Why Glass Size and Shape Influences The Taste of Various Alcoholic Drinks
A large number of people would be happy drinking every beverage they consume out of the same glass and not worry about the many different shapes and sizes available. Not many people think that a drink can’t be changed very much by what it is drunk from? Well actually they can, and here is a breakdown of some of the most common glass types and how they affect the drink.
Whisky Glasses. There is a very good reason why people consume whisky from large-diameter glasses rather than the tall thin variety. Because whisky is often consumed ‘straight’ and not diluted with a mixer (although it can be), the volume of a serving is often quite small. The result of this means that if whisky was served over ice in a narrow and tall glass, the area of the drink in contact with the ice would be quite small as the ice would be stacked up the glass. As ice is necessary to chill the whisky and release its deeper flavors, it’s best to serve the drink in a wide shallow glass where the ice can move around and have more contact area with the liquid, thus chilling the whisky more.
Champagne Flutes.If you have ever wondered why this often expensive drink is served in a tall and narrow glass, here is your answer. The bubbles in champagne contain quite a overpowering aroma that is forcefully released into the glass as the bubbles burst when the reach the surface. The sinuses are strongly effected by the gas and so the rim of the glass is kept narrow so that non of it enters the nose during the drinking process.
Red and White Wine Glassware. The shape of a red wine glass is more often than not large and round. What this means is that you can swish as swirl the wine about in the glass, breaking up the flavours and releasing more of them into the body of the wine.Additionally, more air-born aromas can be inhaled as the drinker’s nose is able to fit into the glass’ bowl. White wine glasses are generally smaller and thinner. This prevents too much of its perfumes from escaping the glass and also means that the subtle notes stay concentrated in the glass.
