Have you always enjoyed your bourbon straight?

[ILLfarmboy]

....I've never used ice for any spirit. I don't understand it. I see people do this with beer occasionally and it doesn't make sense to me. Maybe I should be more polite or politically correct and say something like "it's all subjective" but that would be disingenuous.

[loose proton]

I think this comes down to what one drinks, how one drinks it, and what is one's experience.

If one is drinking nasty rotgut, then coke or sprite helps choke it down.

If one takes small sips rather than a shot glass full, then something as stout as Stagg is enjoyable.

Many people enjoy an ice cube or water splash and there's many chemical/biological reasons for this. I do not, but then I drink 190 neat.

[Stones]

It is pretty standard here in Australia to drink rum, bourbon, even scotch with coke. When we come into the drinking age a whole variety of concoctions are thrown at us, some not so potable, others very drinkable. I started with beer and JB/coke as this was cheap for students. Nowadays i still drink JB with coke on occasion but always drink the higher shelf bourbon straight or with a dash of water. I think bourbon and coke has its place and straight bourbon certainly has its own, but i can appreciate both.

[McDouche]

I tend to fire an ice cube or two in my glass. I'd say I probably fire ice in my bourbon 70% of the time. I can see how people might find that nuts, but I'm ok with that.

[ILLfarmboy]

My wife once remarked to me how it took her quite some time to learn to enjoy red wine because it is served room temp/cellar temp and not cold like white wine and also remarked in the same breath how she didn't understand why I drink whiskey at room temp.

could it be part of the reason many take their whiskey with ice has more to do with the habit of drinking beverages either hot like coffee or cold like iced tea than the dilution provided by the melting ice?

[fishnbowljoe]

I actually had to "learn" how to drink my bourbon straight. I used to drink Canadian whiskies w/coke. When I first got interested in bourbon, I drank my bourbon with coke or sprite. With some help, I finally learned how to taste and enjoy bourbon. Every new bourbon I try, I start out with a little straight, then with a splash of water, and then with some ice. I now enjoy my bourbon(s) every which way you can. I generally have mine with a couple cubes, but there are times I enjoy it straight. Then there are bowling nights. JB white and coke. I still can't drink JB without a mixer.