Recreating the Whiskey Glasses from Inglourious Basterds (2025)
A client asked us to handcraft the iconic whiskey glasses from Inglourious Basterds. Two months later, we delivered movie-inspired glassware built to last a lifetime.
In May of 2025, a client came to us with one of the most unusual and exciting requests we’ve ever received: could we recreate the iconic whiskey glasses from Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds?
Over the course of two months, we took this project from initial inquiry to finished delivery — blending cinema history with the precision of glassblowing, and giving Ben a chance to push both his artistry and engineering instincts.
TL;DR
In 2025, we were commissioned to recreate the whiskey glasses from Inglourious Basterds.
The project took two months from start to finish.
It required research, film references, mold-making, and several prototypes.
Four finished glasses were produced: weighted, balanced, and faithful to the film’s design.
This case study highlights what makes custom glass projects so rewarding — storytelling in functional art.
From Screen to Studio
Movie props are typically designed for the camera, not for decades of real use. Our client wanted something different: authentic whiskey glasses, inspired by the tense basement bar scene in Inglourious Basterds, but made to last a lifetime.
To guide the process, the client sent us reference material: YouTube clips with timestamps showing the glasses in Michael Fassbender’s hand during the scene.
Reference material from the client: time-stamped film clips showing the glass shape and proportions.
From those stills and clips, several details stood out:
The glasses had a steeper curve at the base than our existing designs.
They carried a certain heft when lifted — a weighted feel that gave them presence.
The proportions were just right for a cinematic silhouette.
While the shape reminded us of our Dombey Glass, the differences meant we couldn’t simply reuse an existing design. This would require a custom solution.
The Craft Behind the Curve
At our New Orleans studio, free-blown glass is always part art, part engineering. Recreating a prop with such a specific profile meant starting with careful measurements and sketches, and then building a mold to guarantee consistency.
Every millimeter mattered. A slight adjustment to the curve changed how the glass looked on a table, how it caught light, and how it felt in the hand. Ben engineered and tested a new mold that could capture the steep base curve while still producing a functional, durable glass.
This is one of the early prototypes Ben Dombey created. In this picture, the prototype is compared to the printed screenshot from the movie.
This prototyping phase took several weeks, with glasses going back and forth between the furnace and client review. Feedback was precise: minimize visual striations, refine the slope, tighten the curve. Allyson explained that while some striations are inevitable in handblown glass, they are not flaws — they are the subtle fingerprints of fire and breath.
The back-and-forth highlighted the heart of custom work: clear communication, patience, and a willingness to refine until the vision came to life.
From Prototype to Perfection
By the halfway point of the two-month project, the mold was complete, and we could move from testing to production. With each pull from the furnace, Ben refined the balance of heat, gravity, and breath — ensuring every glass matched the steep curve while still feeling natural in the hand.
The R&D process was extensive, but worth it. In free-blown glass, no two pieces are ever identical — but by combining mold control with years of practiced rhythm, we created a set that was consistent without losing its soul.
The Final Result
At the end of the two-month journey, four finished whiskey glasses emerged. Weighted at the base, clear and polished, they struck the perfect balance between cinematic homage and functional art.
The finished set of custom whiskey glass replicas, inspired by the movie Inglourious Basterds, was handblown in our New Orleans studio.
When the client unboxed them, the response was immediate:
Actual email from customer upon receipt of his glasses. We were thrilled!
Why Custom Glass Matters
This project wasn’t just about a film replica. It was about honoring the power of objects to carry meaning. Whether inspired by cinema, family heritage, or personal milestones, every custom glass we make at Glassblower Ben begins with a story — and ends as something you can hold in your hand.
Projects like this also keep our studio sharp: they challenge Ben as a craftsman and process engineer, and they push us to innovate while staying true to the artistry of glassblowing.
FAQ
Can you make replica whiskey glasses from movies?
Yes. We create custom whiskey glasses inspired by films, stories, or personal ideas. Each piece is handblown at our New Orleans studio.
How are your custom whiskey glasses different from mass-produced ones?
Ours are free-blown in molten glass, not machine-pressed. Every curve, weight, and balance is intentional — a blend of engineering and artistry.
What does a custom project cost?
It depends on the complexity of the design. Many projects begin around $200 per glass, especially if custom molds or tooling are needed.
How long does a custom order take?
Most custom projects take 2–12 weeks. This particular movie-inspired set required two full months because of mold development and prototyping.
Want Your Own Custom Glass?
From movie-inspired designs to personalized monograms, we love custom projects — they challenge us, inspire us, and result in unforgettable pieces.
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The ROY G. BIV Glass: A One-of-a-Kind Hand-Blown Rainbow Glass
The Making of the ROY G. BIVB Glass
One glass. One spectrum. One chance to own it.
Ben didn't just make a rainbow glass—he engineered a liquid prism.
Every color in the ROYGBV spectrum was pulled from 2,100-degree molten glass, one deliberate rod at a time. Red. Orange. Yellow. Green. Blue. Violet. Six hues, each selected for perfect wavelength representation, are pulled into precision cane and permanently suspended in crystal clarity.
This wasn't a happy accident. This was months of obsessive planning, meeting split-second execution at furnace temperatures.
The Vision Behind the Fire
The inspiration struck during Pride Month—a celebration of full-spectrum identity and fearless self-expression. Ben envisioned something that had never existed: a perfect rainbow spiral, frozen mid-dance inside a hand-blown whiskey glass.
But turning that vision into reality? That required pushing glassblowing into uncharted territory.
Hand pulled rainbow cane in the studio
The Technical Breakthrough
Here's what makes this impossible: Ben pulled every single cane alone. Check it out on Instagram.
In traditional glassblowing, cane pulling requires a team—one person at the furnace, another stretching the molten glass across the studio floor. It's a two-person dance that has been a standard practice for centuries.
Ben did it solo. Over 200 yards of seven-color cane, pulled one strand at a time in his New Orleans studio. Each pull required him to work the furnace, manage the heat, and execute the stretch—all without an assistant.
This wasn't just stubbornness. This was a breakthrough in solo cane technique and color control. Working alone meant Ben could make split-second adjustments to temperature and tension that would be impossible to communicate to a partner. The result? Unprecedented color saturation and geometric precision.
One wrong move, one degree too hot, and months of preparation would crack into worthless shards.
A Collector's Holy Grail
The ROY G. BIVB glass exists as a population of one. It was released through a 24-hour Instagram auction, where serious glass enthusiasts battled in the comments for the only piece that will ever exist in this exact configuration.
While Ben continues to push boundaries with colored cane work, this precise rainbow spiral—with its specific proportions, color saturation, and mathematical precision—will never be replicated. It represents a singular moment where vision, technical mastery, and pure artistic courage converged at 2,100 degrees.
For collectors, it's more than functional art. It's a piece of glassblowing history.
Behind Every Great Glass is an Untold Story
The ROY G. BIVB took three months of preparation for one perfect pull. Most of our studio work has similar stories—technical challenges solved, creative boundaries pushed, and pieces that exist nowhere else on earth.
Want to be first in line for the next breakthrough?
✨ Join our email list for early access to rare drops and behind-the-scenes creation stories
📸 Follow @studioglassblowerben for daily studio magic and collector-only content
This is functional art for people who understand that the best pieces come from the intersection of obsession and fire.
Ready to own something that exists nowhere else? Your collection is waiting for its next conversation starter.
Base of the ROYGBV Glass Featuring the Rainbow cane roll up
Retiring the Pint, Collins, and Shot Glass — A Farewell and a New Beginning
Collage showing the retired Dombey Pint, Collins, and Shot Glass with retirement announcement July 2025
We’ve officially retired three of our most classic forms: the Pint, the Collins, and the Shot glass.
These shapes have served us well — sturdy, familiar, and beloved by many. But our studio continues to evolve. And these glasses no longer reflect how we work or where our creative energy is headed.
This isn’t just a production decision. It’s part of what it means to be an innovative studio — to stay curious, question what no longer fits, and make space for something new.
Why We’re Retiring These Glasses
For years, the Pint, Collins, and Shot glasses were part of our core lineup. But they’ve always been some of the most physically demanding forms to make — especially when repeated in large batches. After Ben’s injury, we had to seriously reconsider the toll certain shapes take on the body.
And as we paused to reassess, our creative direction began to shift as well.
We started asking deeper questions: What lights us up? What processes feel joyful, sustainable, and creatively alive?
These forms no longer matched the answers — not because they weren’t successful, but because we’ve outgrown them. As makers, that’s part of the process.
Making Space for Innovation
Letting go of these shapes gives us the freedom to experiment more deeply — with color, form, texture, and technique.
We’ve begun investing in new tools: a flame-working lathe, a microwave kiln, and an expanded palette of color rods. Our focus is shifting toward smaller batches, richer hues, and more sculptural expression. We’re exploring hybrid processes that blend hot shop techniques with new technologies — always with an eye toward precision, ergonomics, and play.
This isn’t about scaling up. It’s about evolving into a studio that reflects where we are now — in both body and spirit.
Still Want One of These Retired Glasses?
We know these designs have a following — maybe you’ve gifted them before, or have a set you love.
While they’re no longer part of our standard collection, we’re happy to discuss custom orders. If you’re looking for something specific, reach out to us here, and we’ll let you know what’s possible.
Looking Ahead
We’ll be sharing more over the coming months — from our experiments in flame-working to new color-driven designs and refined studio processes. This transition isn’t about what we’re leaving behind. It’s about continuing to innovate, to respond to what’s real, and to make with intention.
Stay Close to the Fire
To follow the evolution of our work — and be the first to know about upcoming workshops, studio updates, and behind-the-scenes process — follow us on Instagram at @StudioGlassblowerBen.
We’re building something new, one small batch at a time. Thanks for being here.
Why It Matters Where Your Glass Comes From
A glass isn’t just a tool. It’s part of the experience. And like the whiskey itself, how it’s made—and who makes it—affects everything.
Made in the USA means:
Stricter quality control
Fair labor practices
Lower carbon footprint (shorter shipping distances)
Support for artists and small businesses
When you choose a whiskey glass made in America, you're investing in something authentic.
Mass-Produced vs. Handcrafted: What’s the Difference?
You can feel the difference instantly. Mass-produced glasses are often:
Machine-molded
Thin and fragile
Soulless and forgettable
Our glasses—each hand-blown in New Orleans—are:
Weighted just right for balance
Flame-polished for a smooth, tactile rim
One-of-a-kind, with natural variations that prove the human hand
We don't hide the marks of craftsmanship. We celebrate them.
Built to Last (and Be Remembered)
Longevity is one of the most underrated parts of great design. Our glasses aren’t designed for one season or one cocktail trend. They’re made to last decades—and maybe even be passed down.
We’ve seen our glasses given as wedding gifts, corporate thank-you’s, even memorial tributes. That kind of emotional permanence? You don’t get that from a factory mold.
Made by People Who Know and Love the Craft
Glassblower Ben isn’t a brand that licensed a factory overseas. We’re a real studio. Ben Dombey built our torches, designed our stamps, and still hand-makes every piece that leaves our door.
We know our suppliers. We design our tools. We care about the fire, the form, and the finish.
When you buy a whiskey glass from us, you’re getting more than a product—you’re getting a piece of the studio, a thread in a story, a future heirloom.
How to Spot the Best Whiskey Glass Made in the USA
Here’s what to look for:
Clear mention of where it’s made (not just “designed in the USA”)
Signs of craftsmanship: variation, texture, detail
Small-batch production or artist ownership
Materials sourced with intention
Brand transparency: Who made it? How?
Final Pour
In a world full of shortcuts, buying American-made glassware is a choice to slow down. To support quality over quantity. To invest in something lasting.
If you’re looking for the best whiskey glass made in the USA, we invite you to explore our work. Our glasses aren’t just beautiful—they’re built for your best bottle, your most meaningful toast, and every story that follows.
Discover handcrafted, American-made whiskey glasses