Rum glasses

Rum glasses: the best for tasting

You know what it is the correct shape and size that a rum glass should have? La the answer is not easy, given the large quantity of glasses available on the market. First, let's start with the material the glass is made of. We all tend to elect crystal glass as the best material for making rum glasses. Crystal is a compact, transparent and resistant material and this facilitates "visual examination", but on the other hand, it has a not negligible environmental impact.

Crystal glass contains a percentage of lead "polluting material" of not less than 24%. That said, what really changes the rum tasting “Also for a matter of impression”, it is thickness of our glass. Our glass must be thin in thickness! But what shape should a rum glass have? On the market we find a wide choice ranging from the low tumbler to the structured red wine glass.

Which one to choose? The technical aspect to consider, regards the amount of surface in contact with the air compared to the amount of rum inside the glass. The greater the exchange surface between air and rum, the more oxygenation we will have. Easy to understand that a very wide glass, it will help oxygenation and consequently release of aromas.

Rum glasses: with or without stem?

So what's the best rum glass? Better a glass with or without a stem? Let us then also evaluate this last point. During a tasting, moving the glass, we release our aromas, these will tend to leave our glass going up and therefore, the smaller the outlet of our glass, the more the aromas will be concentrated towards our nostrils. Now we just have to ask ourselves if our glass should be with or without a stem.

The rum must be "tasted" around 20-24 ° C. Why do we say this as we speak of rum glasses? If we take the glass in our hands and have poured a rum inside that requires a long oxygenation process, we risk heating it too much, thus changing the ideal temperature of the rum. In this case, the use of stemmed glasses helps us to keep our hands away from the sides of the glass. All this speech falls away when we have to use the ice in our glass.

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Special rum glasses

Use a special rum glass, original, can increase the pleasure of tasting, expanding the taste-olfactory experience. This can happen both in the case of meditation rum glasses that is of those rums that should be drunk alone or with ice, which in the case of rum cocktail glasses. Over the years the market for special rum glasses has experienced growing success, including proposals for rum glasses with an original shape, or embellished by the over-engraving of the most famous rum brand. 

There are also classic crystal glasses with carved shapes, which give the rum a very important aspect and which can be excellent allies for special occasions. For a prestigious gift you can also draw on the combination of rum bottles with glasses of the same brand, such as those packaged by famous distilleries that combine their bottle with a set of two, four or six glasses.

Glasses with original shapes

The rum glasses with original shapes give the distillate an unusual and sometimes surprising aspect. They range from the scariest ones, like those to crafts of skull to those without a real support base, but which can rotate on themselves, i.e. the so-called tilting glasses of which there are versions with a rounded or diamond shape. Original and very suitable for a classic combination of rum - the one with Cuban cigars - is this glass that has a groove for storing the puros: definitely a particular solution to serve a rum and a fun gift idea.

In addition to the carved shapes, which represent a classic of rum and whiskey glasses, the research of glass producers has also produced original shapes, which use the grooves to make objects from the particular design. The deserves a separate discussion rum cocktail glasses, which beyond the classic formats, namely the famous Martini glass and the classic tumbler, have seen the appearance on the market of very colorful glasses, such as the glasses used for "Tiki" type cocktails including the famous Mai Tai.

Diplomatic rum glass

Among the distilleries that offer the combination of rum with silk-screened glasses, Rum Diplomatico stands out for the multitude of proposals that combine Rum Exclusive Reserve glasses that represent the symbol of the founder Don Melendez, known as the "Mantuano", that is nobleman, whose figure also heads on all the labels of the distillery. There are versions with case and six glasses, others always with case e 2 tilting glasses and finally a version that combines the rum-glasses combination with another element often used in tasting, namely dark chocolate, here presented in a pack of five bars, with variable cocoa concentration. The latter solution represents an excellent opportunity to make a prestigious gift to a rum lover.

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Zacapa rum glass

The historic Zacapa distillery in Guatemala also offers "designer" rum glasses, in this case both combined with the bottle and sold separately. There are two rums proposed for pairing with glasses: the prestigious Zacapa Centenario 23 years old which is accompanied by six balloon glasses or six tilting glasses, or the excellent rum Zacapa Centenario XO Solera sold in packs of two or six tilting glasses. Zacapa glasses are also available on the market, sold individually or in six-pack of glasses.

These are original Zacapa rum glasses with a capacity of 280 ml, ten cm high. The particular flared shape that provides a variable diameter between eight centimeters at the base and five at the top, favors the best taste-olfactory experience and a comfortable and safe grip. Finally, as for the Diplomatico rum, the Zacapa rum also includes a gift box consisting of Zacapa Centenario 23 years old with two tilting glasses and dark chocolate.

The 6 best rum glasses

In the evaluation of the best rum glass, you have to keep in mind various factors, besides the price. Now we will try to show you the 6 best glasses for tasting rum. On Amazon there are many glasses to choose from, alternatively you can also find them in stores specializing in the sale of household items.

Here is our list with the best models of rum glasses based on shape, materials, brand and price. 

1- Ron Zacapa Centenary glass rum glass

Set of 6 Zacapa rum glasses also suitable for drinking excellent rum in the company of friends.

Brand: Zacapa

Supplies: Glass

Capacity: 280 ml. Height about 10 cm

Top diameter: about 5,2 cm. Bottom diameter: about 8cm

Shape that guarantees the best taste-olfactory experience

Comfortable and safe grip

Score on Amazon 4,2 out of 5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Find out the price

2- Glencairn Prestige glasses

Glencairn glass: a perfect glass to taste the best rums. A glass made of crystal and lead free, makes it an ideal choice for lovers of fine rum. The glass is dishwasher safe.

Brand: Glencairn

Supplies: Glass

Capacity: 170 ml.

Base diameter: 46 mm. Glass diameter: 67 mm

Score on Amazon 4,8 out of 5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

Find out the price

3- Bormioli rum glass

Bormioli Rum Glass: A lead-free premium glass made of durable glass! This glass is dishwasher safe.

Brand: Bormioli Rocco

Supplies: Glass

Capacity: 65 cl.

Score on Amazon 5 out of 5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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4- Normann Copenhagen

Normann Copenhagen it is composed in a set of special glasses, excellent for tasting rum and above all for making it oxygenate in the glass without any effort.

Brand: Eclat Skincare

Supplies: Glass

Diameter: 8,5 cm

Capacity: 15 cl.

Score on Amazon 4,5 out of 5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

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5- Botucal Bicchieri Rum

Botucal presents a set consisting of 6 tumbler glasses for rum made of glass with capacity. Excellent also for tasting other spirits such as whiskey.

Brand: Eclat Skincare

Supplies: Glass

Capacity: 28 cl.

Score on Amazon 4,6 out of 5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

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6- Thumbs Up Bicchieri Rum

Il thumbs Up! is an elegant rum glass with a unique diamond shape. These glasses are excellent for rum tasting, but also for other spirits. Made of borosilicate glass, they cannot be washed in the dishwasher.

Brand: Thumbs Up

Supplies: Borosilicate glass

Capacity: 35 cl.

Score on Amazon 4,2 out of 5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

Find out the price

How to choose a rum glass

Content is key, but when you do taste a good rum, the container also plays its part! There are so many rum glasses on the market, but some are more suitable than others. The best rum glasses they are distinguished between those of the Snifter type and the Glencairn which have some differences. Snifter glasses are usually made of thin glass, have a substantially short stem and a rounded bottom. The upper part is instead narrower and serves to raise the scents of rum towards the nose. They also exist with larger openings, more suitable for aged rums that need more oxygenation.

The Glencairn-style ones have a lower and wider body than the opening that tightens as you go up to the end of the glass. These are more suitable for the tasting of whiskey or bourbon but no one forbids using them also for our beloved rum. Another type of very popular glass is the one called "rum glass design“, Beautiful to see and exhibit and designed more for the aesthetic component than for the tasting of rum. True rum lovers and connoisseurs prefer other types to taste the distillate.

If we talk about characteristics of the perfect rum glass, we must start from the most important, the shape! The final taste of our rum even depends on this. The wide base favors the right oxygenation of the distillate and the reduced opening of the mouth of the glass ensures a balanced concentration of aromas. With this shape of the glass, the rum opens in a balanced way without evaporating all the aromas, which instead remain blocked in the glass thanks to the reduced size of the opening.

Another consideration on rum glasses, it must be done on the stem. This part of the glass does not enhance the flavor but can affect the temperature. The stem allows us to sip the rum without heating it as our hands will not be in direct contact with the product. This type of glass is ideal for more complex rums and structured that require greater oxygenation and therefore more time to taste them.

The last fundamental indication is the one concerning the material from which the rum glass is made. There crystal rum glasses, qualitatively superior, or glass rum glasses, certainly cheaper but equally good. Another type are those in tempered glass that are more suitable for cocktail a base di rum.

Where to buy rum glasses

There are various web shops where buy rum glasses, but we recommend doing it on Amazon. Fast shipping, guaranteed and above all you will never risk losing your money. Payments are always insured and if you do register with Amazon Prime, you can receive the Indian rum at the best price on the web and especially without unnecessary shipping costs.