The Best Glasses for Japanese Whisky [2021]

What is Japanese Whisky?

Japanese Whiskey is any whiskey made in Japan. Japanese whiskey is most closely related to Scotch in both ingredients and distillation methods. It is the reason they spell their spirit whisky, like the Scots, instead of the more American whiskey.

Japanese whiskey is so closely related to scotch because the first man to build a whiskey distillery in Japan hired a Japanese man who had studied distillation techniques in Scotland to run his factory.

That man started and ran the factory for years before leaving to start his own company. These two companies set a precedent for Japanese whisky being made with Scottish techniques since they now own most of the distilleries in the country.

Japanese whisky is revered because of the incredible water used in its production. The water from Yamazaki, a suburb of Kyoto, is so famous that legendary tea masters built their tearooms there just so that they could have access to their unbelievably pure water supply.

OUR FAVORITE JAPANESE WHISKY GLASSES!

Best Neat Glass

This is the NEAT Glass stand for Naturally Engineered Aroma Technology. It was a glass specially designed to separate the ethanol vapors from the natural aromatics of the spirit. It is the official tasting glass of many different competitions all over the world.

The problem with ethanol vapors is that they attract Japanese whisky’s natural aromatics like dried fruits, chocolate, or coffee.

You want the ethanol to evaporate so that it can release more of those aromas, but the problem is that ethanol vapors smell so strongly that they will also stifle your ability to detect them.

Therefore, you need a glass that will release ethanol and then separate it from the aromatics so that you can reach the full bouquet of your Japanese whisky without them being obstructed by ethanol vapors.

This is where the neat glass comes in. The round bowl is perfect for swirling your whiskey and releasing the ethanol into the air. Then the ethanol travels up the sides of the glass and follows the flared rim away from the center as ethanol naturally does.

This leaves the aromatics to run straight up the center of the glass, creating a “sweet spot” in the center of the rim. This sweet spot is where you can smell even the subtle, most nuanced complexities of your favorite Japanese whisky.

Keep in mind that this glass is small and is only intended to hold about 1.5 fl oz at a time. But for drinking your Japanese whisky neat and truly appreciating it, there is no better glass on the market.

Best Traditional Glass

These Traditional Ginza Bar Japanese Whisky Glasses are the same glasses used in Ginza, Tokyo, where they serve some of the finest Japanese whiskey in the world.

This glass is not built specifically for aromatics or ethanol evaporation, but it is the way that authentic Japanese drink their whisky from the bar. It is a thin-lipped, light glass, lacking the thick glass base found on most American whiskey glasses.

But the light feel in your hand reminds you that your drinking something different and allows you to slip into the mindset of a different region. Enjoying Japanese whisky the same way you traditionally would if you were having it served to you in the Ginza region.

Best Wooden Tumbler

This is the American Charred White Oak Japanese Whisky Tumbler. It is a tumbler made from 100% real charred white oak. Imparting a natural and fast barrel-aged flavor into your favorite Japanese Whisky.

Japanese whisky traditionally uses American white oak or Japanese mizunara to barrel age their whisky, so these glasses fit perfectly into the whisky’s natural flavors, offering only an extension to the already sweet oaky flavor.

Best Japanese Artistry

The Mt. Fuji Japanese Whisky Glass has the image of Mount Fuji carefully embossed by Japanese artisans into the bottom of every glass.

This world heritage site mount makes the perfect glass to enjoy its home countries best Japanese Whisky. The Mountain also catches the light from your beverage, changing the mountain’s color to match whatever the color of the spirit in your glass may be.

Best Japanese Crystal

This is the Japanese Kagami Crystal Whisky Glass. Kagami is a famous Japanese crystal manufacturer and the official supplier of crystal for the Imperial Household Agency.

While they are quite pricey, these glasses are made from the finest crystal Japan has to offer.

These whiskey glasses are thick with a heavy base, but they still feel balanced in hand. The crystal cuts on the lower portion of the glass catch the light beautifully, and you are sure to be asked where you got these glasses at your next event.

These are a splurge, but if you love Japanese whiskey, I would deem it a splurge worth making.