The Niall Konjakiklaas by Tiago Russo and Katia Martins

The Niall Konjakiklaas by Tiago Russo and Katia Martins is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 Hõbeauhind A' Design Award in Küpsetustarvete, lauanõude, jooginõude ja kööginõude disain Competition Category.

HõbeKööginõud· 2024

The Niall Konjakiklaas

by Tiago Russo and Katia Martins

Client: Milesians Craft Glassware Co.

Hõbeauhind A' Design Award Winner in Kööginõud Category

55,328
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #160015

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About The Niall Konjakiklaas

Niall on konjakiklaas, mis on loodud nuusutamise ja maitsmise parandamiseks. Klaas on valmistatud sooda-lubiklaasist, materjalist, mis absorbeerib vedelikust eralduvat etanooliauru. Klaasi põhjas asuv kooniline süvend, mida nimetatakse Vortex Pointiks, kontrollib valatud kange joogi voolu ja tekitab keerise. Klaasi kumer kuju kaardub sisse- ja väljapoole, aeglustades tõusvat auru ning andes klaasi seintele rohkem aega selle absorbeerimiseks. Paks põhi ja kõrgendatud jalg võimaldavad mugavat haaret ilma jooki soojendamata. Vähenenud etanooliaur laseb joojal tunda rohkem aroomi ja maitset.

The Recognition

About the Hõbeauhind A' Design Award

The Niall Konjakiklaas on Hõbeauhinna A' Design Award võitja, ülimalt prestiižikas tunnustus, mis antakse tipptasemel, suurepärastele ja muljetavaldavatele disainidele. Hõbevõitjad on ülimalt säravad ja erakordselt loovad tööd, mis illustreerivad oma disainerite silmapaistvat kogemust, annet ja teravmeelsust. The Niall Konjakiklaas peaks olema imeline, eeskujulik töö, mis on märkimisväärselt professionaalne ja sügavalt uuenduslik. See Hõbeauhinna A' Design Award võidudisain on väga tähelepanuväärne, imetletud leiutis, mis toob kasu ning nihutab kunsti, teaduse, disaini ja tehnoloogia piire. The Niall Konjakiklaas on laialdaselt kadestatud looming, mis äratab soove, tekitab positiivseid tundeid ning süütab hämmastust ja imestust.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The design of the glassware plays on gravity and geometry to enhance the absorption of the ethanol vapour into the soda-lime glass. At the base of the glass, a conical-shaped depression sits, waiting for the whiskey to be poured, controlling the flow. The bulb design complements and encourages this dissipation, by creating a chamber and more wall space for the ethanol vapour to be transferred to, whilst a thick base and stem allow a comfortable grip without heating the liquid.
Dimensions & Packaging: In order to enhance the shaping and drinking experience, soda-lime glass was chosen as the main material as its amorphous molecular structure allows it to absorb the ethanol, leaving less vapour for the nose. The molecules in soda-lime glass are in constant movement, meaning it more readily absorbs the ethanol vapour from the liquid. The profile of the glass itself was built around this capability, by creating curvatures that promote a liquid flow that facilitates ethanol absorption.
Tags: Cognac, luxury, design, craftsmanship, experience, immersion, glass, product, exclusive, drinking
Production Technology: With scent responsible for around 80% of the perception in taste and experience of flavour, the focus when designing the Niall was to remove the ethanol vapour that hinders this same experience. By triggering the nerves in the nose and creating a burning sensation, this vapour detracts from the true flavours and enjoyment of the cognac.

In removing and lessening the effect of the ethanol, the drinker can appreciate the full complexity of flavour and layers of taste generally masked by the vapour.
Design Challenge: The main challenge when developing The Niall glass was to design a product that can truly assist in removing the ethanol vapour and subsequent burn from the cognac drinking experience. From the initial inhalation of the aroma to the last sip, the flavours must be as intended; richly complex, intriguing, and vibrant. The ultimate goal is for the drinker to detect more of the phenolic compounds and flavours that would otherwise have been hindered by the overpowering ethanol in any other glass.
Research: For such a competitive and complete field such as glassware, an exhaustive and extensive research was crucial not just to understand the market itself, but the science that could improve the performance of the cognac. A combination of scientific studies and design techniques over the ages led to the definition of a product that could clearly dissipate the ethanol effect in the drink, leaving only the phenol compounds, guaiacol and eugenol, and the pure cognac notes to scent and taste.
Inspiration: The Niall was conceived to elevate the nosing and tasting experience to the heights demanded by the cognac's complex profiles. Eighteen months of scientific research were poured into the design, resulting in cognac glasses that have revolutionised the experience, by merging science and design into achieving a product that alters the ethanol effects by absorbing it through the glass properties, whilst following a specific shaping and pouring vortex that fully enhances nosing and flavours.
Project Duration: Developed for over 24 months, and tested and prototyped in several iterations to achieve the perfect shaping, design, ergonomics and performance, all the way to performance testing, The Niall glass was a revolutionising exercise over two years that led to a full product development that can fully revolutionise not only the cognac market, but the perception of such spirit to its core, where a finer detail can now be perceived tasting this type of drink.
Operation Flow: Once the liquid hits the bottom of the glass in its Vortex Point, a swirl is created, spinning the ethanol down to the base and out to the sides of the glass where the vapour can be absorbed into the walls. As the aroma continues its journey up the glass, the bulb arches in-and-out in a chicane-like curve, slowing the movement of the ethanol. In doing so it allows the glass time to absorb more of the vapour as it makes its way towards the nose, whilst an elevated stem promotes an optimal grip.
Patents: Worldwide patent and design registry attributed to Tiago Russo and Katia Martins for the science and design behind the glass.
Team Members: Tiago Russo
Katia Martins
Image Credits: The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.