Collection
Pipette
With a whisky pipette you add water drop by drop, so you decide for yourself how far to open up a whisky. This collection features the glass pipette from Glencairn Crystal in Scotland, on its own or in a combination set with a whisky glass, water jug or tasting caps. It is a small tool for anyone who likes to taste mindfully and discover how a whisky changes with a few drops of water.
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A pipette works particularly well with powerful whiskies, such as cask strength whisky or a smoky single malt from the Smoky & Powerful quadrant of the M4W Flavour Compass. If you want more water to hand, for instance for several guests, also take a look at our water jugs. You can look up terms such as cask strength in the M4W Whisky Glossary.
Why add water to whisky with a pipette?
A few drops of water can open up the aroma and flavour of a whisky, and a pipette lets you add them in a very controlled way. In 2017, researchers at Linnaeus University in Sweden showed in Scientific Reports that guaiacol, a compound that contributes to smoky aromas, moves closer to the surface of the whisky when it is diluted. That is where you smell and taste it first.
How many drops of water should you add to whisky?
Start with one to three drops, swirl the glass briefly and taste again. There is no fixed rule: every whisky and every taster reacts differently. Whisky at 40 to 46% often needs only a few drops, while cask strength whisky can take more. That is exactly why a pipette is useful, because once water is in the glass you cannot take it out again.
What is the difference between a pipette and a water jug?
A pipette doses water drop by drop, a water jug pours a splash. With a pipette you taste step by step what changes and avoid adding too much. A water jug is more practical when several people are at the table or when you also want to drink water between drams. Glencairn combines both in sets with a whisky glass, a small water jug and a pipette.
Is a pipette useful for cask strength whisky?
Yes, a pipette is especially useful for cask strength whisky. Such whisky is bottled undiluted and often has an alcohol content of roughly 50 to 65%, so the alcohol can mask the aromas. By adding water drop by drop, you look for the point at which the whisky opens up without becoming watery. Taste after every few drops and note what you smell.
Which pipette set suits a tasting with several glasses?
For a tasting with several whiskies, the Glencairn tasting set with four whisky glasses, four tasting caps and a pipette is the best fit. The caps keep the aromas in each glass while you compare. If you prefer tasting as a pair, the combination set with two Cut whisky glasses, a water jug, two viewing glasses and a pipette contains everything you need.