OT - Water in Your Whiskey, Yes or No

Eoin

I'm on the Yes side for Scotch over 40% ABV, especially the flavourful stuff like Islay malts. A drop of soda or sparkling mineral water gives a different flavour.

ColtsFan

No water, maybe on the rocks depending on how "hot" it is, but mostly neat

GrateEggspectations

Yes, generally a small splash. 

When in doubt, simply turn to the inimitable Richard Paterson for guidance......

https://youtu.be/YVG1U-faqHY

bgebrent

Ice only or neat.

JRWhitee

I enjoy the Ice Balls or neat for Bourbon and Crown. A good Scotch i prefer neat.

pgprescott

Yeah I usually use 2-4 clean cubes. I like the temperature and the small amount opens up the notes a bit for my palate. 

nolaegghead

I jus put it in me IV and fix that up to a vein.

Eoin

nolaegghead said:

I jus put it in me IV and fix that up to a vein.

Do you get the peaty smoky Islay goodness if you mainline?

bigalsworth

Yes, but the water content drops exponentially per ounce of alcohol drank

Foghorn

Eoin said:

nolaegghead said:

I jus put it in me IV and fix that up to a vein.

Do you get the peaty smoky Islay goodness if you mainline?

Yes.  But not until he farts.

InfectedDAS

No water, unless is a cheap one or you're on a wedding which they serve it with sparkling water.

The_Stache

Scotch with a splash of room temp water...

Eoin

InfectedDAS said:

No water, unless is a cheap one or you're on a wedding which they serve it with sparkling water.

I went to a Sikh wedding in Shefield about 12 years ago, there was a bottle of scotch on every table. Good do.

JustineCaseyFeldown

i add one rock usually, with a pretty tall pour. starts out fairly neat, then as the cube melts it opens up a bit.

cask strength Laphroaig is supposed to be (according to them) diluted a bit.  but i was drinking it straight for a while.  bottle lasts longer if you add the water.  like scotch concentrate!

Eoin

JustineCaseyFeldown said:

i add one rock usually, with a pretty tall pour. starts out fairly neat, then as the cube melts it opens up a bit.

cask strength Laphroaig is supposed to be (according to them) diluted a bit.  but i was drinking it straight for a while.  bottle lasts longer if you add the water.  like scotch concentrate!

'Cask Strength' is used by some as a means of branding a higher ABV than standard (UK standard is 40 ABV). It's usually tweaked to give a consistent ABV, so some dilution. Natural cask strength is as it comes from the barrel and is variable. My current bottle of Caol Ila is 61.6% and at 60+% you need some dilution.

I like Laphroig, the Quarter Cask is nice if you get it over your side.

InfectedDAS

@Eoin weddings on Mexico, well the celebration that is usually done in a saloon includes waitress and several beverages, whiskey included and they serve it with sparkling water. If you tip the waitress she can fix you up...but wedding parties are usually get wasted and dance without losing your cache, the magic of suits.

JustineCaseyFeldown

i was drinking quarter cask last night, but couldn't upload a pic to the "what are you drinking" thread.

got it from santa

Eoin

InfectedDAS said:

@Eoin weddings on Mexico, well the celebration that is usually done in a saloon includes waitress and several beverages, whiskey included and they serve it with sparkling water. If you tip the waitress she can fix you up...but wedding parties are usually get wasted and dance without losing your cache, the magic of suits.

My daughter has a Mexican friend she met in China. When she came over last summer she brought me over some proper Mezcales. Banging hangover material.

InfectedDAS

@EoinI love mezcal, my now favorite drink. You should taste it with worm or cricket salt and orange.

If you like mezcal you should try Bacanora.... The best Bacanora is made in the backyard of an elder and he must give it to you as gift, usually in an unlabeled bottle.

Or get Bacanora in store, every Bacanora is craft and hand made.

Eoin

InfectedDAS said:

@EoinI love mezcal, my now favorite drink. You should taste it with worm or cricket salt and orange.

If you like mezcal you should try Bacanora.... The best Bacanora is made in the backyard of an elder and he must give it to you as gift, usually in an unlabeled bottle.

Or get Bacanora in store, every Bacanora is craft and hand made.

This stuff is Machincuepa, still got one unopened.

nolaegghead

When I'm not slumming it with coke zero and evans, I drink it neat or with a little water.  Never ice, I rarely like ice in any drink.

NPHuskerFL

No

InfectedDAS

@Eoin good stuff you got there.

Here's a pic of a Bacanora bottle, not the best one but tasty:

nolaegghead

This thread has reminded me I'm almost out of bourbon.  BRB

Skiddymarker

 No ice, splash of water.

lousubcap

No opinion with non-bourbons as it has been at least three decades since I wandered off the trail.
With bourbon (that whiskey that does provide the barrels for scotch and tabasco), I will go with one or two rocks unless I'm way up the perceived food-chain then I will go neat.  The neat experience is generally only once or twice a year-and not tonight.

gmac

Ice yes at time but no water. But I don't drink much scotch anymore. Especially beyond 40%

Bentgrass

No-  ice on occasion

etherdome

Depends on my mood. Never with water if room temp. Sometimes a splash if on ice. Sometimes more . Also depends on the spirit. 

JRWhitee

On my second Whistle pig, I did use an ice ball.

CTMike

I go with one large ice cube with a tall pour.