How much do you dilute your whisky?

[cheekobonavista]

I've heard some people say that a little water enhances the taste of some whiskies dramatically. I've experienced this notably with Balvenie 14 year Caribbean Cask. I drank the first 2/3 of a bottle and didn't think Iiked it, then I added water and thought it was really good.

My question is, how much water do you add? I've heard some people say "a few drops". One drop = 0.05ml. Are people noticing a difference from 1 or 2 ml of water?

Generally I taste a whisky first. If I decide to add water I'll usually add 5lm to a 45ml dram.

I've recently started buying cask strength whisky. I'll add up to 15ml of water to a 60% cask strength whisky like Aberlour A'bunadh, or Glenlivet First Fill.

Am I doing it wrong? I know this is all personal preference, but when people say "a few drops" do they really mean 1-2ml?

[torcross]

It really is a personal preference but I follow what you do.

Regardless of strength I will always try without any water and then try to add a few drops of water to bring it down to around 40-45%, I will then try them side by side.

I only did this last night with a rather lovely Glendronach 1993 24 year old that weighed in at 52.4%volume

[davidbe]

Depends on the strength, really. I'll normally add 5-10ml to a 35ml pour if it's above 50%, less if below.

[ralfy legend]

Depends on the whisky and strength but mainly a very small amount, each to there own I suppose

[ARscotchfan]

Same here. I ALWAYS try it neat first...then add water in small amounts till I get to where I like the dram best. Cask strength will def be more...my Springbank 12 CS is always about 2-3tsp water (sorry! i know this is not super accurate like ml but I really don't measure too seriously)....but for something like Bunna 12 OB I won't add any....I think it kills the finish. I even add a smidge of water to my Te Bheag Blend...not much...just a drop....and yes, I mean seriously just a single drop or two out of a straw. (I use room temp bottle water as well. )

Water addition not only varies based on personal preference, but the whisky that you are drinking, its ABV % AND I even find that it varies based on my mood and taste on that particular evening! (The other night I added my standard water to my Springbank and was struggling with it even though I know I have thoroughly enjoyed it that way on multiple occasions before!)

Also, the fill amount of the bottle may change the amount of water you want/need to add it seems. The higher the ratio of air to whisky in the bottle may change the composition of the whisky enough that a dram that needed little to no water a few weeks ago may need a larger amount presently.

This is something that I find fun and interesting! You can get multiple taste experiences out of one dram based on whether you add water and how much. Leaves lots of reason for further "research and development"! Best of luck in your personal research!

[Kray]

I rarely add a drop to anything other than high cask strength whiskies and that is only if I feel the strength of the alcohol is over powering the flavours of the whisky.

[mistah]

I tend to try it neat and then keep adding water before each sip until I reach a sweet spot where the flavours open up. In most cases, I prefer the taste with water added, but you have to be careful not to add too much water and end up going past the sweet spot and "drowning" the whisky. Having said that, I've sometimes ended up adding more water than whisky to get to the flavour I like (e.g. Laphroaig cask strength).

As ARscotchfan points out, the amount of water required can vary depending on your mood and other mysterious factors. There just doesn't seem to be a "correct" amount to add to a measure of a particular whisky.

[Andy M]

I find that adding water takes away more than it reveals for whiskies around 46% and below.