Riedel Superleggero Spirits Glasses
Riedel Superleggero Spirits Glasses
- In stock, ready to ship
- Inventory on the way
- Free Mainland UK delivery over £49 - No Quibble Returns
Riedel Superleggero Spirits Glass
A wide-bowled glass works against you with spirits. The extra surface area lets alcohol vapour reach your nose with nothing to temper it, which can make even a good spirit taste harsher and more aggressive than it actually is. The Superleggero Spirits glass takes the opposite approach: a slim, flute-shaped bowl with a very small evaporation surface, which tempers that vapour and lets the spirit's own aroma come through rather than being masked by raw alcohol.
Superleggero means "ultra lightweight" in Italian, and the original version of this collection was entirely hand-blown. This machine-made version uses production technology Riedel developed in-house to reproduce that same thin-walled quality without the piece-to-piece variation of mouth-blowing. Riedel describes the result as indistinguishable from handmade: the same delicacy in the glass, the same lightness in the hand, but made consistently at scale.
The narrow bowl concentrates aroma rather than dispersing it, so you pick up more of a spirit's character and less of its alcoholic heat, whilst the shape's slender profile stays true to the Superleggero range's ultra-thin construction throughout.
Key features
- Slim, flute-shaped bowl with a very small evaporation surface
- Tempers alcohol vapour and concentrates aroma for spirits
- Ultra-thin, machine-made lead-free crystal
- Base diameter of up to 106mm for stability despite the thin stem
- Reproduces the delicacy of the original hand-blown Superleggero
- Dishwasher safe despite its light weight
This glass is thinner and lighter than standard stemware by design. Whilst it is dishwasher safe, handle it by the bowl or base rather than the stem, give it room away from other items in the dishwasher, and avoid knocking it against taps, sinks or other glassware.
What Customers Ask About This Glass
Why is the bowl so narrow compared to a standard spirits glass?
A wide bowl gives alcohol vapour a large surface to evaporate from, which can overwhelm the nose before you pick up any of the spirit's actual character. This glass's slim, flute-shaped bowl deliberately keeps that evaporation surface small, so the vapour is tempered and the spirit's own aroma comes through more clearly.
What spirits is this glass designed for?
It is built as a general spirits shape, suited to how most spirits are typically tasted and enjoyed neat or with a small amount of water, rather than being tied to one specific category. If you drink a particular spirit, such as Cognac or whisky, exclusively and in volume, Riedel also makes shapes developed specifically for those categories.
Is machine-made Superleggero as good as the original handmade version?
Riedel developed this production technology specifically to reproduce the thin-walled quality of the original hand-blown Superleggero without the piece-to-piece variation that comes with mouth-blowing. The trade-off runs the other way to most machine-versus-handmade comparisons: you get more consistency across every glass, at a lower cost, rather than the individual character of a hand-blown piece.
Is this glass too delicate for regular use?
It is thinner and lighter than most stemware, which is the entire point of the Superleggero name, but it is also genuinely dishwasher safe, so it is built for regular use rather than display only. The usual crystal care still applies: hold it by the bowl or base rather than knocking it against taps or other glassware, and give it room in the dishwasher.
Can I buy these individually or only in sets?
You can buy a single glass, a pair, a 4 pack or an 8 pack, so you can start with one and build up your set over time.
Understanding Superleggero
Superleggero sits at the top of Riedel's varietal-specific glassware, built around the idea that the thinner and lighter the glass, the less it gets in the way between you and what's in it. The range was originally produced entirely by hand, mouth-blown by skilled glassmakers, which made it exceptional but also expensive and limited in supply.
Riedel's machine-made Superleggero line was developed to bring that same ultra-thin quality to a wider audience without sacrificing the character that made the original worth having in the first place. Each shape in the range, including this one, is sized and proportioned for a specific purpose rather than as an all-purpose glass.
Why Spirits Need a Narrow Bowl
It might seem counterintuitive that a smaller bowl shows a spirit better than a large one, but the logic is the opposite of what works for wine. Spirits are bottled at far higher alcohol strength, so a wide bowl's large evaporation surface releases a disproportionate amount of alcohol vapour relative to the spirit's actual aroma compounds, which can make the drink taste sharper and less nuanced than it is.
The flute-shaped bowl's small evaporation surface keeps that vapour in check, so what reaches your nose is closer to the spirit's genuine character: the fruit in a good brandy, the smoke in a peated whisky, the botanicals in a gin, rather than just the burn of the alcohol itself.
Specifications
- Single glass (pure self-indulgence)
- Pair (ideal for trying them out)
- 4 pack (most popular choice)
- 8 pack (best for entertaining)
Care & Use Instructions
Dishwasher Care: Dishwasher safe. Load with enough space around each glass that it cannot knock against other items during the cycle.
Handwashing: If you prefer to handwash, use warm water with a small amount of mild detergent and dry with a lint-free cloth whilst still warm for a streak-free finish.
Polishing: Hold the glass by the bowl, not the stem, when polishing to reduce the risk of snapping the stem under pressure.
Storage: Store upright rather than resting on the rim, with enough space that glasses do not touch each other.
Serving: Best suited to spirits served neat or with a small splash of water. It is not built for serving over ice; a wider-bowled glass or rocks glass suits that better.
Why Buy From The Riedel Shop?
✓ No Quibble Returns - Change your mind, even after use, and return it in resaleable condition and original packaging.
✓ Half-Price Accidental Breakage Replacement (2 Years) - Break a glass by accident within 2 years of purchase and we'll replace it at half the current retail price.
✓ Price Match Guarantee - Found it cheaper elsewhere from an authorised retailer? We'll match it.
See our full guarantee policy or get in touch if you have any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does delivery take?
Standard delivery to mainland UK addresses typically takes 3-5 working days and is free for orders over £49. Next day delivery may be available for £9.95 on orders placed before 1pm Monday to Thursday, depending on your location and our stock levels. We pack all glassware carefully with protective packaging to ensure safe arrival, with particular care taken for especially thin pieces like Superleggero.
Can I return the glasses if I don't like them after using them?
We offer a no quibble return guarantee that allows you to return goods even after use. The items must be in a resaleable condition and in their original packaging. Please wrap or box items appropriately for transit to avoid damage, particularly important for thin crystal glassware.
How does the Half-Price Replacement guarantee work?
If you accidentally break a glass within 2 years of purchase, we'll replace it at half the current retail price. You'll need proof of purchase (receipt, bank statement, or order confirmation if purchased online) and evidence of the breakage (a photo is fine). We log your purchase at point of sale, or online orders are automatically recorded in our system.
What's the difference between the buying options?
All options are the identical glass; only the quantity changes. The single glass suits buying one for yourself. The pair is a good way to try the shape with someone else in mind. The 4 pack is the most popular choice for general entertaining, and the 8 pack suits larger-scale use.
Is this suitable for drinking spirits over ice?
It is designed primarily for neat spirits, where the narrow bowl's effect on aroma matters most. It isn't built for serving over ice the way a rocks glass is. If ice is your usual preference, a wider-bowled tumbler will suit that better.
Do you offer gift packaging?
Riedel Superleggero glasses come in packaging suitable for gifting and provide appropriate protection for the thin crystal. These make a considered gift for anyone who enjoys good spirits.
Can I buy additional glasses to match my set?
Yes. The Superleggero Spirits glass is part of Riedel's ongoing range, and machine production ensures new glasses will match your existing set in size and quality, whichever buying option you started with.
How does this compare to the Riedel Vinum Cognac glass?
They're built on the same underlying principle, tempering alcohol vapour and concentrating aroma, but the Vinum Cognac glass uses a narrow flute atop a wider balloon bowl shaped specifically for Cognac, whilst this glass's slim, flute-shaped bowl is built as a general spirits shape across the whole Superleggero range's ultra-thin construction.
