Ice . . . is nice

[squire]

Part of the fascination of our common subject is the history involved. From my own experience (my parent's post WW11 cocktail generation) and a review of print advertizing of the 40's, 50's and 60's Bourbon in a social setting is invariably shown served over ice, usually with a mixer.

Well before the internet I recall a print interview with a Master Distiller who commented the flavor profile of Bourbons (Grand Dad, Charter, Turkey, etc.) were blended specifically with the thought they would be served over ice or in chilled cocktails. With the changes in production techniques over the last 20 - 30 years (details of which Bourbon Geeks delight in discussing) flavor profiles have shifted somewhat but I think the premise of how they will be served remains constant because that''s still how they will be used by the majority of consumers.

So does ice enhance or reduce your enjoyment in this pursuit of sensory delight?

[Stormeh]

For me, it just depends on the mood I'm in and the whiskey I'm drinking. Barrel proofer, I'll add ice or water half the time or so. Hot summer day? Whiskey on ice or whiskey and soda. Cold winter night? Stagg neat in a glencairn. The lovely thing about our beverage of choice is that it can be had in so many different ways!

[squire]

Yes, that's true, a man can have many loves.

[Young Blacksmith]

I prefer ice. When it's hot, muggy, and you're ready to cool down for the day in the A/C, nothing beats a bourbon on the rock. Except possibly a rye and ginger with bitters on many rocks.

I don't use the giant balls, just your normal cube. One if I want to sip it for a while, a piece if I want to have less water but still cool it down.

I do drink whiskey neat on occasions, especially tastings or events or when I want to do some sort of review or personal tasting. But probably 80% of the time I want a cool drink.

[squire]

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of us were in the 80% range.

[bingstein]

I have really gone back and forth with this because I feel that there is a negative stigma attached to drinking bourbon any way other than neat. However, I find that I like virtually all my bourbon with a single ice-cube tray sized ice cube, sometimes more. It may be that I don't really dig many pours under 90 proof.

My exception is ND juice, which is already soft and butterscotchy and loses that in ice, IMHO.

[smknjoe]

I rarely drink my bourbon any other way than neat or with water. Not because that's the way to drink it, but because I started out preferring it neat rather than mixed with Coke (which was how most of my friends would drink it.) The last time I tried ice was in some ORVW 10/107. The ice melted quickly and it ruined the drink for me.

The average drinker usually thinks that it's very odd I don't mix it with something or put it over ice.

[Brisko]

Depends on the bourbon, some show themselves better with ice, some with water, and some neat, but most of the time it depends on my mood. I'd guess about 2/3rds of mine is consumed with a cube or two.

[squire]

I have really gone back and forth with this because I feel that there is a negative stigma attached to drinking bourbon any way other than neat.

I wouldn't put it quite that strongly but yes, I think on a whisky board there is an emphasis on taking whisky neat. Just like there are folks on the cooking boards who insist all meat be cooked rare.

Yet at least 90% of the people I've met over a fairly long life believe anyone who drinks liquor straight is a drunk.

[portwood]

I rarely drink my bourbon any other way than neat or with water. Not because that's the way to drink it, but because I started out preferring it neat rather than mixed...

Same here.

The last time I tried ice ... The ice melted quickly and it ruined the drink for me.

Same here.

The average drinker usually thinks that it's very odd I don't mix it with something or put it over ice.

They assume I'm a big drinker because 1) I drink "hard liquor", and 2) I don't mix it. In fact, the same people that think I'm (borderline) alcoholic probably drink more alcohol than I do. When pushed they will admit to drinking "a couple of beers" and/or 1/2 bottle of wine daily but because they don't realize that one beer or one glass of wine is equal to my 25ml of whisky I'm an alcoholic and they're not.

[Gillman]

A little ice is okay but to any degree it traduces the taste of real whiskey IMO.

Gary

[squire]

Yeah, my Dad used to say any damn fool can criticize and most of them do.

[WAINWRIGHT]

I enjoy a great many of things one ice during the summer,Mellow Corn,OGD114 and KC all come to mind.The best part about adding ice of course is..........LARGER POURS!

[TunnelTiger]

Definitely some ice during the summer with exception of a nitecap neet.

[Nillion]

During my short bourbon career, I've generally drank it over ice. It tamed the heat to my newbie palate and frankly, I didn't much consider trying it any other way. But ever since I purchased my first Glencairn glasses about two months back, I've almost solely drank it with just a splash of water. The smell of bourbon is so intriguing with these glasses that it's almost equal to the taste for me. I can't help but nose my glass and savor those wonderful aromas.

[T Comp]

90% neat and 10% ice which would include the one or two Manhattans I may have in a week. I'm aware of what Squire points out and recall those late '50's and early '60s of my childhood where all the firewater drunk by my family adults was over ice or mixed. To drink neat was uncouth...as in the ruffians at the seedy taverns who drank shots or bums straight from the pint bottle. Then we had the rebellious counter culture dramatizations of drinking straight from the bottle as in Janis Joplin or Hunter Thompson. Funny how things have circled around.

[squire]

For me one of the most entrancing things about Bourbon is the aroma, there is simply nothing else like it.

[smokinjoe]

The best part about adding ice of course is..........LARGER POURS!

Well played, sir!

Personally, I'm all over the map. In social settings, almost exclusively with ice. Thoughtful tastings are always neat. With a side cup of water nearby. Anything in between, is whatever I have a hankerin' for.

By the way, discussions on how one drinks their whiskey always makes me remember Tim Sousley. Tim had one of the finest whiskey palates anywhere. A real detailed connoisseur of Spirits. But, he unabashedly would say he drank much of his whiskey with store brand diet cola. Because, that's how he liked it. That's really all that matters.

[squire]

Yeah, Tim and I would go back and forth over whether Pappy should be mixed with diet cola or diet ginger ale, the important thing is we were having fun. Sometimes life is too serious to be taken seriously.

[Happyhour24x7]

As many have said, varies according to mood and bourbon. I enjoy neat, but frequently want it cooled down a little. Probably 90% with one of two cubes, almost never fully "on the rocks".

[393foureyedfox]

im not an ice person generally, just due to the basic idea of it watering things down.

Things that i do like to drink cool, i keep them in the fridge......soda, juice, tea....no ice, just refrigerated. that way i enjoy the good taste of the beverage without feeling like i have to drink it before the ice melts and dilutes it. the only thing I put ice into is water, and only in the summer.

whiskey/bourbon i only drink neat. thats how i started out, and that just stuck. ive tried it with ice and it was the same basic idea, it melts and reduces the taste i was enjoying in the first place. I dont even want bourbon to be cool or cold. room temp is best to me. I keep my bottles in my desk, as thats where i usually will have a drink or two while winding down before bed.

[theglobalguy]

Just so damn hot here in the summer, has to be ice. The amount depends on the mood and the proof. Winter (or when in the cool cool basement) i'm more inclined to go neat.

[393foureyedfox]

hot? i thought louisville's been pretty darn nice lately. especially by Louisville summer standards!

[theglobalguy]

hot? i thought louisville's been pretty darn nice lately. especially by Louisville summer standards!

Let me re-phrase. Incredible summer this year, but in general....far too hot around here for neat. I've come to appreciate it with ice.

I moved here from the Far North after all.

[mbroo5880i]

Normally, a cube or two to cool it a little (temperature) and release some of the flavors. Maybe 10% of the time neat. Always neat the first time that I try something. Rarely in a cocktail, unless it is the only way that I can drink a particular brand. However, if I don't like it, I can usually find someone who does so I just give it to someone who would like to try it.

I may add a little more ice (like the distilled bagged type) to higher proof bourbons (e.g., OGD 114 or a BP). Not that I don't enjoy neat but I prefer to bring the proof down a little while not diluting the flavor too much. I enjoy the flavor and would prefer a little lower proof (90 to 100) if I can enjoy a little larger pour without skunking myself.