If you do add water, how much?

[MacKenzie]

No preference one way or the other. I'll always try a new scotch neat first. If I like it that way I'll usually leave it alone... for a while. But with each one I usually try it with a bit of water and/or an ice cube or two. Experimentation. Some scotch "opens up" with a bit of water or ice and some simply gets diluted.

And, as Jock said, it also depends on the mood.

[freep]

Neat out of a flask, a splash (tablespoon or so) water in a glass. I've no particular reason or rhyme why. It's how I was taught.

[Liam]

The only other comment I would make is that younger malts may improve with an extra drop of water. Older ones have already mellowed.

[Red Redwine]

I only add water occasionally and usually only to cask strength whisky. When I do, it's only a tiny bit. As others have noted, it will sometimes open the whisky up a bit. Sometimes, I will enjoy a dram with one of the big slow-melting round ice cubes that you can buy molds for now.

[tundramanq]

I agree with almost all the above. I really enjoy good to great single malts. But they lose a lot of nose if left uncapped very long. If the establishment leaves the pourer on the bottle, I find another bar or drink something else as the angels have already got the good stuff.

[Dughlas mor]

Never more than a few drops in anything. It does depend on my mood to some extent, but I will generally add water to the Speysides and Highland malts. The Islays I like neat, no need to open up those intense flavors. If it`s hot enough to want ice in my drink, I will probably be drinking some sort of well chilled gin concoction.

[Scout]

I'll add just a drop or two of water to cask strength whisky to open it up a bit. Otherwise I tend to enjoy them neat.

[The Q]

I put a cube in my glass and Let it sit for a moment or two as I open the bottle, whirl it around, then dump the cube and pour the scotch into the glass, I do the same thing with vermouth (whirl and dump) when making a Martini or Gibson

I recon keeping a glass in the freezer would do the job better without the polution of the water!!
Just occasionally I'll have an Apfelkorn where you keep the bottle in the freezer, I wonder how that would affect the whisky.

[Todd Bradshaw]

You can also buy whisky stones if you want it cold, but not diluted. You just have to remember not to try chewing them.

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/set-of...-rocks/s135377



I've kind of noticed though that the best way to diminish the flavors of good Scotch is to chill it.

[Red Redwine]

I have the stones, but don't use them all that much. You do have to be careful not to tilt the glass back too quickly or your teeth will get bashed by the stones!