Whiskey with water

Leprechaun95 · 26-07-2015 11:54pm #1

Looking for thoughts on mixing whiskey and water. Whats the norm in relation to portions is it half and half or more whiskey than water. Whats the usually when ordering at the bar

Arsemageddon · 28-07-2015 8:38am

TBH it depends on the drinkers preference,

I usually drink Jameson with ice, but sometimes I'll add a drop of water if given Paddy or Powers as I'm not as fond of them.

Mixing half whiskey and half water would be a bit too much for me, but each to their own. If you want to mix your whiskey with Blue WKD and stick an umbrella and a straw in it then I say go for it.

Stigura · 03-02-2016 4:26pm

I was actually listening in as some serious whiskey heads discussed this, just the other night.

Aha! Here's what a guy said:

" A drop of water in a whisky releases a lot of the flavour compounds, just needs to be a rain drop. With cask strength you need more as the alcohol temporarily damages the taste buds. "

That guy was schooled by a professional Whiskey Taster. He can bore me to fukcing death, droning on about the flavours in things.

I just like Jameson. No water.

rubadub · 17-04-2016 11:21pm

Stigura wrote: »

That guy was schooled by a professional Whiskey Taster.

Professional whiskey tasters may dilute to a certain % and certain temp as it makes distinguishing them easier. But this by no way means its what they would prefer to drink it like at home so be careful of what they are actually recommending, and what you are actually asking.

It would be like me saying I can tell coke or pepsi apart far easier if I dilute them 2 parts water to 1 part coke/pepsi and warm to 25C and let them go flat. Sure I might tell them apart easier but they will both be horrible compared to freezing cold regular ones.

CramCycle · 17-04-2016 11:27pm

Talking to a professional taster one night many years ago, I think (as best I can) he said they do it 2 parts whiskey to one part water. It never occured to me that it might just be an analytical method rather than the way it is meant to be.

I probably mix mine in about that ratio but I don't take particular care, maybe slightly closer to 3 to 1.

dauhee · 16-07-2016 7:55am

Having recently conducted 3 whiskey distillery tours, yes I can confirm it is recommended to add water to help release the flavours and aromas in whiskey. In saying that, only a drop of water in your glass is enough to do that. To get the full spectrum of experience, smell and sniff before and after adding a drop.

syklops · 23-08-2016 3:46pm

I was in a pub recently with my father and we both ordered whiskies. My father drinks his about 50:50 water and whiskey. Two auld fellas at the bar, one muttered "water in whiskey. Shur thats blasphemy". They didnt know my father is a former Jameson distiller and designed part of the distillery in Middleton.

The best way to enjoy whiskey is the way you like it the best. I'd generally put about 2 parts whiskey 1 part water, but it varies depending on which whiskey it is as well. Some bourbons I'd add more.

I also did three distillery tours recently and you were encouraged to add water to them in all three places.

The tasting committee in Glenfiddich put water in their whiskey.

Kunala · 23-08-2016 3:52pm

Best thing I noticed Whiskey with water, next morning least hang over... When ever I mix whiskey with fizzy drink it creates havoc next morning. When mixed with water or soda... not much of damage..

BLACKEN · 06-02-2017 4:36pm

Adding water is seen as the done thing. Any distillery tour will have you mix the product with the smallest drop of water. I think people are afraid of whiskey still for the most part, however it can be quite enjoyable mixed with the correct mixer. I personally love a drop of water in whiskey as it sort of opens the whiskey up more and i can really taste the quality of the spirit.

osarusan · 11-02-2017 12:25am

Leprechaun95 wrote: »

Looking for thoughts on mixing whiskey and water. Whats the norm in relation to portions is it half and half or more whiskey than water. Whats the usually when ordering at the bar

I expect that if you ask for water it will come in a separate jug anyway.

I'd taste it first, see what you think, then, if you want, add a drop, and taste again, and see what you think again.

I've always thought that ice muted the taste, but it really is however you like it.

Delacent · 11-02-2017 12:37am

If I'm having a nice whiskey at home, I'll dilute to about 25-30% abv to open the flavours.

In a pub if having whiskey as a drink it'd be up to two parts water but more to give the drink longevity than any tasting reason - in a pub it will usually be a black bush, whereas at home its always a premium malt

listermint · 11-02-2017 12:40am

Can't drink whiskey with water it loses a bunch of the taste for me. Whatever about opening it up it closes it down for me.

I do however take 1 cube if ice in it . But dislike when the ice is fully melted.

CramCycle · 11-02-2017 1:02am

Interesting as the ice cube should "in theory" close off some of the tastes, the cooler a drink is, the less you taste of it. Now fair enough, your own body temp should counter act this if letting it sit in your mouth.

KarmaGarda · 20-03-2017 6:10pm

If I'm drinking a standard Jameson / Jack D etc I tend towards a cube of ice. I do find it mutes the taste a little, but to improvement in my opinion. On the other hand, if I'm having something a bit finer, like a Yellow Spot, Teeling Single Malt or something like a Nikka Coffey Malt, I tend towards a wee drop of water instead. Maybe about a teaspoon per measure or something.

Outlaw Pete · 23-03-2017 3:48am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOfutUPy6Tk

maccored · 28-06-2017 5:44pm

i normally get a jamesons in a pint glass with ice, filled with water. I find you either drink for the flavour (so dont add water) or you drink to get a nice buzz (so add a lot of water and you'll get very drunk but have no hangover). Old men pubs had water jars for a reason

L1011 · 28-06-2017 6:43pm

rubadub wrote: »

Professional whiskey tasters may dilute to a certain % and certain temp as it makes distinguishing them easier. But this by no way means its what they would prefer to drink it like at home so be careful of what they are actually recommending, and what you are actually asking.

There's some validity to this - you don't drink whiskey out of a nosing glass for normal drinking either; but there's a lot of whiskeys that improve for some water or being slightly colder (fridge works as well as ice in that case, better if you end up diluting too much)

Some lower end stuff is probably drunk best with ice, soda water and nice weather!

TheShow · 06-07-2017 3:06pm

a drop of water opens up the whiskey i have found. how much, depends on you.

DubInTheWest · 30-10-2017 2:33am

I started drinking whiskey in general about a year and a half ago. I tried various types. Right now I've settled on Tullamore Dew. I've tried it straight, with a cap full of water in it, then 2 and so on. I've settled with 2 caps of Volvic water in it, the cap being from the Volvic water.

Its amazing when you start drinking whiskey, at first I'd drink about a quarter bottle and hit the bed but it gets more and more. The other night I stopped off at Dunnes while I was out, got a bottle and drank 3/4's of it. I didn't even feel too bad the next day. Hope I'm not turning into an Alco lol

Hugh Jampton · 15-11-2017 10:15pm

I’ve got to the stage where I’ll add roughly 1/4 water to whiskey. Jameson’s Crested (the former Crested Ten) works well this way, if you can get it.

DubInTheWest · 15-11-2017 10:29pm

I was at a function there about 2 weeks ago. At the end of the night someone got me a red breast whisky and all I can say is wow!! Drank it straight and it was absolutely gorgeous. I'm gonna get me a bottle for Christmas I think. The only negative with it is it's expensive.

Yellow River · 27-11-2017 12:05am

Jameson is promoting ginger ale (plus some ice) as a mixer and I must admit, it is a cracker. I'm converted.

trik · 04-09-2018 8:20pm

I never mix whiskey with anything, not even an ice cube. I like the intensity of the raw whiskey and I like it at room temperature.

ByeByeGTI2020 · 11-02-2020 7:28pm

Wouldn't recommend it

Feisar · 17-02-2020 5:33pm

Yellow River wrote: »

Jameson is promoting ginger ale (plus some ice) as a mixer and I must admit, it is a cracker. I'm converted.

And a wedge of lime, agreed a nice drink however I wouldn't consider myself to be "having a whiskey".

Gorteen · 29-12-2020 7:47pm

When I drink hot whisky, I go for 50% whiskey & 50% water. No lemon slice, no cloves

For ordinary whisky drinking, I drink it straight, no water or mixer.

Ice in whisky???? Sacrilege, in my view

Captain Lugger · 30-12-2020 3:42pm

Depends on the whiskey/whisky. For any single malt, always straight. For Jameson etc, about 1/4 water. As remarked earlier, it opens it up.

maccored · 05-01-2021 1:06am

Captain Lugger wrote: »

Depends on the whiskey/whisky. For any single malt, always straight. For Jameson etc, about 1/4 water. As remarked earlier, it opens it up.

i still drink a double in a pint glass with ice. no hangover at all and very nice buzz

The One Doctor · 18-05-2021 6:45pm

Doesn't make sense to add a drop of water. 80 proof whiskey is 60% water.

Whiskey nerds like to bull**** the ignorant, like all other nerds.

I add soda water. Or Coke. Or milk.

Whiskey with water

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