Zwiesel Glas Bar Premium No. 2

The range has three items and they complement each other rather than forcing a choice. The 50 cl whisky decanter takes a good two thirds of a standard bottle, enough for an evening without refilling halfway. The 75 cl water bottle stands beside it for the water that belongs with whisky. The three-piece whisky set holds the matching glasses, so the bar is complete in one go. If you want to compare other shapes, have a look at the wider row of whisky glasses and the decanters.

Only pour whisky into the decanter if you will drink it within a few weeks, because in a decanter the spirit meets more air than in the bottle. For an evening of serving that works in your favour: the sharpest alcohol notes blow off and the sweeter aromas come forward. Fill the glasses to a finger or two and set a small glass of water beside them, so everyone can dilute to taste. The same glasses carry an old fashioned or a manhattan without any trouble.

Zwiesel Glas makes this range in Tritan crystal glass, a lead-free crystal in which titanium and zirconium provide hardness and shine. That makes the glass able to handle the dishwasher and the dull haze that hard water leaves on ordinary crystal. Rinse the decanter with lukewarm water after use and let it drain upside down. Water left standing in the base creates a ring of limescale within a few days that is hard to remove.

The full offer from this brand is at Zwiesel Glas, which stands apart from Schott Zwiesel even though they share a history. If you only want a pouring bottle without cut work, have a look at the decanters. And anyone kitting out the bar further gets more from a good jigger and a long bar spoon than from yet another glass. Once the whisky is in the decanter, the rest of the evening is mostly a matter of ice and patience.