During this 20th Anniversary year of the Glencairn Glass, we thought it only proper that we provide a certain level of "guidance" on how to use the glass for maximum whisky enjoyment. Here are 5 steps for making sure you are getting the most from this uniquely and specifically-designed whisky glass:

1. Colour
Is your whisky pale gold, deep gold, copper or rich amber in colour?

How to use
This indicates the type of cask in which the liquid has been matured.
 
2. Nose
Which aromas do you recognise when you nose your whisky – is it smoky, fruity, chocolatey…?

How to use
Give it time; the scents change in the glass all the time. Add a drop of water -The amount is up to you (but enough to remove any prickle or burning sensation felt on the nose) – and sniff again. Has the spirit opened up or closed down?
 
3. Body
Does your whisky have a light, medium or full body?

How to use
As you swirl the whisky in the glass does it cling to the sides and do the “legs” slide down slowly or quickly? Thick, slow running “legs” indicate a more dense texture; whilst thin fast moving “legs” suggest the opposite. Both are good!
 
4. Palate
Which characteristics do you notice when you taste the whisky?

How to use
First, sip the whisky without adding water. Identify the balance of ‘primary tastes’ – sweet (on the front of your tongue), salty and acidic (at the sides) and bitter or dry, spicy and smoky (at the back). Then add a little water. This makes it easier to hold the liquid in your mouth for longer and further explore its taste. If you can resist temptation and leave a little liquid in the glass for 20 minutes or so, return to nose and taste to explore how the flavour has developed.
 
5. Finish
Does the flavour remain for a long time or does it disappear quickly?

How to use
Whiskies from the Glencairn Glass are best enjoyed neat or with a little water. Consider whether the flavours linger, slowly change or disappear quite quickly.

​By Mark Roland, Vice President Sales – Retail & Consumer

As we start to come out of the coronavirus pandemic, we are emerging back into a different retail landscape here in America and around the world. For sure, restaurants have been disrupted, but right alongside them are America’s retailers. Our estimation is that the brick and mortar retailers will shrink by 25% or so in terms of numbers of locations.

​And, with consumers currently leery of going back into retail shops, that number could grow as we begin to see that many cannot survive the time it takes for the full recovery to happen. So, we are definitely looking at a shrinking overall marketplace.
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That said, we’ve seen a strong uptick in online shopping. Retailers and catalog houses are skyrocketing upwards in terms of where consumers have gone to buy their glassware. And, of course, as that business model changes it puts different pressures on us in terms of warehousing, logistics and even how we tell the Stolzle story.
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That’s the great thing about being the actual manufacturer versus an importer or someone is simply sourcing glassware from a factory somewhere in the world. Stolzle can continue to adjust and ensure that the consumer continues to get a great customer experience whether they shop in a gourmet or kitchen store or they buy their Stolzle glassware online.

Today, Stolzle still has its roots in the small, independent retailers and gourmet & kitchen stores. However, with the growth of online shopping we have been able to expand the assortment that we offer to today’s consumer. Manufacturing in Germany and warehousing here in America allows us to expand and increase our inventories, making sure that our consumer customers get exactly the product they want – when they want it. Providing world-class customer service has always been a top priority for Stolzle.

​A great example of that quality and attention to detail is the new, proprietary “pulled stem” technology that our factory has developed. Now, many of our machine-made wine glasses, like our STARlight stemware collection, that has a thinner, more elegant - and more durable – stem. The new STARlight stemware collection is classic at first sight, but trend setting at first touch. The special feature of the new series is the thickness - specifically the fineness of the glass. For example, the stem has a diameter that is about ten percent smaller than that of conventional machine-made glasses. And the goblet also has a noticeably thinner wall thickness compared to other glasses from machine production. In this way the STARlight series combines lightness with extraordinary elegance.
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All of these attributes give our new STARlight a look and feel that reminds users of mouth-blown crystal that would cost several times the price of a machine made product. This collection is another great example of Stolzle’s innovation, skill and knowledge at the factory level provides customers of all types with a much-improved, better performing overall product.

We are excited to announce that Stölzle Lausitz has strengthened its Management with the appointment of Ronald Brieger (55) as Co-Managing Director with responsibilities for the areas of production, technology and glass decoration. His remit covers the entire technical part of glass production from the design of new glasses through to shipping. Johann Nagl remains as Managing Director responsible for the areas of Sales, Marketing, E-commerce as well as Finance and Controlling.

Ronald Brieger has been involved in the mechanical glass production at Weisswasser for many years. The Mechanical Engineering graduate previously worked as a Plant Manager in the Stölzle Lausitz glass factory. After joining the plant in 1989, he was initially responsible for the machine park and maintenance prior to becoming Plant Manager in 2008. Brieger is married and has two children. He particularly likes to use his free time for extensive cycling tours in the nearby countryside as well as further surroundings.

Brieger's appointment as Co-Managing Director at Stölzle Lausitz GmbH by Dr. Cornelius Grupp, Owner of Stölzle Lausitz GmbH, was seen as a sign of the appreciation of his previous performance as well as an expression of the trust and belief that the high quality level in the production of machine-blown drinking glasses in Weisswasser could be further developed.
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The requirements in the high-quality goblet glass industry have grown extensively in recent years. “Ronald Brieger has shown superb judgement in perfecting the pulled stem process and has had great success. With his production team, he managed to create such noble and finely blown glasses that can hardly be distinguished from mouth-blown glasses.” says Johann Nagl. He is looking forward to working together in the newly created consortium and sees strengthening the technical competence in the Management as a valuable basis for the further development of the glass specialist.