Brandy glasses

Which glass to choose for high quality Brandy tasting?

This question is being debated within the Brandy lovers' club. Even if there is not really an ideal Brandy glass for the tasting of your Grand Cru of fine Champagne, here are a few tips that could help you making your choice and thus avoid having to resort to a basic liquor or aperitif glass that would not allow you to taste your precious spirit in good conditions.

As with wine, the tasting of a Cognac follows a rigorous ritual. The first step of this tasting begins with the observation of the Cognac. In order to appreciate all the roundness, the tears but also the amber notes of your Brandy robe, it is imperative to choose a glass with absolute purity and transparency. Otherwise, a colored or insufficiently transparent glass would distort the visual qualities of your precious "Eau de vie" and would not allow you to observe, with efficiency, its whole palette of colors and nuances. In addition, it is generally recommended to choose a stemmed Brandy glass. This is for a better grip during tasting. It is thus possible to grasp the glass by the foot or the leg in order to bring it to the eyes and observe it without your fingers spoiling the show.

As for the shape of your Brandy glass, there is a lively debate among amateurs. Generally speaking, professionals, in the person of the Cellar Masters, more often opt for a Tulip glass, i.e. a glass whose bowl is wide at the base and narrower at the top. This shape has the double advantage of leaving an oxygenation surface (the surface of the Brandy in contact with the air) wide enough to exalt the aromas of the Brandy while concentrating them at the top of the glass so that they can be fully appreciated during tasting. But there are many different Tulip Brandy glasses and not all of them are the same... A Tulip glass that is too narrow will not let your Brandy express all its aromas because the surface area of oxygenation would then be too limited. The ideal solution is therefore to opt for a glass equipped with a chimney at the top of the bowl. This chimney allows a significant narrowing of the wall at the top of the bowl, while maintaining a large aromatic chamber at the bottom of the glass. The aromas are thus released and exalted and then concentrated at the top of the glass during tasting.

A second trend, strongly rooted among Brandy lovers, concerns the balloon glass. Round and generous, generally very wide, it is appreciated for its capacity to oxygenate spirits and to release, with efficiency, the complex aromas of Brandy such as French Cognac. But be careful, a balloon glass that is too wide may over-oxygenate your Brandy and distort its aromatic structure, or even let the aromas escape. It is therefore essential to choose a balloon Brandy glass with a capacity not exceeding 30 cl to 35 cl and offering a reasonable surface area of oxygenation.

If you are a Brandy lover, whether you prefer the tulip Brandy glass or a balloon Brandy glass, you will find on La Table d'Arc, a large choice of superior quality glasses designed for tasting. Durable, technical and affordable, our Cristal d'Arques design Brandy glasses or our more classic Chef&Sommelier glasses will give you the guarantee to get the best quality at the best price!