RCR Alkemist

The heart of the range is the three copa glasses. The 53 cl is the calmest size and also fits a smaller table. The 58 cl is the all-rounder: room for a decent layer of ice and a garnish, without the glass taking over. The 67 cl is the roomiest and the most theatrical, right when you work with plenty of botanicals. There is also a low version of 53 cl that serves for cognac as well as gin. If you mainly drink whisky, take the tumbler of 35 or 38 cl; the heavy base sits well in the hand. Feel free to compare with the gin and tonic glasses and the whiskey glasses.

Always fill a copa completely with large ice cubes first and only then pour. That seems excessive, but a lot of ice melts more slowly than a little, so it actually keeps the drink less watery. Pour the tonic along a spoon or down the side of the glass, so the carbonation does not escape all at once. Garnish soberly: a strip of peel and a single herb. A classic gin and tonic or an old fashioned in the tumbler lets the facets do the work. Whisky neat you pour into the tumbler without ice, with a dash of water if you want to open up the aromas.

Luxion is RCR's lead-free crystal glass, with high clarity and a rim made sturdier than ordinary crystal by a heat treatment. That is why the range is dishwasher safe, which is not a given with cut crystal. Even so: the deeper the facets, the faster limescale settles in. With hard water, a rinse aid or a quick rinse afterwards is the difference between sparkling and dull glass.

To see which other ranges the brand makes, have a look at RCR, where Aria and Brillante are among the ranges on offer. Looking for a decanter to put the drink on the table? You will find one with the decanters. And if you pour from a bottle that empties quickly, the pourers make dosing a good deal calmer. In doubt about the size? Start with the copa of 58 cl.