Reply With QuoteI was told by a whisky expert .you only added water to the Cask Strength whisky i.e. 46% and above
Another example of science proving evidence to back up what most of us already know from experience...
https://www.theguardian.com/science/...hances-flavour
I was told by a whisky expert .you only added water to the Cask Strength whisky i.e. 46% and above
Why adding water to whisky makes it taste .......differently
Would be a more appropriate title. I actually prefer my tipple without any additions and find that adding water makes it taste musty, a flavour which I do not find attractive. Have tried different whisky with different waters and same-ish result.
Each to there own though and each should be able to enjoy their drink as they wish.
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Originally Posted by hilly10
Yup
Nope. It's all about personal taste.
Might be worth trying some different water?
I do add a little spring water to my mine, as it takes away that first sip burning you get with full strength whisky especially with Islay Malts
I tend to automatically add a drop of spring water to cask strength malts. For the rest it depends on the malt and my mood.
I always thought it was to do with the type of whiskey as whenever I've been on a tasting event some times you are told 'this one tastes better with a little water'. It is of course personal taste though
Here's an experiment to try tonight. Pour yourself a double measure of whisky. Have a sip. Now add 2 drops of water only (a straw makes a good pipette!). Look at the whisky, it will have gone a little hazy. Swirl, then sip.
Notice the difference?
(It's more noticeable with Islay whiskies).
Agreed. A couple of chunks of ice* works for me.
(* preferably in a novelty shape)
Add nothing, nada.
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.
Did that last night with some Ardbeg Uigeadail and it makes a real difference. At full strength it's a bit much, even for me.
Must admit that I've found the effect to be more pronounced with Cask Strength whiskey's.
It has to be spring water though - tap water ruins any whisky.
And one of those cute little paper umbrellas.
I don't add any water to bottle strength. Watery whisky actually makes me feel a bit sick.
Cask strength I regard as nigh on undrinkable without dilution.
I'm of the opinion its best to let a wee man or woman at the distillery put the water in it.
Every distillery tour I've done (and I've done a few) they always advise adding a tiny amount of water to the whisky when drinking.
My grandfather instructed me in such matters when I was very small:
"The only thing that you should ever put into a whisky is another whisky"
All you posh types with your branch water et al
Put a slug of ginger Crabbies in it.
A little water can but doesn't always open up a whisky. Whisky is highly subjective though. There are those that like ice in whisky but in the main that just shuts much of the flavour down and is not something I would recommend, though at the end of the day it comes down to this - if you're enjoying it, you're doing it right.
Personally I rarely add water, even to cask strength whisky.
It's all personal preference, just like watches
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No real right or wrong.
i normally go 50/50 now after several years of adding nothing.
Exactly. Science means absolutely sod all when it comes to personal preference.
Coincidentally, I'm at the Cardhu Distillery at Knockando. Interesting tour, some tasting, a free whisky glass for £9. Well worth a visit 🍷🍷hic
Love the single malts but I am afraid they don’t love me back, a sip of any and I have wind and bile all night, yet can drink any other spirits neet or with mixers
I remember as a small child Dad would add peppermint cordial to his whisky .
I just said that Kirky. Nice to know someone else notices it with Islay Malts
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Love the single malts but I am afraid they don’t love me back, a sip of any and I have wind and bile all night, yet can drink any other spirits neet or with mixers
That's not good for a Scotsman
This.
As has been said it's a very personal thing. A, sadly departed, old friend put water in everything. I even purchased a little jug so that he had water when he came to visit me. I'd serve the malt to him with the jug on the side on a little silver tray. He was an Ardbeg drinker by habit and had to "endure" Speyside's when he visited. Tables were turned if I visited him of course.
I generally don't add water, although I found a drop of water improved a GlenDronach 15 Year Revival.
More important than the water debate is the question of leaving whisky to stand in the glass after pouring.
About one minute for every one year of its age seems to have good results for me with malt whiskies.
I agree it is personal taste, but someone who as never tried it and dismisses it, my not know that water can enhance certain whisky.
i must mention this to my uncle...he drinks 2 litres a week...he always has...he is 97
Totally agree. I always try whisky without water first, then add 2-3 drops of water. The second glass may or may not get water added!
Interesting that someone said use spring water not tap water, I'll have to try that.
As an aside, if anyone hasn't tried Springbank I suggest you do so! I like all of their malts :hick:
I'm in the drinks business and I used to be based in the same office as our blenders and quality folk. Practically all our sensory work is done at 20% abv, so 50/50 normal strength whisky to water. That seems to be the strength that gives the best balance between all the different flavour compounds. Oddly enough the phenols in peaty whisky have more impact at higher strengths, which must be why quite a few
Islay lovers like to take it neat. Personally I'm very fond of Talisker. I keep the bottle in the freezer and drink it neat. Just lovely, quite different to drinking it at room temperature.
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Ha, never tried to chill/freeze whisky only vodka, must try it. And it almost always neat, as others said there is no rights or wrongs, just down to the personal taste. Cheers.
Fas est ab hoste doceri
Can someone please recommend a quality 'sweeter' whisky to a complete novice? Thanks! :)
Look for a Speyside malt that's been aged in old sherry casks. I'm currently drinking 10 Y.O Aberlour which is on promo in Waitrose for £24. Not the sweetest you'll find but a nice intro.
Try it with a few drops of spring water added to open it a little.
Last edited by aldfort; 20th August 2017 at 11:30.
I dont add anything either whether it be a nice malt or a sipping rum
Strathisla is nice and drinkable, and looks to have £10 off at Waitrose now.
(I need to find a Waitrose today...)
I opened a 12 year old Aberlour last night, it's like an Angel pi$$ing on your tongue
The relative and wife are scottish and they all add water , they also dont add ice to it as it bruises the taste allegedly
I always add water or ice to whisky........makes it last longer!
I'n no whisky expert, I'm happy with most of the blends and I don' t enjoy the dearer stuff sufficiently to justify the expense.
I generally find that adding around 10-20% water doesn't make the whisky taste any weaker. However, add a tad too much and the flavour seems to fall off sharply.
Everone tastes things differently, what's right for one person doesn't work for another.
I'm easily pleased; managed to pick up a couple of litres of Red Label at a very good price in Schiphol airport last week, that'll keep me happy for a while.
Paul
Mission complete. I even bought some spring water - this southern holiday water isn't as good as Mancunian water!
Glenmorangie, Glen Grant are good for starters....
For sweeter... has to be Glenfarclas.
Just on the OP topic, I'm a keen whisky fan and I have no idea where the 'neat only' rule comes from...
I always like to try a new bottle of whisky in 3 ways; (each with a large tumbler with about 1 and a half fingers); neat first, then with a splash of water, then with one ice cube melted into it. Probably over three consecutive nights.
I would say the more challenging malts (Ardbeg / Laphroaig) are to my taste with the ice cube.
Malts that have worked well with a splash have been Old Pulteny, Highland Park, Springbank (and many others).
Neat malts for me are typically Speysiders; Glen Grant, Strathisla.
Hugely subjective stuff here.
Thanks - I'll give it a try! :)
Thanks! I have 2 Waitrose stores within a 10 min drive.
Another great recommendation - I think I'm gonna be a bit legless this week. :)
Irish whiskey is generally sweeter.
Also £27 on Amazon inc. delivery.
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