The Finn Cupam Vitreum by Tiago Russo and Katia Martins

The Finn Cupam Vitreum by Tiago Russo and Katia Martins is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum in Instrumenta Culinae Competition Category.

ArgentumInstrumenta Culinae· 2023

The Finn Cupam Vitreum

by Tiago Russo and Katia Martins

Client: The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.

Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum Winner in Instrumenta Culinae Category

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The Design

About The Finn Cupam Vitreum

Finnus designatus est ut ultimum gustans vitrum ad cupam aficionado, ubi omne elementum diligenter conceptum est, ut bibentem gustare et nasum cupam permitteret. Caulis potator permittit cupam elevare, tosti et bene noscendi procedere, dum densior densitas vitrei efficit, ambitus nullam vim habet in temperatura cupae. Vortex Cuspis, bulbus et chicanus conveniunt ut vaporem ethanoli tollant, ut bibens omnem lauacrum saporis et odoris, quae per decennia temporis, artis et sollertiae effectae sunt, deprehendere possit.

The Recognition

About the Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum

The Finn Cupam Vitreum victor est Praemii A' Design Award Argenteum, honoris eximie amplissimi formis summi generis, pulchris et conspicuis dati. Victores Argenti opera valde splendida et creandi ingenio praedita sunt, quae praestantem peritiam, talentum et acumen auctorum suorum ostendunt. Exspectatur The Finn Cupam Vitreum opus mirabile, exemplare, valde professionale et penitus novum fore. Haec forma Argento victa inventum notabile et admiratum est, quod ad fines artis, scientiae, formandi rationis et technologiae promovendos confert. The Finn Cupam Vitreum creatio est, quam multi invident, quae cupiditates excitat, sensus bonos affert et admirationem miraculumque movet.

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 allows 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: Whiskey, luxury, design, craftsmanship, experience, immersion, glass, product, exclusive, drinking
Production Technology: With smell responsible for around 80% of taste and the experience of flavour, the focus when designing the glassware was to remove the ethanol vapour that hinders this experience. By triggering the nerves in the nose and creating a burning sensation, this vapour detracts from the true flavours and enjoyment of the whiskey.

In removing and lessening the effect of the ethanol, the whiskey 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 Finn glass was to design a product that can truly assist in removing the ethanol vapour and subsequent burn from the whiskey 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 whiskey. 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 whiskey notes to scent and taste.
Inspiration: The Finn was conceived to elevate nosing and tasting experience to the heights demanded by the whiskey’s complex flavour profiles. Eighteen months of scientific research were poured into the design, resulting in a stemmed glass 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 that fully enhances nosing and flavours.
Project Duration: Developed for over 18 months, and tested and prototyped in several iterations to achieve the perfect shaping, design, ergonomics and performance, all the way to performance testing and achieving the grounds for its innovative patent, The Finn glass and subsequent range was a revolutionising exercise over two years that led to a full product development that can fully revolutionise not only the whiskey / whisky markets, but the perception of such spirit to its core.
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.