Zalto Spittoon 250 Grey

A hand-blown spittoon in grey smoked glass, in the larger size intended for a tasting table.

Zalto Glas is a family glassworks in Austria's Kremstal, where every piece is mouth-blown by hand and made without lead, the bowls angled to 24, 48 and 72 degrees after the tilt of the earth. The spittoon exists because Zalto objected to the stilbruch, the clash of style, between elegant glassware and the unsightly bucket that usually sits beside it. This is the table size, holding around 2,500 millilitres and made for a group working through a flight; the smaller model, at roughly 500 millilitres, is for the lone taster. It is blown by hand in the same workshop as the stems and finished in smoked glass, and the grey is quiet enough to sit on a bench without drawing attention while still looking like part of the set. An extravagance, admittedly, but one that earns its place at a serious tasting.

Use it for tastings at the table or behind a bar, and it makes a well-judged gift for a serious taster. Hand-wash in warm water without detergent and dry with a lint-free cloth.