what is a snifter

A snifter is a type of stemware, which is a short-stemmed glass whose vessel has a wide bottom and a relatively narrow top. It is mostly used to serve aged brown liquors such as bourbon, brandy, and whisky. The large surface area of the contained liquid helps evaporate it, the narrow top traps the aroma inside the glass, while the rounded bottom allows the glass to be cupped in the hand, thus warming the liquor. Most snifters will hold 180–240 ml (6–8 US fl oz), but are almost always filled to only a small part of their capacity. A variant is called a pipe glass or pipe snifter, used for port and brandy. The attributes that have made the snifter a popular glass for brandy have also made it a preferred glass for some styles of beer, mainly those that feature. In informal usage, a snifter can also refer to a very small drink of liquor.