120 to 80 proof?

[turpin]

I add just enough water (usually two or three drops) for the nose to develop.

I think you should add just enough water to have a beverage you enjoy, and not feel you need to apologize. Thank heavens you aren't using ice or soda water or worse.

Bite yer tongue Scott

There seems to be a full range of taste and opinion. It seems to boil down (with the exception of the "I never add anything" crowd) to add water to taste, starting small. When you get to where you like it best, that's where you should be.

No matter where you go, there you are (Buckaroo Banzai)

[artificer]

I'll make a proposition to all fellow X-Markers out there who are having to dilute their cask strength bottles.

Ship the new bottle to me, I'll remove a carefully calculated amount of the offending whisky (making sure it finds a good home) and carefully, scientifically, top up the bottle to standard 80 Proof with pure, clean water.

I'll provide this service for no charge. Heck! I'll even pay postage back to you.



ith:

[ForresterModern]

I'll make a proposition to all fellow X-Markers out there who are having to dilute their cask strength bottles.

Ship the new bottle to me, I'll remove a carefully calculated amount of the offending whisky (making sure it finds a good home) and carefully, scientifically, top up the bottle to standard 80 Proof with pure, clean water.

I'll provide this service for no charge. Heck! I'll even pay postage back to you.



ith:

Now there is an enterprising young chap. Brilliant!

[Dale Seago]

Adding however much water to improve nose and taste, and diluting from cask strength, are actually two different issues according to a whisky expert I used to hang out with. (A Scot who had a degree in the subject and was employed at the time by Johnnie Walker.)

According to him, the reason whisky is bottled most often at 80-86 proof (40-43% alcohol) is that above around 45% it tends to fry your taste buds and you can't appreciate the complexities so well.

That said, however, if the whisky is in YOUR hand, you can drink it however you darn well please!