Single malt tasted alone or with a meal. What's your vote?

[Quaich1]

Reading through some blogs and articles, there seems to be a debate going on among single malt scotch connoisseurs. On the one side, there are those who feel that adding anything to the taste buds during sampling single malt only serves to change the intended palate and finish of a given dram. Others feel that incorporating 3 single malts during a meal and the actual tasting presentation allows for a better global experience and allows for natural breaks during the food courses. What side of this debate do you take and why?

[Carson]

I feel that pairing whisky with a meal is something that was created in a marketing department, personally i feel whisky should be enjoyed by itself.

[Drover]

[Tom W]

to me just food just totally nullifies anything good in a malt. Whisky on its OWN ! however, it is nice with haggis on burns night!
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[minesascotch]

After food for me also, having said that I had my own attempt on a Burns Night Supper for a Scottish friend of mine in January and toasted the haggis with Taliker 10, it went together very well.

[jcarrick]

A good whisky after a meal but not with a meal for me. I do enjoy a piece of dark chocolate with a sherried malt.

[Alastair]

I have had it at whisky dinners and the right whisky can compliment certain food but it is not really for me, i like my food and whisky seperately.

[Big Mac]

After a meal for me and never with a meal

[Brummie]

A meal specially made to compliment certain malts can be an enjoyable evening but i still prefer to do my serious whisky tasting with the whisky by itself as i feel the food can mask some of the flavour of the whisky which you have paid so much to taste.

[Rdelusion]

I've found that a dram goes very well with a hot bowl of soup, especially if it's wet and cold outside.
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