How Do You Keep Whisky Glasses and Accessories in Perfect Condition?

Whisky glasses and accessories stay in the best condition when they are rinsed and dried immediately after use, polished with a microfibre cloth instead of a tea towel, and stored away from anything with a strong smell. Crystal decanters need extra care, since spirits should never be left standing in lead crystal for more than a few hours.

Key Takeaways

• Detergent residue and dust are the two biggest threats to a whisky glass, more than the material it is made from.

• Glencairn says many bars run its glasses through a dishwasher, while Riedel recommends checking the label first, since only glasses tested as dishwasher safe should go in one.

• Dry glasses with two microfibre cloths, one holding the bowl and one polishing it, and never grip the bowl and the base together while twisting.

• Store glasses away from anything with a strong smell, since glass can absorb odours that later affect the aroma of the whisky.

• Lead crystal decanters should never hold spirits or wine for more than a few hours, since long storage lets lead leach into the drink.

• A pipette, a jug of still water and a tasting cap turn any set of glasses into a proper tasting kit.

Tip: Rinse a glass the moment a dram is finished, even with plain water. Whisky residue left to dry in the bowl is far harder to remove later and can taint the next pour.

Why Clean Glassware Matters for Aroma

A whisky glass carries the memory of everything that has touched it, from dish soap to the inside of a cupboard. Nosing is a large part of tasting whisky, so a trace of detergent, rinse aid or musty cupboard air in the bowl can compete with the aroma of the spirit itself. Dust settles into an unused glass just as easily, and a fine layer is often invisible until light catches the bowl.

The fix has little to do with how expensive the glass is. A glass rinsed straight after use, dried properly and stored away from strong smells will nose as cleanly on its hundredth use as it did on its first.

Should You Wash Whisky Glasses by Hand or in the Dishwasher?

Glass makers do not all agree on this, so the safest rule is to check what is printed on the box or the product page for the glass in question.

What Glencairn Says

Glencairn Crystal, maker of the Glencairn Glass used across the whisky industry, says on its own FAQ page that many bars clean its glasses in a dishwasher, while others prefer to hand wash because they feel it affects the sensory experience. Glencairn adds that any etching on a glass will fade over time, so it recommends hand washing glasses that carry an engraved name or message.

What Riedel Says

Riedel takes a more detailed approach on its Glass Care and Use page. Most Riedel glasses are dishwasher safe and tested against the European standard EN 12875, but any glass labelled hand wash only, or sold without care instructions, should be washed by hand instead. For glasses that do go in the dishwasher, Riedel recommends the top rack, enough space between glasses so they do not touch, a low temperature program around 50 to 55 degrees, and the correct dose of detergent and rinse aid rather than a guess. Opening the dishwasher door once the cycle ends lets steam escape, since trapped moisture can attack the glass surface over time.

When washing by hand, warm water and a small amount of washing liquid are enough. Rinse thoroughly, since leftover detergent is one of the most common causes of a glass that smells wrong on the next pour.

How to Dry and Polish a Glass Without Lint

Riedel's guidance on drying is specific for a reason: a stemmed glass is only as strong as the point where the bowl meets the stem. Holding the base and the bowl at the same time while drying can twist and snap the stem, so each part should be dried and polished separately.

• Hold the glass under the bowl with a microfibre cloth in one hand, then polish the inside and outside of the bowl with a second cloth in the other hand.

• Hold the base firmly and polish it on its own, away from the bowl.

• Use two microfibre cloths rather than a tea towel, which Riedel warns could damage the glass.

• Never dry a glass upside down on a metal rack, since the rim can chip against the wire.

Riedel also recommends washing microfibre polishing cloths on their own at a high temperature, without fabric softener, since softener leaves a greasy film that transfers straight onto the next glass it dries.

Where to Store Whisky Glasses Between Tastings

Riedel's advice on storage is to keep glasses away from strong smelling items in a cupboard, since glass can absorb odour that later affects the aroma of whatever is poured into it. For a whisky glass, whose whole job is to gather aroma, that matters more than for almost any other piece of glassware in the house.

In practice, that means a clean, closed cabinet away from the kitchen's strongest smells rather than an open shelf where dust and cooking odours settle, and making sure every glass is completely dry before it goes away.

Caring for Crystal and Lead Crystal Decanters

Decanters need more patience than glasses. Riedel recommends rinsing a decanter with clear water immediately after use, since wine and some whiskies can mark the inside if left to sit. Most Riedel decanters should be hand washed only, and washing liquid or soap is best avoided altogether, since it is difficult to rinse out completely from a narrow neck. For a decanter that needs a deeper clean, filling it with warm water and leaving it overnight, or swirling it with a little water and citric acid or white vinegar, lifts most residue. Cleaning beads, sold by several glass makers, can shift stubborn marks when swirled gently inside. Once clean, dry the decanter fully and polish only the outside with a microfibre cloth.

Lead crystal deserves a separate warning. Lead crystal typically contains between 24 and 32 percent lead oxide, and McGill University's Office for Science and Society notes that spirits or wine left standing in it for a long period allow lead to leach into the liquid. In one study cited by McGill, port wine stored in a lead crystal decanter rose from about 90 to 4,000 micrograms of lead per litre within four months, and brandy stored for over five years reached more than 20,000 micrograms per litre. Serving a whisky from a lead crystal decanter at a gathering is not a concern, since the drink is not in contact with the glass for long, but a lead crystal decanter suits short serving far better than long term storage.

Whatever the decanter is made from, never put it away wet. Standing water left inside can leave marks that are hard to remove from a narrow neck, so let it dry fully before the stopper goes back in.

Whisky Stones, Pipettes, Water Jugs and Tasting Sets

The accessories around a glass need the same attention as the glass itself.

• Whisky stones should be rinsed in warm water and left to air dry after every use, then stored somewhere dry so they do not pick up smells from a freezer or a cupboard.

• A pipette for adding water should be rinsed straight after use and left to dry completely, so it does not carry a stray drop into the next glass poured.

• A small jug of still water, kept at room temperature next to the glasses, lets each guest dilute their own dram to taste. Rinse it out and leave it to air dry between tastings.

• Tasting sets and copita style glasses should be polished with the same two cloth method as any other glass before they are set out, since a smear on a small glass is even more noticeable than on a large one.

Choosing the right glass for the right serve also matters. For a closer look at when to reach for a nosing glass, a tumbler or a highball, see Highball vs. Neat vs. On the Rocks: Which Serve for Which Whisky?

A Simple Routine Before Hosting a Tasting

A few small habits make a home tasting run smoothly.

• Hand wash every glass the day before, even ones that are dishwasher safe, so there is no trace of rinse aid smell left from a previous cycle.

• Polish and set the glasses out a couple of hours ahead, giving any last moisture time to evaporate before guests arrive.

• Check that decanters and jugs are completely dry inside, and fill the water jug shortly before guests sit down rather than hours earlier.

• Lay out a pipette and a tasting cap for each glass if the tasting includes several whiskies at different strengths.

For a full walkthrough of running the evening itself, from pouring order to how many whiskies to pour, read How to Host a Whisky Tasting Night at Home.

Tip: Keep one cloth set aside only for glassware, never one that has touched furniture polish or a kitchen worktop spray. A cloth carrying even a trace of another product will leave a film that dulls both the shine and the nose of a whisky.

FAQ

Is it safe to put whisky glasses in the dishwasher?

It depends on the glass. Riedel tests most of its glasses to the European standard EN 12875 and calls them dishwasher safe, while any glass labelled hand wash only should not go in one. Glencairn notes that many bars run its glasses through a dishwasher, though it recommends hand washing glasses with an engraved design, since etching fades over time.

What is the best way to dry a whisky glass without streaks?

Use two microfibre cloths rather than a tea towel, and dry the bowl and the base separately. Holding both at once while drying can twist and snap the stem, and Riedel advises against using a tea towel, which could damage the glass.

Can spirits be stored in a lead crystal decanter?

Not for long. Lead crystal typically contains 24 to 32 percent lead oxide, and studies cited by McGill University show lead levels climbing sharply the longer a drink sits in it, reaching over 20,000 micrograms per litre in brandy stored for more than five years. Serving from a lead crystal decanter for an evening is fine, but storing a bottle's worth of whisky in one for months is not.

Why do whisky glasses pick up smells in storage?

Glass can absorb odour from its surroundings. Riedel advises keeping glasses away from strong smelling items in a cupboard, and making sure they are fully dry before they are put away.

Do whisky stones need cleaning?

Yes. Rinse them in warm water and let them air dry fully after every use, then store them somewhere dry rather than back in a wet freezer bag, so they do not carry smells from the freezer into the next dram.