And some beginners who are even taken aback by the slight peat in HP12, would be utterly shocked by a taste of B12. Anyway, looks like you just jumped right in, and that is where you are right now :-)

You might also want to peruse the reviews here on Connosr.

I realize we are getting off the topic of this discussion ... maybe start a new one ?

I wash mine in virgin's tears under the light of a full moon.

(That's not weird, is it?)

@jasonbstanding, aw come on, EVERYBODY does that!

I Think I will try other quadrant. Something like Aberlour a'bunadh, Laphroaig ( 10 Year or Quarter Cask ). But I Also want to try a Highland Park. Still need to choose between 12 year and 15 year old.

@Hydron I would say the A'bunadh would be a large step from Bowmore's main expression line all being bottled between 40-43% if I remember correctly. A'bunadh is bottled at cask strength which can (varying from cask releases) be fairly powerful obviously. The current expression at my store is about 59% (don't quote me on that), but it might be something to pursue if you really want to get into the realm of cask strength. If I might suggest something to round out your palate from Islay, you may enjoy something a little more honeyed and floral like the balvenie 12 signature cask or maybe a Aberlour 12 year double cask matured for a more sherried influence. Hope this helps!

@Youngupstart I agree with you that A'bunadh would be a large step. I tried it shortly after I started drinking single malts because I read such good reviews about it, but my palate was so undeveloped that I couldn't stand it. I still haven't tried it again, but maybe within the next year I will.

I go along with the rinsing well with extremely hot water.

Usually by hand. Our dishwasher makes a mess out of our glassware...

Dishwasher is absolutely fine for me. So far no broken glasses.

I run a little stop bath through the glass, then in my wash water for a minute. The left over silver salts kill off anything the previous whisky left behind. :)

After I finish a night of sipping single malt, I stand up and yell at everybody in the room, "It gets no better than this!" And then I smash my whisky glass in the fire place. I never drink out of the same glass twice. At least I did that once... the wife was pissed at me.

@ClaySomething .. that does add a bit of drama and completeness to the experience ... I like it !! I will have to get a fireplace.

@jasonbstanding aaahahahahaha... me too! Brilliant.

@jasonbstanding Where I live I'd be hard pressed to find a virgin!!

You mean you should clean your whisky glasses!! :)

Another vote for a normal wash and then a hot water rinse, drying them straight away. I always make sure they're the first items to go into the washing up bowl though.

Hot hand wash, no cloths, very hot over-flow rinse, air dry on stainless cake rack - Before adding Whisky, rinse with a small amount of spring water, twisting the glass as the spring water is discarded so as to coat all the interior off the glass; any spots on the outside of glass can be polished off with paper towel.

In the dishwasher, if I were worried about soap residue I would run the dishwasher again without soap.

I used to hand clean but I got lazy. Besides, I can't tell the difference anyway.

@coin: If you nose the glass before pouring and it smells OK. then it is OK. I continue to hand wash every time and it always smells OK. I strongly recommend the quick rinse with spring or pure rain water prior to pouring.

Slainte.

Hand wash with liquid soap. Kind of a pain, as I host MANY tastings and gave dozens upon dozens of Glencairns. To dry...upside down for a few minutes to drip dry, then wipe down with a coffee filter. Old bartending trick. Absolutely no streaks. Glasses are always tip top and ready to go.

I have about 5 glasses that I use all the time and I just run them through the dish washer. WHen they get that dishwasher funk to them I hand wash them and use a clean towel. The rest of my glasses are for guest they get washed from time to time to wash any dust off of them or rinsed before use they are stored upside down.