Why adding a drop of water can make whisky taste even better

[Latic]

I'll just say from the outset, personally I don't think there's any right or wrong regarding water addition.

[Cuba]

I think most whisky drinkers know that adding water can have its pluses and minuses, as you say there is no right or wrong way, personally 99% of the time I take it as it comes out the bottle.

[davidbe]

Similar article on CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/17/health/whiskey-water-taste-study/index.html

[Forbes]

[ralfy legend]

I've got to be honest I always add a drop because you just never know what it's going to release, on most I've been happy with the results,, but hey each to their own.

[opelfruit]

Master blenders dilute down to around 25-30% abv for this very reason, they can pick out more subtle flavours without the alcohol numbing the nose and palate. If you ask them how they actually drink their whisky for recreational purposes though then it won't be at such a low abv.

There is a trade off. You gain some and loose some. You gain nose and more subtle flavours but you will loose other flavours and most importantly you'll loose mouthfeel.


At 46% abv you reach something call maximum viscous synergy; it's the point where any ethanol/water mixture (whisky) reaches the point where it is the most viscous and the greatest mouthfeel. It's also the point where you don't have to worry about cloudiness with lack of chill filtration. 46% is a pretty special abv for whisky.


Dilute to 25% and whisky just ain't the same......
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"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

[Olorin]