It has been the topic of debates whether water and whiskey goes well together, new research in this field claim both to be indispensable for unlocking the true flavor of the latter.
The actual quantity of the water to be added can vary though, from a few drops to a more generous amount and depends more on individual's tastes than anything else.
With different whiskeys having different flavors, experts recommend a few drops of water to unlock all of the aromas to make for a truly enriching experience not only for your taste buds but for your visual delight as well. The smell of the whiskey too can change when mixed with a little amount of water.
There will always be those who claim this to be a direct assault on the manliness that they associate with whiskey in its raw state. To others, producing whiskey is a fine art and to not consume it in the state they are produced in the distilleries is akin to desecrating with the artistic appeal.
A way out of the imbroglio that should keep both camps satisfied can be to start with the unadulterated form. Introduce a few drops of water a few sips down the line and notice the changes. It's something to be seen as well, what with the two liquids of differing viscosities trying to come to terms with each other.
There is also another solid reason why adding water to whiskey unlocks its hidden aromas. Water coming in contact with alcohol is an exothermic reaction which increases the temperature a bit.
As the liquid "heats" up, this causes it to release the aromatic molecules thereby adding to the pleasure quotient, Telegraph reported. The opposite is true when ice is added to whiskey as this has somewhat of a freezing effect on it, and hence 'locks' things up.
Another reason why adding water is recommended is that it reduces the alcohol content. And the good thing here is that it soothes things up a bit. As such, it won't burn as much in the throat and hence will be more receptive to the taste, Men's Health reported.
Experts also recommend experimenting not only with the amount of water to suit personal tastes but also with the quality of water as well. This since water of different types like, hard, soft and mineral water can have different affect when mixed in different quantities with whiskey. So its quite a few permutation and combination to be tried here.