Ways of cooling scotch.

[Downunder Kilt]

Scotch tasting is exceedingly subjective and thus, individualistic. You are going to have to experiment and find your likes and dislikes, using other folks' opinions as suggestive guides.

It has been my (subjective) experience that while a bit of water "unlocks flavors", those flavors are not always pleasant. For example, to me water make some scotches taste like soap. Examples include any of the Obans, Edradour, Clynelish, Ben Riach, et. al. Thus, I only drink those neat, and they are all excellent.

If I want neat scotch cooler than room temperature, as I most often do, I simply place the glass containing scotch in the freezer for 10 - 15 minutes to drop its temperature from about 65 - 70 degrees F to about 40 - 45 degrees F, ie cellar temperature.

I don't know where you get the cellar temp of 40-45F for scotch whisky (even wine has a cellar temp of 52F - 55F) Scotch whiskey can become cloudy as the temp lowers, especially in a freezer. The idea of adding water to whiskey is not to lower the temp, it is to release flavours. Scotch whiskey is best served and stored aound the mid - high 60'sF range.

[mookien]

I don't know where you get the cellar temp of 40-45F for scotch whisky (even wine has a cellar temp of 52F - 55F) Scotch whiskey can become cloudy as the temp lowers, especially in a freezer. The idea of adding water to whiskey is not to lower the temp, it is to release flavours. Scotch whiskey is best served and stored aound the mid - high 60'sF range.

I get it by putting it in the freezer for 10 - 15 minutes. The precise temperature for drinking is a matter of personal taste. I like most malts around refrigerator temperature, or a bit above.

Occasionally, the addition of water clouds the malt, but it doesn't seem to affect the flavor, not to me anyway.

I do not add water to lower the temperature, but to reduce the alcohol burn of "cask strength" malts. Water often does affect the flavor, and as I described sometimes to its detriment, unless one likes a soapy flavor.

Scotch whisky is best served at a temperature favored by the person drinking it. I agree that it is best stored in a cool environment.

[Oldhiker]

I feel I only need to cool my cheap whisky, the good stuff I prefer at room temp

[mookien]

I feel I only need to cool my cheap whisky, the good stuff I prefer at room temp

Some cheap (inexpensive) whisky is better (to me) than more expensive whisky. And, I cool both.

One example is Cairnleigh 12 - a blend. It tastes better to me than many single malts - one particular example being Glenfarclas 17. The former costs about $22, while the latter is in the $100 range.

I noticed that they tasted similarly, so my wife blind tested me (a good practice, by the way, to help one truly find their favorites). The Cairnleigh beat (subjectively) the Glenfarclas in both aroma and taste every time.

Other very good and inexpensive whiskies include Sheepdip (the 8-year old), Speyburn 10, and Speyburn "Bradan Orach".

Good luck to all in finding your own examples.

[artificer]

Some cheap (inexpensive) whisky is better (to me) than more expensive whisky. And, I cool both.

One example is Cairnleigh 12 - a blend. It tastes better to me than many single malts - one particular example being Glenfarclas 17. The former costs about $22, while the latter is in the $100 range.

I noticed that they tasted similarly, so my wife blind tested me (a good practice, by the way, to help one truly find their favorites). The Cairnleigh beat (subjectively) the Glenfarclas in both aroma and taste every time.

Other very good and inexpensive whiskies include Sheepdip (the 8-year old), Speyburn 10, and Speyburn "Bradon Orach".

Good luck to all in finding your own examples.

I'm an Islay man myself, I find I tend to enjoy the 10-16yr range best, as they have a fire to them that older malts, even though they MAY be more complex, tend to lack.

I've not found a blended Whisky that I've liked nearly as much as a decent single malt. That said, I've never met a Whisky that I didn't like - I just like some a LOT more than others The joy is in the search.

ith: