[robojoe]

I also received a Flare from Spirit Sippers. Its first workout tonight was with Ron Zacapa Centenario XO.

I've tried many glasses to sip rum, from the Riedel rum glass, to a standard snifter and a nice old fashioned glass. Compared to all of them, the Flare is by far the best at allowing the aroma of the rum to rise without the burn of alcohol. It felt like I was really able to appreciate the aroma of my Ron Zacapa for the first time. As a chef, I shouldn't have been surprised...but I was really amazed at how the improved olfactory experience with this glass really improved the overall tasting experience.

The glass is thin enough to have a nice feel on the lips, without being too delicate. I initially agreed with Robert's observation about the very short stem, and perhaps wanting just a bit more room there to better hold the glass. After a bit of sipping though, I found my hand naturally going to the pinched waist of the glass. While it may not be the most elegant or "correct" way to hold a glass, I've quickly become comfortable with it.

I'll be buying a few more Flares. For me, this is a "must have" rum glass.

Jay was also kind enough to send me a Tulip which I'll be taking to work to evaluate with our tequilas. Given how well the Flare works, I'm pretty excited about it.