How do you drink whisky?

I have some soapstone rocks, I can chill and use - I hardly ever do, just like you wouldn't chill a fine wine, you really shouldn't chill a good whisky. But if someone else would like it chilled, I have no problem with that, I do however oppose using ice, just simply because it melts and dilutes your dram and at 60% that's fine, at 40% however it's not really whisky anymore then.

But whatever floats your boat.

In my opinion, lots of subtlety dissappears when whisky is too chilled. I prefer warming the whisky in my hands.. I still need to try adding a few drops of water though...

I only take ice in the Macallan cask strength. For one, it is non-chill filtered, and so the ice creates the most beautiful visions in the glass. Secondly, the cask strength whisky could use some cutting. Thirdly, as the whisky drops in temperature, it creates the most incredible caramel flavors in the mouth. Other than this one whisky, I drink my scotch neat. However, I put ice in bourbon...

Never add ice to scotch. Maybe add a couple of drops of water to test out new flavours in a new dram. With Bourbon I tend on occasion to add a cube. Irish whiskeys I also put a cube or two in SOMETIMES. Not Red Breast or Connemara or Tyrconnell... only the lower level blends. But 90% of the time with any whiskey I don't add nothin'.

While I find that there are a few whiskies which open up with a drop or two of water (mainly a very few bourbons), my general rule is: "If it is good enough to drink, then it is good enough to drink neat."

I always try a new whisky neat with no ice, and depending on my opinion of it i will try it with a cube or two of ice to maybe bring something out of the whisky afterwards.

I used to use ice at first, but as time has gone on and I've learned more I have moved away from it.
Depending on the whisky I may add a drop or two of water, but that's about it.

I did the same as Mfish85. Started off drinking scotch with a lot of ice (made it more palatable) Now I drink it neat 95% of the time , the other 5% I add a bit of water and I always use a Glencairn glass.

@MFish85 & @LeBudfrumHull - I'm with both of you on this. When I first started drinking whisky I would have it with 1 or 2 ice cubes. As time has passed and my tastes have grown I rarely use ice. I'll put a few drops of water in a glass for some testing with a new bottle but that is usually it.

Consider Whiskey Stones if you want a cooler drink but without the dilution ice brings. I got a gift certificate from good friends for Christmas for these 'soapstone' marvels. Gonna give it a try early in the new year. Anyone else have thoughts on these here wiskey stones?

Cheers,

Wireless

ps. Please forgive. That should be 'whisky' not 'whiskey' shudder

@WirelessWillie I received some of these whisky rocks from my girlfriend for an anniversary gift. They don't necessarily chill like an ice cube would but they do bring down the temperature of the drink if it happens to be to warm but doesn't dilute anything. I really enjoy them as I prefer a slightly cooler drink but don't want the dilution from ice. But I've also read some pretty negative reviews about them.

I also have a set of whisky stones but have never used them. I have to give them a try, I'll just have to remember not to swirl the glass to hard.

Definitely no Ice, and rarely do I even add water. But then again it usually takes me over an hour to finish a dram, and often I drink slower the stronger it is.

@jean-luc It must be, NO ICE and NO WATER. Sorry, I didn't mean to YELL! Seriously, I have my whisky neat. To add water or ice is an abomination. It's adding water to the "the water of life"; which, this addtion in liquid or solid form is not necessary. Also, the cold tends to mess with my taste buds and the water just waters it down. If it needs to be watered down pick another whisky less in ABV. That's my opinion plus a dime is still only a dime. My wife owned her own hotel and had a bar, in another life. She offered a choice of many single malts. So, she is my bar expert in some cases and my life all the time. It never fails, when we are enjoying an adult single malt beverage on the patio, this subject comes up and we end up agreeing to disagree. To each his own.

If my comments came across as rude, crude or socially unexceptable, then, I apologize.

@jean-luc Oh yeah I must have my whisky in an "Old Fashioned Fluted glass". It's easier to judge how much I've drank to keep from going over the perscribed amount. Thanks.

@WPT "If it needs to be watered down pick another whisky less in ABV" is a little short-sighted. Almost all Port Charlotte or Octomore is 60% or more. Simply leave it on the shelves then? I like my whisky at cask strength as well, but it won't display its full complexity and all of its flavours at such a high alcohol volume, so watering it down can certainly be benificial in some cases.

Generally speaking ANY whisky will change when you add a little water because different molecules shine through at a different strength and temperature. It would be a shame not to try that, because you might discover another (sometimes better) side of your dram.

I use a copita, which is a slender long-stemmed tulip-shaped bit of stemware. It's the glass most often seen in the hands and under the noses of pro blenders in whisky mag photos. I believe also that Jim Murray demands them at his tastings.

A GlenCairn blender's glass may offer a better overall whisk(e)y experience, because the copita is a bit challenging to take a sip from. You can tilt it to 90 degrees and beyond unless you pour a really sizable dram. Not so with the GlenCairn--it's much easier to just take a sip.

But I'm all about the nose--and no stemware I've found can compete with the copita for offering a detailed nose. It's like the difference in really good speakers and mediocre ones; the difference is subtle but once you try them side-by-side, it's night-and-day. The ability to tilt the glass without spilling allows for nosing from different angles and perspectives, often reveaing amazing differences. The stem on the copita keeps my hand away from things; if you've just washed your hands they tend to smell like soap which taints the nose, and if you haven't...well...

I avoid ice, because it trashes the nose--far less evaporation results in less aromatics. But I'll grant that cooling the whisk(e)y dramatically alters the body or mouth-feel in an often positive way. It gets all thick and rich. And as for water, it just varies; mouth-feel is usually better neat, but WhiskyNotes is dead on that adding water often exposes elements of the nose and palate not otherwise discernable. I always try it both ways, and write my notes both neat and dilute.

I never heard of whisky stones; what a cool idea.

@WhiskyNotes and @Charlie Davis Thank you for the information. It will be useful in learning more about this pleasure. I've got alot to learn over time and been too short-sided/close minded. I want to apologize to You and Charlie Davis and anyone else who had the misfortune of reading my previous comments I made on "How do you drink whisky". My comments were made with sarcastic remarks within and best left out. I'll do better and keep my sarcastic comments to myself.

@WPT Dude--you can drink your whisky however you like, and you opinion is just as valid as mine. I'm a whisky geek, that's all. : )

Slainte!

Ch

I like mine neat. I only add a small amount of water if I am doing a review.

@rwbenjey - I perfer neat; however, I finally agree water & ice are useful in many ways. That determination came about with alot of help. And the best useful way is when ya just want it that way so have it your way. "Life is good" when I have the opportunity to enjoy a single malt scotch whisky, a fine cognac, a good wine or an ice cold vodka with my wife. And that's the way I like to drink my whisky an such. Have a better than good day.

Neat for all whisky, very few drops of water for barrel proof or cask strength. Never any ice cubes!

Like a Boss.

@Wodha - Excellent comment. Brevity is the soul wit.

@Wodha LOL Wodha, you've deserved my lifetime admiration with your reply! :)

@Jean-Luc I'm with you, I like a tulip or glencairn glass & sometimes a little water, when it's young & CS then I do reckon my taste buds get a little anesthetised so I may carefully add a little more water if, tasting, nosing & making notes but only after tasting neat.

Never Ice. (well I don't live anywhere too hot!!)

Gentlemen & Gentleladies, I'm not being facetious here but what measurement does "a drop or two" relate to? Would it be 1-drop = 1-teaspoon or =1/2-teaspoon or a pinch/dash or what? I know it isn't an exact science or is it? Or is it all add to taste? It's just that an ice cube is measurable, some what. Please don't throw me into "the member to avoid group " or "the garbage/rubbish heap" Ha. I ask stupid questions sometimes. I usually realize this much after the fact.

Thanks you for your patience and your reponses.

Neat. Always. And I use a small snifter glass.

I only add two things to my whisky: water or more whisky! And I only use Glencairn glasses.