Typically, water is added to the scotch to break the esters and make the scotch more aromatic: also, buy adding water you lower the acoholic content by volume, which reduces the liklihood that you'll numb your sense of smell and thereby reduce your enjoyment of the malt. Never add ice; it numbs the tongue to the flavor, and you wind up just drinking for the buzz. The amount of water added is subject to the drinker's preference, but can vary from as little as a half teaspoon to an almost 50/50 water/scotch ratio. Michael Jackson (the beer/scotch world reknowned author, not the *superstar*) has a wonderful writeup in his scotch guide, and there is also a nice piece in the online mag, the Malt Advocate.

Bryan...not that I drink the stuff myself, of course... :smile: