The Snifter glass is perfect for enjoying aged spirits, such as Brandy or Cognac.

Most people like to serve spirits in Snifters due to its distinctive shape, with its short stem and rounded bowl.

As suggested by its evocative name, this exposes the spirit to a larger surface area than other glasses, which encourages evaporation. The narrow mouth ensures that the scent remains trapped inside the glass, making it an intrinsic part of the drinking experience.

Technically however, the more appropriate glass to use for drinking Cognac is a ‘sherry copita’. Although similar to the Snifter, this glass is shorter-stemmed, with its wide bowl ending in a narrower mouth. Despite this, the Snifter is still appropriate if you don’t have a sherry copita to hand.

Also called a ‘balloon’, its big rounded bowl helps capture the scent of spirits, giving the drinker a luxurious feel. Although a Snifter usually has a capacity of over 12oz (35cl), it is not intended to be filled to the rim, to allow the aroma enough room to stay trapped inside the glass.