The official Kentucky bourbon glass by Libbey

Half way between a tumbler and a Glencairn?

@jeanluc That's my impression. From photo looks quite elegant. I would be interested in trying various spirits in it.

But I have to admit my respect for the humble snifter, which really impressed me over the last weekend.

@jeanluc Exactly. Which is the same way I've heard the Canadian Glencairn be described. Or Glencairn Mixer Glass as the folks at Glencairn Crystal have started referring to it.

What I like about that glass is that it has some heft to it and that it's eliminated any risk of tipping. This Libbey glass looks like it might also have a bit of weight to it, at least if it has similar proportions to the Canadian Glencairn.

@Nelom I just ordered a couple so I hope to be able to report back when they arrive...

@Nozinan What is the humble sniffer you are refering to. Personnaly, I like the Glencairn, but if I don't have enough for a tasting, I find that INAO wine glasses are giving me very good results, usually with more highnotes.

I am also curious to get the opinion of those who tried the SMWS Copita glass. I would like to get a couples but the SMWS is not present in La Belle Province.

@Robert99

The humble snifter is an unremarkable brandy snifter a set of which my wife picked up many years ago when I tried a couple of cognacs, well-before my official whisky journey began. It's pretty small, easy to hold and I did one head to head nosing during the epic tasting and found it superior.

I still like Glencairns for durability and overall effectiveness, but I think for tasting notes a snifter may be better.

I don't like it. Personally I prefer a more slender, delicate glass. Long stemmed. This fattened glencairn looks more like a way to make some dollar with the industry teaming up with a maker and branding it "official"

@Nozinan Please do. I saw they were on sale via the Bourbon trail website but assumed the shipping would be too high for non-U.S. destinations. But as you've obviously already discovered, it's actually entirely reasonable. If you report positive findings I may just grab a couple myself.

@Alexsweden I suspect you're probably right as to the actual motivation for creating these glasses, but if they are decent for the task at hand I don't mind expanding my collection of glassware a little for the novelty of it and for variation's sake. Just like my mood will dictate which whisky I reach for, so does my mood dictate which glass I reach for.

@Nelom It's interesting that they have an official bourbon glass now when they also have branded glencairns for sale...

@Nozinan I suppose they at the very least will want to unload existing stock before switching to the Libbey glass only, if they ever do.

@Nozinan can't find any dimensions for the glass or find any pictures that give it some relative scale. Were you able to get that information before ordering? If it's as big as the Glencairn Canadian I wouldn't be interested, but if it is about the size of a small snifter I would

I use Glencairns and Brandy glasses. The brandy glasses are 'fatter' at the bottom but the opening is a bit wider than the glencairn. To me this more resembles the brandy style glasses. It also looks like a chimney for a nuclear plant...

@BlueNote

Only one way to find out.... When they arrive I'll photograph one side by side with a Glencairn...

In all cases, it shouldn't be worst than the Neat Glass, the one that looks like a spit bowl. That one was once the official glass of the San Francisco competition. So my guest is that with money any glass can become the official glass of somebody or something.

@Robert99 bingo. $$$

My go to glasses are standard wine tasting glasses (ISO or XL5) which I picked up from a 2nd hand shop for next to nothing. Stemmed, not too big, and a small aperture - and cheap to have a bunch for tastings with friends.

@Hewie The glass you are using is what I called the INAO glass and I find it does a better job than a lot of whisky glasses. As I said before, the difference I notice with that kind of glass is that it enhances the highnotes and that it is why I still prefere the Glencairn.

So here is the line-up so you can compare. From left to right mini, original, Canadian and bourbon glass.

I'd note that there is a pretty heavy (~25%) duty if you order them into Canada.

@Nozinan Looks nice. I was considering these, good to know about the added tax.

@Nozinan Thanks for posting that. I like that the base is wider than on the Glencairn. I suspected as much, but it's nice to have confirmation.

Have you had a chance to drink from it?

@Nelom It's interesting how different glasses change the experience.

I tend not to use the Canadian glass but given the shape of the lip of the glass I wonder if the liquid fall into the same part of the mouth as that one. It's noticeably different from the other glasses.

In terms of smelling, I found it seems to soften without muting the nose.

I must try bourbon in it soon.

WARNING

This is NOT a Glencairn. Glencairns are much better at keeping the liquor in the glass. If you forget what you're using when you bring this glass up for a sip, you may spill some of the contents.

I still prefer this glass for bourbons (is it psychological? Who knows?) but this does bear reminding...

@Nozinan I've ordered Glencairns from here and I've been happy with them. Have you ordered their "Canadian whisky glass" or their copitas? I was thinking of getting a copita or two for comparison tasting.

@OdysseusUnbound I have ordered from them in the past but I've found the least (or most)expensive way to get glencairns is at Spirit of Toronto. You get one with a ticket but then I think a box of 6 (and they had ones from different years so @paddockjudge and I could mix and match) was 20 dollars or something like that. With shipping I've found the ones at your link to be a bit pricy (but we have few choices). The cover glasses they sell are a little small (too small for Canadians) but they "bonnets" or "toques" are functional AND stylish. For function though, nothing bears a Pringles cover.

I have no copitas but maybe in the future.

I got a lot of Canadian glencairns at the LCBO.

The bourbon glass looks like someone took the palm of their hand and pushed down on a molten Glencairn.

@BlueNote Yes it does.

I like it aesthetically and I like it in the hand.

I also find I enjoy bourbon in it. I recognize this could easily be "marketing" but I do like it.