Why on the Rocks?

[Malhavoc]

If ice dilutes and dulls the delicate flavours of whisky, why do some people order their drinks with ice?

I'm new to the world of whisky, and have been mostly drinking scotches. Everywhere I look, tasting guides say "Don't drink it with ice". But the phrase "Scotch on the rocks," is so common, that there must be some reason people drink it with ice.

Did I already answer my own question? Do people put ice in their whisky to dilute the flavour?

[Charlie]

I think you will find find it is mostly blended whisky that people tend to add ice to but there will be some people who do add some ice to a single malt whisky, and if that is the way they prefer it then why not.

IMO ice doesnt dilute the flavour, it dulls the flavour which i suppose can be an improvement for some blended whiskies.

[Tom W]

its surely an american term 'hey can i get uhh a scotch on the rocks?'

[Bookie]

also a very american preference i think to add ice to Scotch and more so to blended Scotch as Charlie says.