Weighted by Design: How We Make the American Whiskey Glass
When we talk about an American whiskey glass, first thoughts often land on how it looks—maybe you notice the clarity, the shape, or how easily it fits in your hand. But the real story comes down to the feel. Does it rest in your palm with just the right weight? Is the edge gentle and balanced when it touches your lip? As summer winds down, early fall brings a softer light and a season of thoughtful gifts and small gatherings. This is the time of year when a carefully crafted piece, meant for someone specific, starts to matter more.
What gives a whiskey glass staying power is not glossy looks or busy design. It’s in the quiet, purposeful choices made during shaping and balancing. Every choice comes from hands and experience, not templates or production lines. This is what separates a forgettable glass from the one you return to daily.
What We Mean by “Weighted by Design”
Pick up any good whiskey glass, and the first thing you notice is weight. Not heavy just to be heavy, but enough to feel steady and sure in your hand. A quality glass never floats away or feels weak. Weight comes from careful shaping, the way thickness builds near the base and narrows just enough along the walls.
When we shape each American whiskey glass, we think about how it will feel as much as how it will look. Small changes in taper or slight differences in base thickness change everything, even before the first sip. Too thick, and it loses its comfort. Too thin, and it feels fragile.
That slow change, the taper of the bowl and how the rim comes together, lets a person swirl, sip, and enjoy the drink’s color and aroma. Every decision in the forming process builds a feeling of balance. We don’t chase a perfect shape, just the right one—the kind that turns a basic vessel into a favorite.
Here in New Orleans, our glasses are made from soda-lime glass, chosen for its clarity and lasting strength. The subtle curve at the bottom, created by hand in a wooden mold, adds stability to the base and something unique to the silhouette. Each piece is a little different, with a signature punty mark on the bottom that speaks to it being finished by hand and not by machine.
Formed by Fire: The Studio Process
Every glass starts as a gather of molten material. It comes out of the furnace hot enough to reflect the room, glowing at the end of a long pipe. Nothing here is poured into a preset mold—each piece is formed with slow turns, gentle pressure, skillful breath, and steady tools.
In our studio, nothing is automatic. The process is shared between two people—one moving the glass, the other working tools or the stamp. It’s a pattern that takes timing, constant rhythm, and cooperation. The work moves fast, shifting with the heat. In the sweet spot, the glass is neither too stiff nor too runny. That is when the shaping and finishing matter most: just seconds more or less of heat, the press of a block or paddle, or a slight spin, and the glass finds its final form.
This balance shows up when you hold the finished piece. It is not about being flawless or showy. It is about being comfortable to use, a reminder of the fire and teamwork that shaped it from start to finish.
Actual production here relies on classic mouth-blown techniques and is free from mass fabrication. Every glass is a unique product of practiced routine, heat, and shared skill.
The Molten Mark: Personalization That Lasts
Many think of personalization as something added after a glass cools—etched in later or painted on. Our way is different. When we say stamped while molten, we mean it. The mark is made during those critical few seconds while the glass is hot and alive.
This change is more than just visual. The mark isn’t sitting on top or wearing away over time. Instead, it’s part of the structure now—a letter, name, or date becomes part of the story and the material itself. When the light hits it, you see something with depth, not just a shadow on the outside. This is what makes a simple glass into an heirloom.
The personalization can be a single initial, a short word, or a special monogram, pressed right into the body while the glass is taking shape. This touch gives each piece meaning that grows with every pour and every memory attached to it.
Glass blown and personalized this way holds true uniqueness. There’s no mass-made copy of your mark, just a lasting physical reminder of the person or reason behind the gift.
Built in New Orleans, Meant to Be Given Anywhere
Every American whiskey glass we craft starts and ends in our New Orleans studio. It’s a small space, just two people, passing work back and forth, adjusting for heat and timing, sharing looks instead of words. The process depends on trust, patience, and a kind of shared tempo—a rhythm that develops after years of working side by side.
The setting is local, but the reach is broad. These glasses find their way into weddings, anniversaries, new homes, and fall gatherings in places far from the studio. People seek them as gifts for moments worth remembering. The decision to give one rarely happens in a rush. It comes from wanting something that holds its meaning, built in a place where each step leaves a mark.
Here, the story of the husband-wife studio is in every glass. It shapes not only the amount of care inside, but the feeling a piece carries to its recipient. Both the glass and its story connect the hands that shaped it with the hands that will use it.
You can spot some of the realness in how each order is wrapped and shipped by the same hands that made it. That’s part of the process, not just a side note.
Built to Hold More Than Whiskey
A true American whiskey glass isn’t just about carrying spirits. It takes on meaning every day it is used, and every time someone grabs it from the shelf because it feels right. That kind of staying power is no accident. It is designed and built that way.
These choices mean the glass sticks around. You leave it out after a long day, use it for a weekend toast, or reach for it when an old friend visits. With each use, new memories gather inside, while the story of how it was made keeps the object close to heart.
That is what weight adds when it’s honest. Not heaviness for its own sake, but a reason to keep reaching for the same glass, year after year. When built right, each moment with it becomes part of something lasting.
Discover how the art of craftsmanship transforms each handmade whiskey glass into a story waiting to be told. At Glassblower Ben, we pour heart and soul into every piece, ensuring your drinkware is as meaningful as the memories it will hold. Choose a glass that balances beauty and functionality, and let it mark special moments with lasting presence. Elevate your collection with a piece that's as unique as your experiences.
Happy New Year & Happy Mardi Gras!
2022 was a big year for me- I got married and my wife, Allyson, joined me in business, and together we embarked on quite the journey. We renovated the glass hot shop, found new homes for many of my sculptural pieces, visited internationally renowned glass studios, and transformed our operations center to create a unique gallery and venue space designed to provide greater access to the arts for everyone.
2023 is off to a great start! In January, the studio hosted visiting veteran artist, Marcus Eriksen, who commissioned us to make 10 glass hearts for one of his emotional sculptures, known as the Iraqi Angel. Markus painstakingly welded together 70,000 small steel ball bearings to form the shape of a lifesize soldier, an image burned into his memory from when he was a Marine in Kuwait City in the early nineties. Creating the sculpture helped free the image from his mind. It was incredible to work with him, share stories and teach him about glass as he taught me about the importance of persistence and positive attitudes. After multiple models and many experiments we made some really accurate glass hearts. I’m sure we will continue to collaborate in the future.
As I sit here in this newly remodeled space, I am reminded of the joy this place brings me and how lucky I am to be able to share that with you. I am able to do what I love because of your ongoing support now and over the last 8 years as I learned my way. Thank you! Without you, we would not be able to continue to do what we love. We love making glass and we love making your moments extra special. Cheers!
We are excited to have some new things in the works this year. Expect to see a few more limited release collections of designer glasses. The Winter Wonderland Glass, the first glass from the Winter 2023 Collection was released last week and is inspired by our recent ski trip to Crested Butte for our 1st anniversary. There will also be seasonal collections, including a Mardi Gras Glass featuring purple, green and real 24k gold leaf. Keep an eye out for those and other collections this year.
We also plan to introduce 2 new glass shapes into our lineup later this year. It is very exciting to bring both a stemless wine glass and a stemless champagne flute to you! These glasses will feature the same great thick base that we are known for and be customizable like our existing line of glassware.
And lastly, it has been such a pleasure to meet so many of you as you visit the city. Whether you stop by for a quick tour, peruse our gallery, or join us for molten glass experience, we’re so happy you made it down here. It’s a real joy to share our space and craft with you. If your upcoming travel includes New Orleans, please give us a shout. You won’t be disappointed.
Cheers,
Ben Dombey
Winter Wonderland Glass
Mardi Gras Magic Glass on the Punty in the Hot Shop
Melody and Rocky making a stemless wine glass with support from Ben
New! The Winter Wonderland Glass
A limited edition glass that is part of the Winter 2023 Collection. This glass sparkles like the freshest powder snow on a fresh sunny day. These won’t last long, only 3 remaining.
Mardi Gras Magic is Almost Here!
What’s better than a beautiful and delicious gold liquid in your glass? Blinging real 24k gold leaf embedded into your glass! Celebrate another epic year with the Mardi Gras as we revel in the streets for Carnival, embracing the joys of abundance and excess among friends and family. This glass will bring you back to the colorful streets of New Orleans sparkling with a fresh dusting of Mardi Gras Magic.
Make a Wine Glass with Your Sweetie!
Glassblowing is an exciting and fun way to connect with your partner. Let your creativity flow freely in this 90 minutes couples glassblowing glass and make your very own stemless wine glasses. Sessions booked 2/15-2/23 will receive a free bottle of wine from Faubourg Wines! Use Coupon Code “SWEET” for $50 off the “Make Your Own Stemless Wine Glass” Hands-On Molten Glass Experience. Good Thru 2/23/23.
Handcrafted Wine Glasses for The Federalist
Here at Glassblowerben, we are very proud to announce the launch of a new product to add to our growing collection of custom, handblown bar glasses: handcrafted wine glasses for The Federalist, an American-made craft wine company. These glasses were created after the forming of a special partnership between our two companies and they are only available through The Federalist.
About The Federalist
The Idea
The Federalist creates a bold craft wine product that is the culmination of years of development. Their collection is a distinctly American union of wines that break free from wine tradition in the pursuit of perfection. The Federalist’s founders were inspired by the ideal, “Whatever I’m drinking should taste good, dammit,” and their wine lives up to the phrase.
The result is a line of distinctly American craft wines with all of the bold spirit and unwavering character of the revolutionary American icons that adorn every bottle. With its origin arising from the “virtues of every forward-thinking, hard-working, red-blooded American,” this is American Craft Wine at its finest -- bold, original, and revolutionary.
The Barrels
Made from 100-year-old oak and old school friction fit iron hoops, the barrels used in production are every bit as special as the wine that’s made in them. Without these nuances of oak and iron, the end product probably wouldn’t taste so damn good.
The Bottles
The Federalist’s bottles are carefully crafted with every detail in mind to capture the beautiful essence of flavor and forward thinking of the wines contained within them. From the curve of the bottle’s neck to the display of revered American revolutionaries spread across the outside, the thought, care, and beauty put into the design ensures a perfect drinking experience and is entirely emblematic of the quality and craftsmanship that goes into the wines within.
The Glasses
No great craft wine can be complete without excellently custom, handcrafted wine glasses to go with it. As a proud product of our very own Ben Dombey, these gorgeous glasses are the epitome of simple, functional yet beautiful design and are expertly crafted with one purpose in mind: The Federalist and the great American spirit it represents.
We too represent that proud American artistic spirit in our own craft. Glassblowing is a proudly individualistic art that strikes at the heart of what this wine is all about. Hard work, dedication, and a commitment to unrivaled excellence are all hallmarks of this lost art, and we are honored to be able to make our own contribution to this “spirited” celebration of American greatness.
As an expertly handcrafted vessel, our hand blown wine glasses are also a testament to American ingenuity and the roughly refined tastes of our people. Our glasses’ gorgeous design serves as the perfect container to get the most in taste and enjoyment out of any wine you drink. Try these glasses with your next vino and we think you’ll agree. This is one practical piece of art that will make you proud to drink your wine -- and we can certainly all toast to that! Although The Federalist wine glasses are a special collection only available through The Federalist, you can shop for a wide selection of custom, handcrafted cocktail glasses in the GlassblowerBen store.