The Best Whiskey Glasses Whether You Take Yours Neat or on the Rocks (2026)

As someone who often tastes whiskey before ever having a sip of coffee or a bite of breakfast, Allen Katz, the owner and distiller of New York Distilling, has strong opinions about what makes the best whiskey glass. And it’s not just about aromatics. “There’s an emotional context,” Katz says.Our top picksBest rocks glass: RiedelBest budget rocks glass: Cocktail Kingdom YaraiBest whiskey tasting glass: GlencairnBest fancy whiskey glass: Chamvin Edo Kiriko GlassThe glass Katz reaches for during those early morning whiskey evaluations is a “juice glass.” It’s a small, straight-sided glass that holds five or six ounces. “I can picture Humphrey Bogard pouring a whiskey in Casablanca. I can picture Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint in North by Northwest having a whiskey. In both cases, it’s not a fancy glass, it’s a juice glass,” he says.Of course, that emotional, romantic connection is not the only thing Katz considers when choosing a glass. He believes the best whiskey glass is the one that best “arouses” your senses. Not in the sexual sense of the word. Calm down. He means that a whiskey glass should prepare you for the pleasure of drinking whiskey. As Katz puts it, “My brain is aroused saying, ‘I’m ready, let’s enjoy this.’”Unfortunately, I can’t divine your favorite old TCM flick so I can’t help you find the best whiskey glass that channels those vibes. Instead, I tested 16 different whiskey glasses, judging them on how each one “aroused” my senses—and, of course, on how they delivered whiskey to my mouth. Here are the best whiskey glasses to buy.(Note: While Katz’s favorite whiskey glass is a juice glass, I only evaluated glasses specifically designed for whiskey for this piece.)More on the top picksHow I tested whiskey glassesOther whiskey glasses I likedWhiskey glasses I don't recommendBest rocks glass: Riedel Rocks GlassWhat we loved: Katz uses these glasses in his new Brooklyn bar, Jaywalker. And it’s easy to see why. The look is timeless; they have a clean, mid-century modern appeal. The sides are deeply etched with straight lines, which continue along the underside of the glass, giving you something to run your fingers along no matter how you are holding it. The mouth is wide, so you can fit an ice cube (even a big cube) into it if you’d like. And each glass holds 10 fl oz, so they can be used for cocktails as well as straight pours of whiskey.Unlike Riedel wine glasses, these glasses are sturdy and hefty. And here’s a fun fact Katz told me: The tips of the pyramids etched into the base of the glass mark exactly two ounces. So you can freehand the perfect pour of whiskey. Plus, the glass makes the whiskey look incredible. The light shines through the spirit, refracting and sparkling, casting amber shadows on the table. Forget stained glass. Just get some Riedel whiskey glasses and a bottle of rye.What we’d leave: The lip of the glass is not sharp by any means, but it’s not as rounded and inviting as some of the others. The wide mouth is great for easy sipping, but it does not funnel the aroma of the whiskey in the same way a Glencairn might. If you’re really looking for nuance in your whiskey, you might want to opt for a glass specifically designed for the job.Justine SterlingBest budget rocks glass: Cocktail Kingdom Yarai Rocks GlassCocktail KingdomYarai Rocks GlassWhat we loved: Talk about tactile satisfaction. These vintage-inspired glasses from Cocktail Kingdom are etched with a large diamond pattern, giving you gentle angles to fondle. The glass has just enough heft so that you feel like you’re drinking out of a substantial, sturdy vessel, but not so much that it’s actually heavy. The lip and the bottom edge are both rounded, so it’s comfortable to hold and sip from. And the glass’ somewhat squat stature means the aroma of the whiskey instantly hits you when you lift the glass. Plus, these glasses are shockingly affordable at just $7 per glass (or $61 for 12).What we’d leave: While these glasses are the perfect size for my hands, those with large hands might feel like they’re a touch too tiny. And, though their size makes them ideal for a two ounce pour of whiskey, either neat or on a rock, they’re too small for most cocktails. That said, they’re the exact size of glass I’ve been looking for to serve low-volume cocktails like sazeracs or old fashioneds.Justine SterlingBest whiskey tasting glass: GlencairnWhat we loved: Ever been to a whiskey tasting? You’ve used a Glencairn glass. It is the gold standard for whiskey tasting glasses. The glass is small, but it still has some weight to it, thanks to the sturdy, solid base. It feels very comfortable to hold and fits right into the palm of your hand, so the whiskey warms and evolves over time. The unique shape helps deliver the aroma of the whiskey directly to your nostrils—you don’t have to jam your face into the glass.What we’d leave: This is indeed the best glass for whiskey tasting—but that’s about it. You aren’t going to drink a cocktail out of a Glencairn. You’re not going to sip on some bourbon on the rocks from a Glencairn. It has a singular use. But if you’re a whiskey purist who really wants to savor the concentrated aromas of a whiskey and think it blasphemous to even consider adding ice, then this is a great whiskey glass for you.Justine SterlingBest fancy whiskey glass: Chamvin Edo Kiriko Glass with Crumple PatternChamvin Edo Kiriko Whiskey Glass with Crumple PatternWhat we loved: This crinkly glass is a real pleasure to hold. It’s light, but it doesn’t feel like you’re going to crush it in your hands. And the textures are unique and organic. It’s tall and slightly narrow, so your nose really gets in there when you lift it to your mouth to drink. It guides the aroma. The size and height make it appropriate for both a neat pour of whiskey or even a whiskey sour. If you’re looking for a unique glass that doesn’t look like any of your friends’ whiskey glasses, this is the best whiskey glass for you.What we’d leave: It has a very specific look that won’t fit in everyone’s bar set up. And, while I personally love the look and feel, my husband did note that the texture looks a bit like plastic that melted in the dishwasher. Also, as these are handmade glasses, they are not cheap. Each glass will run you around $85 (though there are sales).Justine SterlingHow I tested whiskey glassesI drank whiskey out of them. Duh. But that’s not all I did. To start, I held each glass in one hand, feeling the texture, grip, and weight. Then, I poured an ounce of the same whiskey into each glass (Basil Hayden Dark Rye, to be specific). I smelled the whiskey in order to judge how the glasses helped or hurt the aromatics. And then I took a sip, noting how the lip of the glass felt on my lips and how the whiskey poured into my mouth.What I looked for in the best whiskey glassesYes, this is somewhat subjective, but part of the appeal of drinking whiskey is the visual aesthetic. And if you’re going to invest any serious money in a whiskey glass, it better be gorgeous.As Katz says, whiskey drinking is a full sensory experience and that includes the sense of touch. “We all have fetishes,” he says. “One is a glass in hand.” I looked for glasses that gave my fingers something to explore and felt comfortable to hold.Is it comfortable to sip from?Katz describes the ideal whiskey glass as feeling “intimate” on your mouth. The part of the glass that touches your lip should be smooth and comfortable. No harsh, rough edges to distract from the flavor of the whiskey.A few of the glasses I tested were somewhat difficult to drink out of without dribbling a bit. And dribbling whiskey is not only embarrassing, it’s a waste of good booze.Does it deliver the aroma of the whiskey?A big part of the whiskey experience is the aroma. “It’s meant to release stress, bring my shoulders and chest down in a means of saying to my brain, ‘it’s okay to start enjoying this,’ before the liquid even touches my lips,” Katz says. So I looked for glasses that amplified the scent.How to get the most from your whiskey glassOne good way to wreck your whiskey experience, according to Katz, is improper washing. Oftentimes, your home dishwasher leaves residual film on the glass. That will make your whiskey taste off—it also probably won’t look great. “I find that, particularly the dishwasher pods that people use leave more aromatic residue than liquid detergent,” he says. Opt for a liquid detergent and make sure the glass is thoroughly dried or wash the glasses by hand to ensure the best whiskey drinking experience.Other whiskey glasses I likedLiiton Whiskey Glass Grand CanyonLiitonGrand Canyon Whiskey GlassLiiton makes whiskey glasses that feature geological marvels like Mount Fuji, Lake Tahoe, and the Grand Canyon. Sounds gimmicky, but the designs are actually elegant. I personally like the Grand Canyon. I like how the whiskey settles into the glass canyon. It’s incredibly satisfying. You ruin the effect with an ice cube, however, which limits the use cases. The glass itself is thick and solid. And the rim is smooth and rounded. The brand touts that if you keep the glasses in the freezer they can chill whiskey in 18 seconds. So if you’re adding ice to your whiskey for the chill only and don’t want any dilution, these’ll do nicely.Oriental Artisan Handcrafted Japanese "Crumple Body" Whisky GlassMasuEdo Kiriko Crumple Body Whiskey GlassThis glass feels more like a piece of art than a whiskey vessel. It does really look crumpled. The effect is beautiful—if a bit difficult to hold. However, if you can get your hand around the glass (I’m looking at you, people with larger hands than me), you’ll be rewarded with a smooth, elegant glass with a large mouth absolutely begging for a giant ice cube.Libbey Signature Kentucky Bourbon Trail Whiskey GlassLibbeySignature Rocks GlassThis is like a Glencairn glass that let itself go. The glass has a fat bowl, a gentle, subtle curve and flare at the lip, and a sturdy base like a Glencairn. It still delivers those amplified aromatics—and you can really get your whole nose in there—but the mouth is wide enough that you can toss an ice cube in there. Heck, you could even make a cocktail in one of these. The one big drawback is that the shape is such that they do not efficiently stack or sit side-by-side. That's less of an issue with the Glencairn because they're slimmer glasses.NorlanThe inner glass has a subtle tulip shape, which helps direct the aroma. It looks great and it feels really nice in your palm—the facets have soft angles. The lip is smooth and rounded, if a bit wide. And it will keep the temperature of your whiskey from warming up too fast from the heat of your hand, if you’re concerned with such things. All that said, it really is only appropriate for drinking a straight spirit, and, at over $30 for one glass, it’s not cheap.Glasvin Natural Stemware The RocksIf I were buying glassware for a Nordic-style restaurant covered with blond wood and minimalist design, this would be my whiskey glass. The design is extremely simple and clean, with straight sides that round at the base. The glass is super thin and delicate. It all feels very elegant. The opening is large enough to accommodate a very large cube or sphere of ice, but put that ice in gently, lest you crack that fragile glass.Whiskey glasses I don’t recommendThe stemless version of this glass looks a bit like a Glencairn without the base. It’s pretty! It’s tiny! It’s so extremely breakable! Seriously, this is the thinnest glass I’ve ever held. Just writing about it right now might cause it to shatter. The stemmed version is a bit sturdier, and I would be delighted to receive it filled with a dram of whiskey at a fancy restaurant during the cheese course. But they’re both far too delicate for actual home use.This double-walled glass has an internal tulip glass that is designed to “disperse” and amplify the aromatics. And it does a good job of that. The faceted outer glass looks cool and feels great to hold, thanks to the rounded edges. However, the lip is very thick, which makes it difficult to drink. It takes some getting used to and a whiskey glass shouldn’t have a learning curve.This is a glass for a real spirits nerd. It would be a great gift to give the whiskey drinker who has everything. It has a super curvaceous shape with an exaggerated, flared mouth and a triangular base, which allows it to lay on its side without spilling the liquid. Supposedly this helps the whiskey to breathe and open up more quickly. It’s gimmicky but fun. However, the flared lip is too flared and every sip resulted in dribblage.This whiskey glass looks kind of like a miniature, squat hurricane lamp. You could definitely put a small candle into it and place it in the middle of a cafe table. The ultra-flared mouth allows the aroma to waft out, so you don’t have to jam your nose into the glass. However, it’s difficult to drink out of and it’s not particularly comfortable.The rest of your home bar…The best wine glasses (and no you don't need different glasses for different wines)The best cocktail shakers for prepping all those whiskey cocktailsThe best wine fridges