Decanters were first used as basic drinking and storage pots. With time they further developed into ornamental and functional dishes. At first, the decanter was used to serve wine. Now whiskey, brandy and even some other liquors have also found use of a decanter and enhanced the culture of drinking making it more elegant. This article explores the evolution of the decanters, the reasons why these dishes were devised in the first place, their shapes and forms in the past and which is more important, today. Such issues are relevant both in the sphere of a hospitality business and the private sector.
The History of Decanters: From Antiquity to Modern Times
It is no surprise that decanters are pieces that have a very deep history. Glass forms were dated back on the empire Romans. They utilized glass containers for their wine, an evolution borrowed from older cultures such as the Greeks and Egyptians. However, when the Roman Empire collapsed, glass usage also went into decline and thus by heritage was lost. For quite a long time wine can be found being served and stored in earthware or metallic containers until the glassblowing art was reactivated by the Venetian glassmakers during the 15th century.
Geometric forms of the container with sloping walls beside the simple wooden head appeared in the 16th century. These more elaborate forms of decanters came along with the changing social perception regarding aestheticism and luxury during renaissance. At banquets, these were ostentatiously included by the rich with exquisitely crafted ones denoting rank. Three hundred years later and the decanter had taken on a more recognizable design, a short round belly with an elongated neck, thin for better circulation of air into the wine contents. This was a major turning point in as far as the performance and the appearance of the decanters are concerned.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, crystal decanters came to the forefront of society as it helped to scatter light and beautifies the content with which it is used. The unique shapes of the crystal, which were often beautifully decorated with intricate patterns, made these objects of decor even more attractive. Flash forward in time and decanters ceased to be associated with wine only. With the increasing popularity of whiskeys, brandy and other liquor, the decanters too became common for the serving of those drinks.
Why Use a Decanter?
The very essence of decanters, especially those that are specifically designed for wines, is to improve the flavor and the whole sipping experience. This purpose of decanters is achieved in two main ways, how works in contact with air (patioed), and removing the sediments.
Aeration: Aeration is done by decanting especially red wines allowing the wines thus prepared to breathe. This brings out flavors that are sometimes locked in the yeast cells and also softens the tannins and releases aromas that would have been stuck in the lengthy bottle. Preservation of speed and comfort enhances sensorial pleasures making the moment in which the wine is consumed more pleasant. It is normally the case that even young wines with decent tannins require more time to breathe or be around oxygen. Still, it is also interesting to observe that even older wines continue changing, sometimes for several hours, and reveal even richer profiles after a certain time of being decanted.
Sediment Removal: Most full-bodied reds and a few other fortified wines like Port develop sediment with age. Sediment is not necessarily dangerous but it can add a gritty sensation to a glass of poured liquid. This overarching approach maps decanters for filtration of sediments particles making any decent pour clear and tidy.
Apart from wine, whisky and other spirits can also be decanted for show. Even though these beverages do not need to be breathed in like wine, performing this action of pouring can enhance the whole drinking ritual by providing a decorative container. A decanter can be decorated to suit the bar or the dining table – or serve table or bar design in any way – and there are more than a few connoisseurs who believe a decanter makes an act of serving and consuming one’s favourite spirit just that more special.
Decanter Designs: Art Meets Function
The shape of a decanter might be someone’s best guess, even the shape of an object is only concerned with its wide flat bottom, thin neck, and its cover. There is a purpose for all the features:
- Wide base: This increases the surface area of the liquid, which allows for a greater degree of aeration as it allows for more contact with air.
- Narrow neck: This helps in conserving the wine for a longer time after aeration, decreasing the chances of wrapping the wine to air excessively after the primary decant.
- Stopper: In spirits, the importance of the stopper is that, it retains the volatile constituents from drying out while in wine, the stopper is only used when wine is to remain untouched for a while after pouring.
The materials used to make decanters, glass and lead free glass are some of the most common. Crystal, especially in cut or etched forms, adds a delightful sparkle to the light and provides decoration to the table making it a suitable accessory in gathering and occasion. It has become more common over the past several years because it is free from lead, and this range of highly transparency and shininess will not disappoint.
Today, one can find almost any shape of a decanter one can imagine, as it was created to hold a specific drink. Most traditional shapes are still recognized, e.g. the common wide bottom decanter with a long neck, but modern day designers are quite innovative, trying to create more interesting forms and coloring. All decanters come with different designs such as wine and whisky decanters. Whiskey and other spirit decanters are more robust with thicker walls and sturdier bases implying the strength of the drink.
Decanters in Contemporary Culture
Nowadays, the define of a decanter shifts as it goes beyond simply being a tool for the aeration of wine or presentation of liquor but it has become a means of reflecting one’s class. Within the fine dining sector, the act of decanting wine is often viewed as a manner of drama, to wow the customers. Often factors like a passionate describe of the wine or performing the act of decanting once a high quality bottle is lying on the table, make one feel the attractiveness of the dish.
Apart from this usual purpose, decanters are also beautiful items adorning interiors and are common decorating ideas for home bars or buffets. Whether through real accessories or through design graphics such as patterns, shelves carrying books tend to be prominent in the high designs. A beautifully designed whisky decanter has the same effect with a beautiful room, simple to figure out, because the furnishings can be quite expensive but simply charming, adding a warm touch to the room.
Also, its giving connotes practicality, more so on occasions like weddings, anniversaries and promotions. There is something that makes one want to preserve a decorative, functional piece, such as a unique patterned glass with a reflective decanter, or just a simple story, a person’s name or a special day.
Decanters for Different Liquors: A Guide
Decanters are usually linked to wine and this is understandable. However, other liquors do well when decanted, and it is a practice that one must embrace to get more quality from a spirit. Here is a brief description of the best types of decanters depending on the liquor:
- Wine: It is good to have decanters with wide bases when it comes to red wines as this will allow for ample decanting. When preserving older wines a decanter with a gentle spout will work well to minimize sediment disturbance.
- Whiskey: This includes a decanter that is sealed with a secure stopper to minimize evaporation of the liquid inside it. Any crystal whiskey decanter that is heavy serves just like fashion to a collection of whiskey.
- Brandy and Cognac: These Belle Amie spirits get served in a fancy crystal decanter which enhances the hue of the cognac. Where the arm feels more powerful, the design of the decanter should allow for a shake free pour.
- Vodka and Gin: These are less by taste enhancing the drink in this case the purpose of the decanter is mainly decorative which is especially useful on the occasions like parties or functions.
Conclusion
Decanters are crucial players in the worlds of both art and science in reference to the niche of fine drinks. From enhancing the taste of an exquisite wine to displaying the vintage beauty of an aged whiskey, or even just as an elegant accessory, decanters are always useful. The objects will make the perfect deeper discussion as more than mere containers as what their history and design suggests and the current relevance. In moderator regarding the enjoyment of wine and spirits incorporating decanters the purpose has barely changed over the years which goes to show why design and craft never goes out of fashion.
Yet despite advances in decanter designs, their function in increasing the pleasure derived from wines and spirits shows no sign of waning. And that is, once again, just as well, for decanters are craftsmen’s and tradition’s revenge. Novice or an expert on liquor, a decanter is never just an accessory, through its presence it promotes better drinking on different levels expeditably and not so overtly.
Decanters: The Art and Science of Enhancing Liquor