The real problem here is "why are they mixing drinks"????? There should never be any mixing of whiskey with anything ever!!! Ice and water are not mixers, but water should never be introduced anyhow!!
Those that do are the real HEATHENS!!
My rules for whisk(e)y drinkers:
1. you drink what you like out of your glass.
2. You drink it the way you like it, you bought it and you gotta taste it.
I actually like a good “Old Fashioned” cocktail in the Fall. I also tend to shift to smokey Scotch, neat in the Fall and Winter. Spring and Summer invite the botanical flavors of gin and tonic or a Speyside or Highland Scotch.
vodka is nothing without a mixer.
I need GOOD tequila to drink it neat.
I do appreciate a well crafted spirit, and think hey should each be tried neat to understand the base flavor notes in them. I understand the appeal and think there are some spirits that deserve to be appreciated by themselves alone. I’m also a flavor chaser, and like to cook and taste, and blend, and build flavor combinations that complement each other.
I’m not going to take a 18 yr old or older Scotch and use it as a mixer. If I only get one shot to taste it though, I might just take it neat, then add a few drops of water to see what flavors open up in it. I’m not as likely to put ice in it though, as my experience tends to be that the cold tend to close down flavor notes.
I guess, I’m really saying: “Never say never”. You actually may be missing something.
I took it back .....!
