They say you can’t take it with you. But sometimes you can!
Of course that old saying refers to our material possessions when we die, and it’s true. But in regard to a far less cosmic matter, it’s also true you can’t always easily take your whiskey with you in various circumstances—mountain hikes, outdoor entertainment events, going to see a movie, traveling on short trips, etcetera.
For whiskey fans in these situations, drinking their favorite dram out of a paper cup or repurposed water bottle just isn’t fun. Flasks can be enjoyable. But drinking directly from them carries a certain connotation, while also not allowing one to fully enjoy the whiskey for its aroma. Aged & Ore has neatly addressed all this with their Neat Traveler.
This bundle combines two products they already offered—their 3oz Flight Bottle and their modestly proportioned Neat Glass—with a specially designed EVA travel case.
The exterior of the case looks very unassuming, like any number of small travel-oriented containers. Practical, simple, attractive without commanding attention. It’s compact enough to easily toss into a backpack, shoulder bag or roomy day purse. And the low-profile design is perfect for sneaking past gatekeepers who might not want you to enjoy your spirits where you would like. It could easily be taken for a compact camera case or some kind of hiking-related carrier. Its carry loop hooks comfortably around a single finger, or it could be clasped to a backpack, messenger bag, or suitcase and look right at home.
EVA stands for ethylene-vinyl acetate, a type of foam that is waterproof, shockproof, heat and chemical resistant, and easily molded into any variety of shapes. EVA containers are widely used for transporting breakable objects due to the material’s exceptional ability to absorb rough handling.
The dimensions of Aged & Ore’s case and its soft interior lining hold the glass snugly. The mouth of the glass is proportioned to allow the Flight Bottle to slip right in. The Flight Bottle’s own silicone sleeve prevents its glass from clanking against the Neat Glass, eliminating risk of either noise or breakage. And when the padded lid is zipped shut, the fitted interior holds both objects firmly in place.
The Flight Bottle offers measurements in half-ounce increments from 0.5 to 2.0, though filled to its top it can hold 3 ounces total, the maximum allowed by TSA in carryon bags when flying. The protective silicone sleeve has an opening on either side, allowing light to reveal the contents. And with a washable glass marker one can label the bottle to remember what’s in it. (Though not included here, a white glass marker does come with Aged & Ore’s Bottle Flight set, featuring four Flight Bottles in a rectangular carrying case—another handy travel item for whiskey fans who want to pack a full flight with them!)
The Neat Glass itself is excellent. It’s made from lead-free crystal and feels solid in the hand, not at all thin or fragile, despite its petite dimensions. The base is thick enough to feel substantial and give the glass weight—always a good feature on glasses meant for spirituous liquors with their penchant for de-coordinating one’s fingers! 😉 The widest point of the gracefully angular bowl conveniently measures a standard 1.5oz pour. The bowl’s base, wide point, and sloping sides together make the glass easy to grip securely and with minimal effort. And the flared rim around the narrow mouth accommodates dribble-free sipping, while also allowing a good nosing of the whiskey’s aromas.
I poured equal amounts of Longmorn 10 Year Single Malt into the Neat Glass and a traditional Glencairn, to compare their impacts on aroma and taste.
Nosing both glasses, the Glencairn presented the Longmorn’s fragrant aromas more forwardly and brightly. The Neat Glass offered the same notes, only they were less forthcoming and one notch darker. I could certainly get a good nose on the Longmorn in the Neat Glass, and pick out the aromas. It’s just less forceful.
For the taste, I sipped from the Neat Glass first, given its more relaxed nose. This was my first sip of the day, so, before trying to hone in on differences, I took my second from the Glencairn fairly straightaway, to better even the playing field. I will say that without my attention focused on discerning differences, at this stage I simply enjoyed the whisky. That right there could be the end of the test. Both glasses work!
But for science (well, pseudo-science) after a few minutes I then leaned in to consciously compare them. That extra brightness offered by the Glencairn on the nose translated onto the palate, making the whisky taste just a bit more vivid as compared to in the Neat Glass. But that difference is so subtle, and considering the Neat Glass is intended to accommodate sipping when traveling or doing other things, I would say it’s a negligible distinction. When I’m enjoying my whisky while taking in the view of a mountain lake, or music at an outdoor concert, or some IMAX action movie, the whisky is going to taste perfectly great in the Neat Glass—just as it does right now without those settings vying for my attention.
Perhaps the truer test, I took my Neat Traveler bundle with me to an outdoor production of Hamlet. For this famously wild play I selected a 2001 bottle of Wild Turkey 101, something with kick, humor, and a dependable flavor profile.
It worked. I carried the EVA case there by its loop, dangling from my index finger, and with barely a crook it hangs securely in place, virtually no effort required. Found a seat in the shade of a tree, unzipped the case and uncapped the Flight Bottle, poured a shot into the glass, took a sip, perfect. I even managed to nurse it past intermission!
Now I just need to find excuses to do more things that might require me to pack my handy new Neat Traveler set.
Cheers!
The Right Spirit 