Nachtmann Noblesse

Noblesse splits into two families. Standing on a flat base are the tumblers and long drink glasses: 24 cl for whisky and an Old Fashioned, 29.5 cl as an all-round tumbler and 39.5 cl for long drinks with plenty of ice. Alongside them stand the stemmed glasses, from the small 23 cl goblet through the tall 35 cl version to the 35.5 cl wine glass, with a 15.1 cl flute or an 18 cl coupe for sparkling wine. Do check the packaging, because the clear models usually come in twelves while the coloured versions in green, purple, taupe and pink come in pairs. If you want to be set up in one go, take a look at a complete glassware set.

Pour whisky into the 24 cl tumbler over one large block of ice. The facets catch the amber colour and turn an ordinary drink into something worth looking at before you take a sip. Stir an Old Fashioned cold in the 75 cl mixing glass first and strain it over fresh ice afterwards, so you are not diluting in the serving glass. A Negroni works well in that same tumbler, with a wide strip of orange peel squeezed over the rim. Fill the 23 cl goblet to just below its widest point, and pour the 15.1 cl flute in two goes so the foam has time to settle.

Noblesse is lead-free crystal glass, so it stays clear and does not yellow. The cutting makes the wall thicker at the facets and thinner precisely in between, and the rim remains the most vulnerable spot. The glasses can go in the dishwasher on a programme up to around sixty degrees, provided they stand separately in the rack and do not touch one another during the cycle. Limescale dulls the cut work quickly, so rinse with clean water and dry with a linen cloth. Store them upright and never resting on the rim.

If you are looking for another model from the same maker, have a look at Nachtmann, where alongside Noblesse you will find both the sleeker and the classic series. If you like the facets but would rather have a lower glass on the table, the old fashioned glasses from other brands are the place to go. And if you are going to mix your own drinks, a bar spoon will do more for you than yet another glass.