Zwiesel Glas Bar Premium No. 1

The 50 cl whisky decanter is the heart of the range. That capacity comes down to roughly two thirds of a bottle, just enough to pour from without spirits standing in the decanter for weeks. The stopper closes the glass, but not airtight, which makes how long the contents keep more important than the shape.

The 75 cl water bottle is the counterweight on the table: the same cut, but meant for water alongside a tasting or a meal. The three-piece whisky set combines the decanter with matching glasses and is the obvious choice if you want everything in one go.

Move whisky into the decanter for an evening or a week, not for a year. As soon as air gets in, the spirit oxidises, and with a half-full decanter that happens noticeably faster. Top it up rather than leaving a decanter standing half empty.

Pour into a wide glass with one large block of ice, because that melts more slowly than a handful of cubes. If you use the decanter for cocktails, you get furthest with an old fashioned: spirit, sugar, bitters and stirring until the glass frosts over. The rest of the kit is with the bar tools.

The cut is applied by hand, and that calls for washing up by hand. A decanter with a narrow neck comes clean with lukewarm water and, if needed, a few decanter beads that you swirl around until the deposit lets go. Soap leaves a smell that comes back in the whisky, so use it sparingly.

Let the decanter drain upside down and only put the stopper on once it is completely dry, otherwise you shut moisture in. Tritan crystal glass is clearer and stronger than lead crystal and contains no lead, which makes it suitable for keeping spirits in for longer.

More from this brand is at Zwiesel Glas; note that Schott Zwiesel is a different brand with its own range structure. If you would rather compare by shape, all the models are together on the page with decanters. Matching drinking glasses are with the whisky glasses, water goes in the water glasses, and for a short measure there are the shot glasses.