Discussion
Dalwhinnie is a very nice malt. Its known as the 'ladies malt' because of its very smooth taste. Its probably best to sample it neat, then if you find it a bit strong, add a little still highland spring water to taste. And yes, if you mix it with coke, you will be stoned as a philistine.
Scottish men dilute it with water from a "burn" to make it less harmful to their delicate stomachs... and also to "bring out the taste" though this sounds utterly stupid to me and I think it has more to do with making it last longer. My Father in Law is your typical lowland scot - for "dram" read "barely visible smear.."
Best consumed with tongue in cheek...
>> Edited by yertis on Friday 17th December 16:28
Best consumed with tongue in cheek...
>> Edited by yertis on Friday 17th December 16:28
If you want to test the neat whisky/whisky with water argument try this.
Decent wine glass (tulip shape). Decent measure of whisky in - give it a swirl and take a sniff. You'll probably smell mostly 'spirity' type smell.
Then double the volume with neutral tasting water. Swirl and sniff again - you'll discern much more in the way of character than you did with neat spirit.
Nothing to do with being stingy (you'll probably drink more if it tastes better!)
T
Decent wine glass (tulip shape). Decent measure of whisky in - give it a swirl and take a sniff. You'll probably smell mostly 'spirity' type smell.
Then double the volume with neutral tasting water. Swirl and sniff again - you'll discern much more in the way of character than you did with neat spirit.
Nothing to do with being stingy (you'll probably drink more if it tastes better!)
T
oddman said:
Decent wine glass (tulip shape). Decent measure of whisky in - give it a swirl and take a sniff. You'll probably smell mostly 'spirity' type smell.
Then double the volume with neutral tasting water. Swirl and sniff again - you'll discern much more in the way of character than you did with neat spirit.
probably showing my ignorance here
but if that's so, why does it not come like that out of the bottle? should i stick to my robinsons?
It's probably my favourite Whisky! 
For gods sake! If you want to add a mixer to it then do so. I do not understand people who insist that malt should always be drunk neat. If people want to mix it then what difference does it make.
I can drink it both ways and it depends what mood i'm in. I wouldn't suggest drinking it mixed if I was on a bender as it's just too expensive to do that with. Buy some cheap blended and get pi$$ed. However, if I fancy a glass but want it milder then a drop of something in it will not kill me. It may make me a weirdo but who wants to be normal!
I can drink it both ways and it depends what mood i'm in. I wouldn't suggest drinking it mixed if I was on a bender as it's just too expensive to do that with. Buy some cheap blended and get pi$$ed. However, if I fancy a glass but want it milder then a drop of something in it will not kill me. It may make me a weirdo but who wants to be normal!
Yugguy said:
Yeah, if you're going to drink it mixed you may as well buy Bells, or that Canadian stuff Spar sells for a fiver.
Try one cube of ice in a double shot.
No no no no.
Whisky should be at room temperature, like a red wine, so you can taste the flavours. If you chill it you lose a lot of the aromatics.
Beverly said:
"it's Beaujolais. Fantastic! Won't be a sec, I'll just pop it in the fridge.".
The alcohol level is also high enough to numb the taste buds, which is why you get a lot more subtle tastes when you dilute with a little water.
As said above, though, if you want to bung some coke in it, might as well buy a cheaper blend since you won't benefit from the tastes in a single malt.
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