Thread: A splash of water in your single malt ?

I've read that a the proper way to appreciate a single malt scotch is to put a 'splash' of water in it. This supposedly releases the flavor of the malt. I had always drank my single malt neat but have recently started doing the splash. Just a few drops really. So I'm wondering if any of the other single malt lovers out there do the same ?

This single malt lover, uses a splash of a single ice cube...i know, bad form...but oh, it goes so gooooood!

Mac

That it was the only way to do ice Scotch Single Malt and a touch of water

I haven't really sampled too many Single Malts yet, but any time I drink any good Irish Whiskey I drink it on the rocks. It seems to give it time to meld with the whiskey, let out the flavor more, and keep me from drinking it like its Jack Daniels. ;-)

Originally Posted by srkilpatrick

I haven't really sampled too many Single Malts yet, but any time I drink any good Irish Whiskey I drink it on the rocks. It seems to give it time to meld with the whiskey, let out the flavor more, and keep me from drinking it like its Jack Daniels. ;-)

Go to the Portland-PNW razor meet and i'll bring a few of the nice single malts to sample. ;-)

Mac

I would love to, but unfortunately, I've moved five time in the last three months. I'm now located in Austin, Tx. Thank you so much for the offer though! I was reading about the meet and I'm really sad I won't be able to make it!

I also add a splash of water. While I do sometimes do without when I'm lazy, I do find that adding a bit of water makes the Scotch more enjoyable to drink.

Ice is typically not a good choice because dropping the temp dulls the flavor, and the ice continues to melt as you drink, so your drink gets progressively more watery (yes, you could drink it faster, but I like to sip and enjoy).

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I also add a splash of water. While I do sometimes do without when I'm lazy, I do find that adding a bit of water makes the Scotch more enjoyable to drink.

Ice is typically not a good choice because dropping the temp dulls the flavor, and the ice continues to melt as you drink, so your drink gets progressively more watery (yes, you could drink it faster, but I like to sip and enjoy).

Your right Dylan.
The ice also, lowers the temp, thus inhibiting the vapors/aroma experience...but i stil like it. lol


Mac

Few years back I ran into a a guy giving out samples in a shop in London and had quite a long chat with him. He mentioned that a dash of water would be best, since it would dilute the alcohol so it won't desensitise the tastebuds. This is especially true for cask strength whiskys running to 60% alcohol.

Another story which a relative of mine told me was seeing some bigshot businessman order a shot of some very expensive whisky and then proceeding to drown it in coca-cola. Which is a sin and a shame to do to high quality whisky and does nothing to your reputation.

Having said those. I guess it is pretty much up to anyone how he likes to drink it. Sometimes I use dash of water/mineral water to get the alcohol burn out, sometimes I do it on the rocks and sometimes with a mineral water. I think all are acceptable alternatives as long as you enjoy the good stuff

Depending on what I'm drinking, I may have it neat (smoother whiskies, such as Irish whiskies, Speyside or Highland malts, or a smoother Islay malt) or on the rocks (cheaper blends, which I generally drink with a pipe or cigar - the tobacco smothers the whiskey flavour, so adding ice lengthens the drink - I can taste it fine at the start, but by the time the tobacco flavour's filling my mouth the drink's more for a brief respite from the tobacco than for any real savouring of the flavour). If it's a stronger or rougher Islay malt, I may add a few cubes of ice to it, I find the cooling down of the scotch makes it smoother, although that may also be the addition of the water from the melting ice.

I personally haven't noticed much difference, if any, from adding water to a good single malt, although I haven't opened my cask strength bottle of Laphroaig yet. The extra strength may require me to add something to take a little of the roughness off the edge, so I may look at trying water there and see if it adds much.