Types of Whiskey Glasses: Rocks, Tulip and Snifter
Quick Answer: The common whiskey glasses are the rocks glass (also called an old fashioned or lowball glass, a short tumbler), the tulip-shaped tasting glass, the snifter (short stem, wide bottom, narrow top) and the copita (a stemmed nosing glass). Scotch and bourbon glasses are not separate shapes; sets sold under those names draw on the same few. Wash any of them by hand.
If you have a bottle and a shelf, or a glass you were given and cannot name, this is the vocabulary. It covers what each glass is called, how it is shaped, and how to look after it. It does not recommend a drink, a pour or a bottle. Care for a plain tumbler follows how to clean drinking glasses, and crystal has its own warning in is lead crystal safe?
What are whiskey glasses called?
The usual name is the rocks glass, and it goes by several others. Wikipedia (checked October 2026) says the old fashioned glass is otherwise known as the rocks glass, whiskey glass or lowball glass, a short tumbler used for spirits neat or with ice. Beyond that, the tulip-shaped tasting glass, the snifter and the copita are the other names you will meet.
| Glass | Shape | Where the sources say it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Rocks, old fashioned or lowball | Short tumbler, wide brim, thick base | Spirits neat or with ice; some cocktails |
| Tulip tasting glass | Small, flared like a tulip | Gathers aroma; used for tasting |
| Copita | Similar to the tasting glass, with a stem and foot | Nosing and tasting; the stem keeps the hand off the bowl |
| Whiskey tumbler | Small, thin-walled tumbler | Listed separately from the old fashioned glass in Wikipedia's list of glassware |
| Snifter | Short stem, wide bottom, narrow top | Aged brown liquors such as bourbon, brandy and whisky |
What is a rocks glass?
A short, heavy tumbler. Wikipedia says old fashioned glasses typically have a wide brim and thick base, and hold 180 to 300 ml (6 to 10 US fluid ounces), with a double old fashioned holding 350 to 470 ml (12 to 16 US fluid ounces). Difford's Guide separates two: the old fashioned, with a heavy base and flat-ground rim, and the rocks glass, which it calls a sturdier version with thicker glass and rim that suits drinks muddled in the glass. Wikipedia traces the form to the Scottish quaich, a shallow two-handled vessel that glass tumblers gradually replaced.
What is a tulip or tasting glass?
It is a small stemmed glass flared like a tulip, built to gather aroma. Bespoke Unit's whisky glassware guide, a spirits publisher, describes the tasting glass as small with a tulip shape that gathers aromatic compounds. It also describes the copita as similar but with a stem and foot, so your hand does not warm the liquid. The copita is also the sherry glass in Wikipedia's wine glass article, where its narrow taper is described as aroma-enhancing. The names overlap, and the sources read do not give one clear boundary between them.
Is a snifter a whiskey glass?
Sometimes. Wikipedia says a snifter is a short-stemmed glass with a wide bottom and a relatively narrow top, mostly used to serve aged brown liquors such as bourbon, brandy and whisky. The rounded bowl lets the glass be cupped in the hand, which warms the liquor. Whether that is a good thing is argued over, and experts differ on it.
Are scotch glasses and bourbon glasses different?
Not as shapes. Bespoke Unit's guide to glassware for Scotch lists the old fashioned tumbler, the tasting glass, the copita and the quaich. A set sold as "scotch glasses" or a "bourbon glasses set" is most likely drawn from these shapes, though no source read for this post examines such sets. None says one shape belongs to one spirit.
How do you clean whiskey glasses?
By hand, with a soft sponge and lukewarm soapy water. Waterford says dishwasher heat, friction and detergent can dull or scratch the surface, and that very cold liquids should not go into warm glass. It also says extreme temperatures can crack or break glass, so rinse with lukewarm water, not hot. For stems, hold the bowl or foot and do not twist the bowl against the stem. A brush is optional; see wine glass cleaning brush: do you really need one?
The Excalibur Brothers Premium Glass Polishing Cloth is our own product, sold on this site. The Premium Glass Polishing Cloth in gray is a large microfiber cloth, sold as a pack of two and listed at 23.5 x 20 inches per cloth. It is for finishing a clean tumbler or stemmed glass.
When this is not the right choice: a cloth does not decide which glass suits a spirit, and it does not fix etching or film. If a glass has gone dull from the dishwasher, see how to remove dishwasher etching from glasses before buying anything.
Frequently asked questions
What are whiskey glasses called?
The common ones are the rocks, old fashioned or lowball glass, the tulip tasting glass, the copita and the snifter.
What are scotch glasses?
Not a separate shape. Bespoke Unit's guide to Scotch glassware lists the old fashioned tumbler, the tasting glass, the copita and the quaich.
What is a bourbon glasses set?
No source read defines the term. Nothing read ties one glass shape to bourbon in particular.
What are the different types of bar glasses?
Wikipedia's list of glassware divides them into tumblers, which are flat-bottomed, and stemware. Cocktail glass shapes are a separate topic and are not covered here.
Are crystal whiskey glasses safe?
The US EPA says to avoid storing or serving food and liquids in lead crystal. Only the maker can say whether a piece contains lead. See is lead crystal safe?
Can whiskey glasses go in the dishwasher?
It depends on the maker and the glass. Waterford warns dishwashers can dull or scratch the surface, and Val Saint Lambert does not advise it for crystal.