The correct serving of the drink plays a huge role in the aesthetic pleasure of drinking, so when choosing a glass for cognac, the name of which can be either Wobble, Balloon or Snifter, you should pay special attention to the shape. Separately, it is necessary to highlight the types - goblets, glasses and shot glasses. Each of them has its own purpose - full compliance with the aging of alcohol. A beginner can easily get confused, so you should learn more about the shape, volume, materials and functionality.
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Types of glasses
Cognac is an elite drink, the taste and aroma are incomparable with anything else. For full disclosure, certain dishes are needed. True connoisseurs of this alcoholic drink have long known that the taste transfer depends on the chosen glass, glass or shot glass.
By choosing the right cognac glassware, you can count on:
- full disclosure of the aroma palette and all flavor nuances;
- maintaining the required temperature;
- saturating the drink with oxygen to the required extent;
- emphasizing the social status of the person tasting, his refined sense of taste.
Important! Cognac glassware has a carefully thought-out shape. A shot glass, a glass and a goblet must not only fit comfortably in your hand, but also reveal a full palette of taste qualities.
Decor is a distinctive feature of any cognac container; classic glasses are also often used for drinking other drinks that are similar in color and structure.
It is not enough to know what a cognac glass is called; it is necessary to clearly distinguish between the types and understand their features.
Classic drinkware includes:
- snifter;
- wobble;
- balloon.
Connoisseurs often come across another type of tableware – shot glasses, which have their own characteristics. Their uniqueness lies in their shape – teardrop-shaped or reminiscent of a tulip bud. A separate subspecies are classic brandy glasses.
Snifter
The most commonly used glass is the "Snifter", which became popular partly due to films - 99% of films use this particular container. Only a few know what it is called. The container is easily recognizable among other barware, even a non-professional can handle it. Snifters - glassware for drinking an elite drink - cognac - have a spherical bowl, narrowing from the bottom up. The base is not very long, moderately thick leg. It is used for drinks aged for 6 years.
The volume deserves special attention – from 70 to 700 milliliters. According to tasters, the aroma depends on the volume of the glass. The larger the bowl, the more distinct the aroma will be “heard”. Rarely there are even larger glasses – they are made to order or as a souvenir. Including personalized ones.
Thin glass, distinguished by good transparency, allows you to look at the drink, its color and sway. Snifters are made of crystal less often, they are more expensive and therefore are valued by drink lovers more. This option is intended for drinking expensive varieties of drink.
Advantages:
- high transparency;
- good taste and aroma transfer;
- No heat-resistant or double glass is used in production.
It is recommended to pour the drink into the glass in a thin stream, which will allow it to be saturated with oxygen and give the maximum aroma to the connoisseur.
Wobble glass
Wobble glass is one of the little-known names of glasses for this alcoholic drink. The shape of the glass is unusual, very pleasant for drinking aged alcohol. The bowl is round. Wide at the bottom, gradually narrowing towards the top. The appearance of the bowl is somewhat similar to the Snifter mentioned earlier. The only difference is the absence of a leg on the wobble. It is replaced by a small spike, almost with a sharp end.
Drinking cognac from a wobble glass looks spectacular, as it sits on the table sideways – due to its shape and the presence of a small spike. Since both are round, the liquid inside makes the glass move around the spike.
The aroma release is bright, since the cognac is constantly stirred practically without outside help.
The wobble is made, like the snifter, from crystal or thin glass. The minimum volume of the bowl is 15 milliliters, the maximum is 0.5 liters. If you come across a larger container, you should not buy it for drinking the drink, since the container is located on its side and the larger the volume, the size, the more difficult it will be to hold it in your hands.
Balloon
It is a classic dish for professional tasters. Actually, the transfer of taste and aroma from the balloon is maximum. In addition, the shape is much more spectacular in comparison with the snifter. The latter loses out due to its small leg, here it is refined, long.
But much more common are the snifter and the wobble. Basically, these utensils are intended for professional use, the remaining two are often used at home, in the office and in bars.
The volume of the balloon reaches 700 milliliters, rarely larger. The bowl has a shape similar to the first glass presented here, with the exception of a thinned and elongated stem. The latter is made exclusively of glass.
Pipe sniffers
"Pipe snifters" or tubular glasses are a bright, unusual hybrid of a snifter and a hookah with a fairly long tube.
Drinking alcohol from this glass additionally emphasizes the importance, sophistication and solemnity of the occasion. Cognac is also drunk through a straw.
Cognac glasses
In a large number of films, alcohol and cognac in particular are drunk only from snifters. It seems that there is no other type of glassware.
Need to feel the whole palette of aroma? Then special glasses will do, thanks to which it is enriched with oxygen. The choice should be approached with extreme care.
Tulip
The glasses for this type of alcohol also have a pleasant shape, for example, a tulip is elegant and beautiful. It looks as if it is waiting for pink wine, but it is intended for cognac, revealing its taste like a tulip bud.
It is intended for use with cognac aged no more than five years. Depending on the situation, you can drink it not only in slow sips, but also in one gulp.
Drop-shaped glass
A much more spectacular cognac glass is the "drop". It is quite rare to come across, but if you do, you will definitely not be mistaken that this is it. High-quality crystal, unique cut and subtle transfer of taste.
It is impossible to purchase such dishes in non-specialized stores.
Capacity – up to 50 milliliters. Due to its small size, it is actively used for serving small tables. Each of the copies looks quite expensive.
What materials are they made of (glass, crystal, precious metals)
The main materials are glass and crystal, and the use of precious metals is rarely preferred. The latter look beautiful, but do not have the transparency necessary for cognac. When drinking alcohol, it is extremely important to see it.
All drinkware looks attractive and aesthetically pleasing, but mechanical impacts to it are equal to death for a person.
Lead is additionally added to crystal containers, which makes the color more saturated, shiny and reflective.
Popular manufacturers
Every sommelier has a fairly large collection of snifters and other glasses at home. Small changes in shape, increasing or decreasing the thickness of the glass greatly affect the revealing of the taste. The most famous manufacturers are:
- Spiegelau
- Glencairn
- Riedel.
Riedel
It is one of the world leaders in the production of alcohol glassware. The highest quality. It is valued not only by professionals, but also by experts. From cognac lovers to wine lovers.
Many years of research, understanding of the peculiarities of taste development – all this has made the company number 1 on the market!
Gift Glass Options
Choosing a gift is always difficult. Especially if the person is well versed in alcohol and knows a lot about drinking it. In this case, it makes sense to consider the following options for glasses:
- nominal;
- silver;
- gold (gilded);
- with heating;
- with engraving (date, name, etc.).
Each one is good in its own way, you should think about which of the proposed options to choose as a gift.
Personalized glass
Choosing a personalized glass is one of the simplest, but at the same time unusual ideas. With this, you can emphasize your personal love for a person, attention to their taste and sharing the values of the drink.
Silver goblet
Perhaps one of the most exclusive types of gift is a silver wine glass. Beautiful shape, elegant embossing, full disclosure of the taste of the drink.
If the hero of the occasion deserves such a gift, being a connoisseur of cognac, he will definitely be pleased with the attention from a loved one.
Heated cognac glass
Why are the dishes made of thin, not double glass? To be able to warm up the cognac in your hand. But there are also heated glasses that deserve attention.
They are often purchased both for themselves and as gifts. We recommend paying attention.
Cognac glass with engraving
Laser engraving. Could there be anything more exclusive? Hardly.
The recipient will be delighted with the uniqueness and will drink fine cognac for many years.
Features of selection
There are a number of requirements for choosing alcohol glassware. Thus, the size has a strong influence:
- from 60 to 150 milliliters – tasting (mostly in one sip);
- from 150 to 300 milliliters – serving young, unaged cognacs (up to five years);
- from 300 to 800 milliliters – serving of exquisite alcoholic drinks aged for many years (from five years).
By the way! Crystal is more difficult to clean before drinking than glass, and the engraving can be a bit of a problem when washing the glass.
How to properly hold a glass of cognac
The only relevant question left to answer is how to properly hold a glass of cognac. There are several rules of good manners that have taken root in modern times:
- alcohol is poured to the height of the widest part of the snifter;
- the cup is not grasped by the hand;
- It is customary to hold a wine glass by the stem;
- For drinking, it is better to tilt it a little and turn it.
There are quite a lot of features of drinking the drink, as well as the glasses, shot glasses, and glasses themselves. Every connoisseur of cognac or lover of sharing a good drink with a great company needs to be able to understand this.