On 2010-08-11, Mark Thorson > wrote:

> use it in a mixed drink. I drink it straight,
> but I've been wondering whether I should dilute
> it with water. I was watching a show -- Rick
> Steves travel show, I think -- in which a shop
> that sells Scotch (in Scotland) is visited and
> the proprietor insists that water should be
> added to Scotch.

This is a dispute that will go down in history along with "what's the
difference between men and women" and "what's the meaning of life".
I've also seen a Scottish episode of Burt Wolfe, where he visits a
Scotch distiller's home and eats haggis, yada, yada. The distiller
also insisted on adding water, saying you couldn't really taste the
true essence of Scotch without a touch of water. I'm gonna argue?

Anything "on the rocks" is also essentially "with water". The term
"neat" is basically a spirit by itself. Me? I prefer with water or
on the rocks. Sure, a GOOD spirit can be drank neat, and I
occasionally do, but I prefer a bit o' the branch!

nb