Old Fashioned Tumblers

Old Fashioned tumblers are short, wide-mouthed, flat-bottomed glasses, also called rocks glasses or lowballs. The design is built around the drink they're named for: a spirit, a little sugar and bitters, and ice, built right in the glass. The wide rim lets the aroma of a whiskey or aged rum reach the nose. The low profile also gives you room to muddle a sugar cube or press a citrus peel without crowding the rim. The specific capacity and glass weight aren't listed here, so check the product specifications before you plan around a particular ice size. Tumblers in this style commonly hold somewhere between 6 and 12 ounces. The glass is most useful for drinks served over ice. Pour a bourbon, rye, Scotch or añejo rum over a single large cube. It melts slowly, so the drink loosens up gradually without turning watery. That shape is also the classic format for the Old Fashioned itself, as well as the Negroni, Sazerac, Boulevardier and Rusty Nail. Simple highballs-in-miniature such as a Black Russian or a Whiskey Sour also suit the size, as does a measure of spirit served neat when you want the wider bowl rather than a stemmed nosing glass. For serving, chill the tumbler in the freezer for ten to fifteen minutes before building a stirred drink. This keeps dilution lower and the first sips colder. For neat pours, use it at room temperature. Because the walls are short, a long citrus peel or a brandied cherry sits comfortably on the ice without tipping the glass. Care is simple. Hand-wash or follow the manufacturer's care instructions, and let the glasses dry fully before chilling them so frost doesn't cloud the interior. A set of matching tumblers is also practical for side-by-side tastings. Pour the same measure of two or three whiskeys into identical glasses and the differences in color and aroma are easier to compare.