The Niall Iko Cognac by Tiago Russo and Katia Martins

The Niall Iko Cognac by Tiago Russo and Katia Martins is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha in Nhazi Ngwá Ịme Achịcha, Ngwá Tebụl, Ngwá Ịṅụ Ihe na Ngwá Esi Nri Competition Category.

ỌlaọchaNgwá Kichin· 2024

The Niall Iko Cognac

by Tiago Russo and Katia Martins

Client: Milesians Craft Glassware Co.

Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha Winner in Ngwá Kichin Category

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The Design

About The Niall Iko Cognac

Niall bụ iko cognac e mere iji meziwanye ịnụ isi na ịdetu ụtọ. E ji soda-lime glass mee iko a, ihe na-amịkọrọ alụlụ ethanol site na mmanya ahụ. Olulu yiri ọdụdụ nke dị n'ala iko ahụ, nke a kpọrọ Vortex Point, na-achịkwa otú mmanya a wụnyere si asọ ma na-eme ka ọ gbaa gburugburu. Akụkụ ahụ yiri afọ na-ekugharị n'ime na n'èzí iji belata ọsọ alụlụ na-arịgo elu, na-enye mgbidi iko ahụ oge karịa iji mịkọrọ ya. Ala iko dị arọ na ogwe e buliri elu na-eme ka e jide ya nke ọma n'ekweghị ka aka kpoo mmanya ahụ ọkụ. Mbelata alụlụ ethanol na-eme ka onye na-aṅụ ya nwee ike ịnụ isi na ụtọ ya nke ọma karịa.

The Recognition

About the Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha

The Niall Iko Cognac meriri A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha, nnabata dị oke ugwu e nyere design ndị dị n'ọkwa kachasị elu, mara mma ma na-eju anya. Ndị meriri na Ọlaọcha bụ ọrụ na-egbu maramara nke ukwuu ma dị oke nzụlite nke na-egosi ọmarịcha ihe ọmụma, talent na nghọta nke ndị designer ha. A na-atụ anya na The Niall Iko Cognac ga-abụ ọrụ dị ịtụnanya, ihe nlereanya, nke dị oke ọrụ ma dị omimi n'ihe ọhụrụ. Design a meriri A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha bụ ihe e mepụtara dị oke ịrịba ama, nke a na-eto nke na-erite uru ma na-ebuga oke nka, sayensị, design na teknụzụ n'ihu. The Niall Iko Cognac bụ ihe e kere eke ọtụtụ ndị na-ekwo ekworo ya nke na-akpali ọchịchọ, na-eweta mmetụta ọma ma na-akpali ịtụnanya.

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.