# Water in your whiskey **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** liquor-alcohol\ **Created:** [October 25, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045 "2009-10-25T13:57:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2009, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/21 "2009-10-26T03:53:12Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > Bourbon is Tennessee Whiskey.šŸ˜‰ Bourbon is not Tennessee whiskey; itā€™s not even whiskey from Tennessee. Itā€™s usually from Kentucky. ---
**Author:** ![Zephyurs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/dfb087/32.png) [@Zephyurs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zephyurs)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2009, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/22 "2009-10-26T04:19:29Z")
> **[New perspectives on whisky and water ā€“ Khymos](https://khymos.org/2007/06/03/new-perspectives-on-whisky-and-water/)** Molecular gastronomy explains why adding water opens up the whiskey and improves the flavor. ---
**Author:** ![Loisseau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@Loisseau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loisseau)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/23 "2009-10-27T15:58:47Z")
but I like a 8oz. tumbler filled with ice icubes, then 4oz of Jim Beam Black, and a splash of water. ---
**Author:** ![slitterst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecc23a/32.png) [@slitterst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slitterst)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/24 "2009-10-27T16:24:12Z")
> [@MilTan](#): > > Bourbon is not Tennessee whiskey; itā€™s not even whiskey from Tennessee. Itā€™s usually from Kentucky. You know, I was going to quibble with your use of the word ā€œusually,ā€ until I did a spot of research. I had always thought it was only bourbon if it came from Bourbon County. Color me educated. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/25 "2009-10-27T23:11:59Z")
Our local distiller recommends you water it down to about 30% ABV. Cool tap water, not ice. Iā€™ve tried it and certainly see his point, though I often drink malt neat. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/26 "2009-10-27T23:53:07Z")
Whatā€™s all these crazy questions youā€™re askinā€™ me? Thanks for the earworm, **11811**. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/27 "2009-10-28T00:36:33Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Our local distiller recommends you water it down to about 30% ABV. Yeah, if youā€™re a pussy! Real Men drink it **neat**! \ scratches self ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/28 "2009-10-28T07:47:56Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Yeah, if youā€™re a pussy! Real Men drink it **neat**! > > \ > > scratches self Yeah, yeah, I was quoting a _distiller_. And whereā€™d you get your god-given authority from? _checks username_ Oh. Sorry to have bothered you. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/29 "2009-10-28T11:13:04Z")
I cant imagine adding water directly to a glass of whiskey. I realize that when the ice melts itā€™s the same thing but the thought of putting water directly in souinds gross. Also, what is Cask Strength? Is that like ā€œfresh from the barrelā€? Is the JD I buy at the store Cask Strength? ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/30 "2009-10-28T11:57:54Z")
Yes, in the barrel the concentration is more like 60%. Cask strength whisky allows the buyer to dilute to taste, but it needs to be good stuff to be palatable at much more than the usual 40%. Regular whisky is watered down to 40% during bottling. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/31 "2009-10-28T12:04:46Z")
Thereā€™s an auld Scottish joke about when Jock does some work for Sandy, who is notoriously cheap. Sandy is pleased with Jockā€™s work and actually offers him something to drink. Jockā€™s request is ā€œIā€™ll have half whisky and half water; and put in lots oā€™ water!ā€ Half and half is way too much water for my tastes, but it at least shows that the practice of adding water to your whisky is not unknown in Scotland. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/32 "2009-10-28T12:14:21Z")
I always used to think it was heresy to add water to a good scotch, but recently Iā€™ve been putting maybe about 1 part water to 3 parts whisky, and I have to say it improves it no end. Iā€™m currently (well, not _right_ now, Iā€™m at work) enjoying the [Glenmorangie Signet](http://www.sybarites.org/2008/11/glenmorangie-signet-whiskey/). ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/33 "2009-10-28T12:15:40Z")
Whenever I try a new bourbon, I pour 2 glasses and add a wee bit of water to one of them. Very rarely do I notice enough of a difference to have a preference. On the other hand, when Iā€™m drinking Irish whiskey, I absolutely prefer a little water in it. All a matter of taste, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/34 "2009-10-28T19:55:17Z")
a splash Usually I drink it on the rocks, which adds just a bit of water. I donā€™t usually add water. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/35 "2009-10-28T19:59:00Z")
Sometimes straight up. Sometimes 50/50 with cold water. Depends on my mood. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/36 "2009-10-28T20:06:40Z")
> [@Francis\_Vaughan](#): > > Anything that has had to be filtered though charcoal is not fit for human consumption. šŸ˜ƒ [Sgt. Hulka] Lighten up, Francis [/Sgt. Hulka] ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/37 "2009-10-28T20:13:54Z")
> [@Gordon\_Urquhart](#): > > The only kinds of whisk(e)y (and Iā€™m putting the parenthetical references in there for you, and you know who you are) that I put water in are Bookerā€™s bourbon and Stranahanā€™s Colorado whiskey (which is distilled right here in Denver). Both, in my view (not necessarily yours), benefit from a drop or two of water. You raised me up just to drop me from a greater height, didnā€™t you? Thatā€™s alright, I forgive. Stranahanā€™s Colorado is my absolute favorite, pretty much the only whiskey Iā€™ve bought in the last year or drink anymore, ever since that first blessed sip. And straight out of the bottle, room temp, no ice, no water neat if you please. ETA: For those of you who havenā€™t tried it yet, trust me (us, **Gordon**?) Stranahanā€™s is just plain marvelous. Around $51.00 in CO and $52.00 in TX. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/38 "2009-10-28T20:25:16Z")
> [@robcaro](#): > > Scotch: No water and no ice. Just pure scotch. Why ruin a good thing? For single malt scotch, a tiny bit of water ā€“ even a couple of drops ā€“ helps release more flavor. **robcaro** , I suggest you try it once. Taste the scotch straight; then add a few drops of water and see if it doesnā€™t taste better. Thereā€™s some sort of chemical reaction between the water and the scotch (I once knew what it was, but Iā€™ve forgot) that improves flavor. I totally agree about the ice, though. Ice (that is, coldness) overpowers your taste buds, so all you really taste is the cold. Subtle flavors are lost in something thatā€™s too chilled. (I was at a scotch-tasting party a couple of weeks ago, and picked up all this wonderous info.) ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/39 "2009-10-28T20:26:14Z")
Oh, so slight hijack - for those who prefer single malts that have been aged in Port, Sherry, Rum or Bourbon casks, do you find that a bit of water brings out the other flavours? One of my all-time, number one favourite with a bullet bottles was a Caol Ila that had been aged in a Sherry cask. Just heaven, that wasā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045/40 "2009-10-28T21:36:47Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > ETA: For those of you who havenā€™t tried it yet, trust me (us, **Gordon**?) Stranahanā€™s is just plain marvelous. Around $51.00 in CO and $52.00 in TX. Iā€™m with you there, and itā€™s good to hear that wondrous elixer is found in the Lone Star State. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-your-whiskey/515045.md?page=3)