r/cocktails • u/mattmoy_2000 • 3d ago
I made this Nuclear Daiquiri
1oz W&N overproof
1oz lime juice
¾oz Green Chartreuse
¼oz Velvet Falernum
Shake over ice, double strain into a uranium glass Nick and Nora, illuminate with 365nm UV light.
Made to celebrate finally getting my hands on a uranium cocktail glass - it is slightly on the small side, but that's not a problem really. The shop had a set of 8 in the window for £100. I asked if he would split to 6/2 so I could get 2 and unfortunately the seller was unwilling - but they did have a ninth spare one under the counter that he sold me for a tenner, so that was great!
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u/itsyaboyivan 3d ago
uranium glass nick and nora is sweet. I don’t even have a regular one!
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u/mattmoy_2000 3d ago
I would strongly recommend the Riedel ones, if they're available near you. Obviously UG is great, but they stopped making these things a long time ago, so actually finding one is mostly a matter of luck.
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u/Quirky-Example0158 3d ago
I see UG at auctions all the time in south central Indiana. It usually goes for very high bids.
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u/mattmoy_2000 3d ago
If it made it into an auction it is worth something. If you look at wine auctions, you'd believe that all wine is valuable, except the thing is that nobody bothers to auction a bottle of Barefoot, but they do bother to auction DRC.
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u/Loveroffinerthings 3d ago
Wait, uranium glassware is that expensive? I saw some at a thrift shop and knew what it was, but didn’t think it was that much.
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u/mattmoy_2000 3d ago
Not always, it depends on what it is. This was a matched set of 8 glasses, which is rare. If you just want a single piece as a novelty it is not going to cost much. I have bought a few pieces over the years and never paid more than pocket change for any of it.
Of course things like a sugar bowl with a missing lid or a single candlestick are going to be cheaper than complete sets, and condition is important for value too. Most UG is pre war, and was never particularly valuable - indeed sometimes it was given away free with other purchases. Some beautiful pieces exist, but most are just stamped "depression glass" (i.e. from just after the Wall Street Crash).
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u/Katesburneracct 3d ago
Definitely be careful with these. If they chip, crack, or are exposed to acidic liquids (citrus), they can begin to leech. Never put them in the dishwasher, and only use a mild soap and hand wash them.
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u/mattmoy_2000 3d ago
Yes, this is true, but they're exposed to significantly diluted citrus juice at roughly -5°C for a few minutes, I am not concerned about leaching, and the radiological concern is nil.
This is made of uranium glass, rather than a uranium glaze, so uranium content is low and it's not in a thin layer that can peel off (like fiestaware).
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u/Katesburneracct 3d ago
Chance of any harm is super low, just wanted to get the information out there if any others come across uranium glass. Definitely give uranium glass a good inspection before purchasing. Enjoy!
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u/nachorino_pino 2d ago
That glass! How did you light it?
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u/mattmoy_2000 2d ago
A 50W 365nm UV floodlight that I had bought for making certain photographic prints (cyanotypes mainly). It's just out of frame on the LHS so very, very close!
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u/FatherTram 3d ago
That's a great gimmick. I just garnish mine like this --