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The Norlan Whisky Glass: Design, Science and Review

The Norlan whisky glass explained: who designed it, its double-walled borosilicate build, what its makers claim, and how it compares with the Glencairn.

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When the Norlan Whisky Glass launched on Kickstarter in October 2015, it set out to raise $75,000 and ended with over $800,000 from nearly 11,000 backers. Norlan calls it the most successfully funded drinking-glass campaign at the time.

It promised the nosing focus of a copita with the feel of a tumbler, and it drew attention from design writers as well as whisky drinkers.

How does it compare with the Glencairn, and what do its makers actually claim?

The Design Thesis

Norlan was founded by Shane Bahng and Brian Fichtner, and the glass was designed by the Iceland-based designer Sruli Recht. Recht used fluid dynamics modelling and worked with the synthetic biologist Martin Hanczyc; in late 2014 he refined the inner bowl with Jim McEwan, then master distiller at Bruichladdich. Production began in summer 2016.

The Norlan glass: from design to production. In late 2014 the designer Sruli Recht refined the inner bowl with Jim McEwan, then master distiller at Bruichladdich. In October 2015 Norlan launched on Kickstarter with a goal of 75,000 dollars and ended with over 800,000 dollars from nearly 11,000 backers. In summer 2016 production began.

Their design addressed two perceived flaws in traditional glassware:

  1. The Sensory Compromise: Tumblers feel comfortable, but their wide openings let aroma spread into the room. Narrow tulip nosing glasses focus aroma well, but they focus the alcohol vapour too, which can prickle the nose.
  2. The Social Compromise: Narrow nosing glasses make you tilt your head back to finish the pour, which the designers called antisocial. The Norlan’s wider mouth is meant to let you sip without tipping your head.

Engineering and Construction: Double-Walled Borosilicate

The Norlan is made from lightweight, double-walled borosilicate glass. Norlan gives its weight as about 4.4oz (roughly 125g) and its capacity as about 5.9 US fl oz (roughly 175ml) to the rim, with a recommended pour of 0.7 to 1.4 fl oz (about 20ml to 40ml).

    ┌───────────────────────────┐
    │ ─── Outer Wall (Tumbler)  │
    │   ┌───────────────────┐   │
    │   │  Inner Wall (Bowl)│   │
    │   │                   │   │
    │   │      [Fluid]      │   │
    │   │       /\ /\       │   │  ◄ Protrusions inside the bowl
    │   └───────────────────┘   │
    └───────────────────────────┘

Pros and Cons

Where the Norlan Succeeds

Where the Norlan Compromises

Norlan vs Glencairn: Direct Comparison

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CriteriaThe Norlan GlassThe Glencairn Glass
MaterialDouble-walled borosilicate glassLead-free crystal
Rim FeelRounded lip where the walls joinThinner, tapered rim
Aroma ConcentrationModerate (wider mouth spreads alcohol vapour)High (narrow mouth concentrates aroma)
CareHand wash recommendedRobust; made for bar use
CostUsually costs more per glassUsually costs less per glass
Ideal UsageSipping neat whisky in companyTasting, comparing and note-taking

The Verdict

The Norlan is a well-made piece of modern design that suits sipping neat whisky in company, and its wider mouth is gentler on the nose with cask strength bourbons or peated single malts.

For careful tasting, comparing single casks or picking out delicate aromas, the Glencairn and the stemmed copita remain the usual choice, with thinner rims and more focused aroma. For more on how glass shape changes what you smell, see the importance of the whisky glass.

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About the author

John Fegan

· Editor

Hailing from the land of haggis and deep-fried Mars bars, John was always going to find his way to whisky. He has run Uisge Beatha since 2015 and Whiskipedia.com since 2020.