Snifter

Last updated
Cognac served in a brandy snifter Cognac served in a brandy snifter - Evan Swigart (cropped).jpg
Cognac served in a brandy snifter

A snifter (also called brandy snifter, brandy glass, brandy bowl, or a cognac glass) is a type of stemware, a short-stemmed glass whose vessel has a wide bottom and a relatively narrow top. It is mostly used to serve aged brown liquors such as bourbon, brandy, and whisky.

Contents

Design

The large surface area of the contained liquid helps evaporate it, the narrow top traps the aroma inside the glass, while the rounded bottom allows the glass to be cupped in the hand, thus warming the liquor. Most snifters will hold 180–240 ml (6–8 US fl oz), but are almost always filled to only a small part of their capacity. Most snifters are designed so that when placed sideways on a level surface, they will hold just the proper amount before spilling. [1]

A pipe snifter Pipe a Armagnac.jpg
A pipe snifter

A variant is called a pipe glass or pipe snifter, used for port and brandy.

Usage with beer

The attributes that have made the snifter a popular glass for brandy have also made it a preferred glass for some styles of beer, [2] mainly those that feature complex aromas and have an ABV measure of 8% or higher, such as imperial stout, Baltic porter, barley wine, and double India pale ale. [3]

Related Research Articles

A U-boot is a beer cocktail that is made by placing a shot of vodka into a glass of beer, typically a lager. It is popular in Germany, Poland, North Macedonia, and Flanders. In Germany, the liquor korn is sometimes used instead, while in Flanders and the Netherlands, jonge jenever is preferred.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandy</span> Spirit produced by distilling wine

Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured with caramel colouring to imitate the effect of aging, and some are produced using a combination of aging and colouring. Varieties of wine brandy can be found across the winemaking world. Among the most renowned are Cognac and Armagnac from south-western France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cognac</span> Style of brandy produced in France

Cognac is a variety of brandy named after the commune of Cognac, France. It is produced in the surrounding wine-growing region in the departments of Charente and Charente-Maritime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrel</span> Hollow cylindrical container

A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container with a bulging center, longer than it is wide. They are traditionally made of wooden staves and bound by wooden or metal hoops. The word vat is often used for large containers for liquids, usually alcoholic beverages; a small barrel or cask is known as a keg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eggnog</span> Sweetened dairy-based beverage

Eggnog, historically also known as a milk punch or an egg milk punch when alcoholic beverages are added, is a rich, chilled, sweetened, dairy-based beverage. It is traditionally made with milk, cream, sugar, egg yolks, and whipped egg whites. A distilled spirit such as brandy, rum, whiskey or bourbon is often a key ingredient.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Advocaat</span> Dutch alcoholic beverage featuring eggs

Advocaat or advocatenborrel is a traditional Dutch alcoholic beverage made from eggs, sugar, and brandy. The rich and creamy drink has a smooth, custard-like consistency. The typical alcohol content is generally between 14% and 20% ABV. Its contents may be a blend of egg yolks, aromatic spirits, sugar or honey, brandy, vanilla, and sometimes cream. Notable makers of advocaat include Warninks, Bols, Darna Ovo Liker, DeKuyper, and Verpoorten.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stemware</span>

Stemware is drinkware where the bowl stands on a stem above a foot. It is usually made from glass, but may be made from ceramics or metals. The stemware is intended for cool beverages, like water or wine. The stem allows the drinker to hold the glass without affecting the temperature of the drink. The snifters represent an exception, as they are designed to hold the bowl in a cup of the hand to warm up the beverage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armagnac</span> Style of brandy produced in France

Armagnac is a distinctive kind of brandy produced in the Armagnac region in Gascony, southwest France. It is distilled from wine usually made from a blend of grapes including Baco 22A, Colombard, Folle blanche and Ugni blanc, traditionally using column stills. This is in contrast to the pot stills used in the production of cognac, which is made predominantly from ugni blanc grapes. The resulting spirit is aged in oak barrels before release. Production is overseen by the Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité (INAO) and the Bureau National Interprofessionel de l'Armagnac (BNIA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beer in Germany</span>

Beer is a major part of German culture. According the Reinheitsgebot, only water, hops, yeast and malt are permitted as ingredients in its production. Beers not exclusively using barley-malt, such as wheat beer, must be top-fermented.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cut brandy</span>

Cut brandy is a liquor made of brandy, neutral grain spirit and water. Sometimes, sugar is used to soften taste. It is often colored with caramel color.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Decanter</span> Vessel to hold a liquid

A decanter is a vessel that is used to hold the decantation of a liquid which may contain sediment. Decanters, which have a varied shape and design, have been traditionally made from glass or crystal. Their volume is usually equivalent to one standard bottle of wine.

Domaine de Canton is a ginger-flavored liqueur made in France since 2007. Its earlier formulation was made in China from 1992–1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glass bottle</span> Narrow-necked container

A glass bottle is a bottle made from glass. Glass bottles can vary in size considerably, but are most commonly found in sizes ranging between about 200 millilitres and 1.5 litres. Common uses for glass bottles include food condiments, soda, liquor, cosmetics, pickling and preservatives; they are occasionally also notably used for the informal distribution of notes. These types of bottles are utilitarian and serve a purpose in commercial industries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bartending terminology</span> Terms used in drinking culture and bartending

Various unique terms are used in bartending.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beer glassware</span> Drinking and serving glass for beer

Beer glassware comprise vessels, today usually made of glass, designed or commonly used for serving and drinking beer. Styles of beer glasses vary in accord with national or regional traditions; legal or customary requirements regarding serving measures and fill lines; such practicalities as breakage avoidance in washing, stacking or storage; commercial promotion by breweries; artistic or cultural expression in folk art or as novelty items or usage in drinking games; or to complement, to enhance, or to otherwise affect a particular type of beer's temperature, appearance and aroma, as in the case of its head. Drinking vessels intended for beer are made from a variety of materials other than glass, including pottery, pewter, and wood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flaming drink</span> Mixed alcoholic drink set ablaze for show

A flaming drink is a cocktail or other mixed drink that contains flammable, high-proof alcohol, which is ignited before consumption. The alcohol may be an integral part of the drink, or it may be floated as a thin layer across the top of the drink. The flames are mostly for dramatic flair. However, in combination with certain ingredients, the flavor of the drink is altered. Some flavors are enhanced, and the process may impart a toasted flavor to some drinks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Champagne glass</span> Stemware specialized for sparkling wine

A champagne glass is stemware designed for champagne and other sparkling wines. The two most common forms are the flute and coupe, both stemmed; holding the glass by the stem prevents warming the drink. Champagne can also be drunk from a normal wine glass, which allows better appreciation of the flavor, at the expense of accentuating the bubbles less.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armenian wine</span> Wine making in Armenia

Armenian wine is wine made in Armenia and the Armenian-populated Republic of Artsakh, in the region of South Caucasus. Armenia is one of the oldest wine producing regions of the world. In particular, the oldest known winery, Areni-1 winery, was found in Armenia's Areni region, which is still known for its wine production and endemic grapes.

References

  1. "What is Brandy & a Cognac & How Do You Pour Them". Maryland Bartending Academy. February 16, 2010. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved October 16, 2010 via YouTube.
  2. "America's World Class Beer". Samuel Adams. Archived from the original on 2012-01-21.
  3. "Small Tulip or Snifter". CraftBeer. August 21, 2012. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2010.