What starting proof do you add water?

[sddave]

I just bought my first over 100 proof bottle. I picked up a Stagg Jr. 132.2.

Curious, what proof do you start to add water?

[Paddy]

I always taste neat, then add water. I'll add a few drops (or a few cube chips) to most everything I drink at any proof. I feel that the addition of a few drops opens up the profile a bit...and I like that.

[Flyfish]

Proof has nothing to do with it. When tasting, I add just a couple drops (far less than even a "splash") just to see how/if the bourbon opens up. Sometimes interesting things reveal themselves. Barrel proof bourbons typically get sipped neat in my house. That includes Mrs. F. who really likes her Booker's neat. If I wanted water in my ECBP, I would just buy the EC12 and save the $$. Why would I water my KC120 when I can pour regular KC from the bottle that sits right next to it?

[GaryT]

What they said - even a 90 proofer I'll throw a drop or two in to open up, but I'll take a sip neat at damn near any proof.

Typically things over 114 proof I'll throw more than a couple of drops, but the proof isn't the primary driver. I've had 135 proof pours that I would have guessed were 120; and had 115 proof pours that were so hot I would have pegged them at 130.

[mbroo5880i]

If the proof is greater than 110, I generally add a little water or small chips of ice to bring the proof down to between 100 and 110 proof which my preferred range. However, depending on the whiskey, I may add water or small chips of ice if it enhances the flavor. In your example, I would certainly try a 132.2 proof bourbon neat just to get a feel for the straight from the bottle flavor. Then I would experiment a little with water or ice to drop the proof a little. Even if the flavor were extraordinary straight from the bottle, I don't think I would drink the majority of it at 132.2 proof.

[Richnimrod]

I generally pour and sip neat, wait a little for the finish to end, sip again to see if anything seems different; then based upon those impressions and my mood, I'll either add a little water, usually a few drops, then if that seems to open it up to my satisfaction after a little while, I'll happily sip away.

If it seems to need more, or if I think it will continue opening up (older ones seem to do this more, and non-chill-filtered ones often, too), I'll add some more water.

On the other hand, if I'm not feeling analytical, I'll occasionally just chuck in a cube to almost any good-sized pour of almost any proof, just to enjoy the changes wrought by the melting ice.

[Thig]

I am good up to about 110 without any water.

[Harry in WashDC]

Sort of like Thig, sort of like Paddy, sort of like Flyfish, etc.

Through hours of careful and thorough testing and tasting, I have learned which readily available bourbons I buy need, for me, water up front (a small ice cube per 2 ounces of OGD 114 and let sit for 5 minutes., for example) and which don't need it, usually (like WT 101, any of the bondeds, but not including Fighting COck which I drink only with water).

For rare high proofs, regardless of proof (for example, 2014 G T Stagg @ 138 proof) are better, to me, neat. For that GTS, I pour a whole lot less than 2 ounces and drink it over, maybe, an hour.

The rest, it depends on mood, not proof. Summertime, bondeds neat on cool nights or in A/C, but I drink neat 80s and 86s outside on hot days, especially wheateds or wheat whiskey or maybe add water if I'm in the mood or to smooth one out and save the higher proof for when I want them without water or with just a little.

IN SUM: This is a wonderful question which you should spend hours of your own answering.

Edited October 9, 2015 by Harry in WashDC

[flahute]

IN SUM: This is a wonderful question which you should spend hours of your own answering.

[Chris m]

IN SUM: This is a wonderful question which you should spend hours of your own answering.

Well said. That's the fun part, don't listen to anyone--learn what you like. Just don't be that guy that tells people they must add water to open it up or to be a man and drink it neat.

[RiverRat]

For me, its not proof - I'm OK with anything up to and including 140 (ECBP Hazmat) neat - in modest quantity.

But I will happily drip, chip or just sip based on the whiskey itself, weather, what I might be having alongside, my mood or maybe even my wife's mood. It's all case by case and day by day. I will admit more to being a chip guy than a splash guy - both from lowering temperature (knowing it might affect the citrus notes) and being able to arrest dilution by plucking out the ice if desired.

In the case of your Stagg, Jr......usually I'm fairly generous with chipping because it's simply not been something I enjoy neat (or for that matter, as the only thing I drink for a whole evening). Dump 1 was a hot oaky mess, later batches (like yours) are much better but still carry a monolithic heap of planking and warm spices.

[pellidon]

I was taught by an older gent in the local liquor store to add a few drops at a time to open up the pour. He said it allowed the aromas to come up which works in tandem with taste. Whether the addition of the water or the stirring of it into the drink causes this it does work. I should do an in depth investigation of this...

[dcbt]

Generally speaking, I'll dilute most 'everyday' BPs (ECBP, Stagg Jr, WTRB, Bookers, etc) down to 100 proof because I am of the mind that pouring any majority-alcohol liquid down your throat can't be good for your insides. But I will occasionally go for the true BP pour of these once every blue moon. I don't dilute the true gems like GTS, WLW, Bookers 25th, etc, but these also fall under the blue moon pours.

[latech15]

I like mine cold. I will add an ice ball to all of them. Basil Hayden's to stagg jr. For the really good stuff, I will go neat but I much prefer it cold. Not about proof at all because I like the favors much better at the beginning than the end. Tried stones. They suck.

[ebo]

I've been drinking whisk(e)y for a lot of years. I really don't get the water "opens up" a whisk(e)y bit. So.... adding water to WTRB "opens it up"... whatever that even means, over what WT100 already is? Adding water to WT100 "opens it up" over what WT80 already is? Maybe I don't get this water "opening up" thing (never did), but.... I really don't get it.

If adding water is a personal thing to bring proof to where you are comfortable, that's totaly cool. I just don't buy that adding water improves or "opens up" any whisk(e)y. Just my opinion.... which is worth just about nothing.

[BigRich]

There is no starting proof for me. Different whiskeys drink hotter or smoother at the same proof. It all depends on the whiskey.

[Quantum]

I always start neat, but I will generally be prepared to add water or ice to anything over 120. There are some days I think Bookers really needs a splash of water, but the very next day it drinks perfect neat. That leads me to believe my palate is as much of a variable as proof is.

[Xevious]

Proof seems to have little to do with it for me. I've had BP pours that were delicious on their own. And I've had some 90 proofers that were hot and unpleasant. I can't explain why, that's just the way it is.

[Flyfish]

I've been drinking whisk(e)y for a lot of years. I really don't get the water "opens up" a whisk(e)y bit. So.... adding water to WTRB "opens it up"... whatever that even means, over what WT100 already is? Adding water to WT100 "opens it up" over what WT80 already is? Maybe I don't get this water "opening up" thing (never did), but.... I really don't get it.

[fozzy71]

I bought a small bag of 2 or 3 ml pippets (I think that is what they are called, plastic droppers) after reading about people doing this and I have used 1 of them on the 139.8 ECBP. They will last me a lifetime considering I have no idea when/if I will ever add water again.

[tanstaafl2]

I bought a small bag of 2 or 3 ml pippets (I think that is what they are called, plastic droppers) after reading about people doing this and I have used 1 of them on the 139.8 ECBP. They will last me a lifetime considering I have no idea when/if I will ever add water again.

On those rare occasions when I use a touch of water I found that an eye dropper bottle of water works pretty well and can easily travel with me to any whiskey event! A pipette just seems a bit fragile and hard to carry.

[fozzy71]

On those rare occasions when I use a touch of water I found that an eye dropper bottle of water works pretty well and can easily travel with me to any whiskey event! A pipette just seems a bit fragile and hard to carry.

I pretty much never drink outside of my own house (can't drink armed, and I never leave the house unarmed: welcome to Detroit. I carried 3 guns today, and 2 spare mags for my primary) so I just have a handful in the cabinet currently, but I bet the bag had 100 or more and I have used 1 so far.... They will last me 10 lifetimes at this rate.

[Harry in WashDC]

On those rare occasions when I use a touch of water I found that an eye dropper bottle of water works pretty well and can easily travel with me to any whiskey event! A pipette just seems a bit fragile and hard to carry.

Agreed. I can attest that a small plastic bottle with an eye dropper works fine although sometimes people do stare. I ignore them, figuring I probably won't see them again, anyway. Also, most bars have those short stirring straws around. On occasion, I ask for a couple and for a glass of water - no ice. When I feel the need, I stick a straw in the water, put my finger over the end, and let the natural vacuum hold the water in the straw until I lift my finger, letting the water dribble into the glass.

For the anal retentive among us, 1/2 a "Sip'n'Straw" holds about 0.4 ml of water. So, five 1/2 dips is about 2 ml which is about 0.4+ of a teaspoon.

[BigBoldBully]

I pretty much never drink outside of my own house (can't drink armed, and I never leave the house unarmed: welcome to Detroit. I carried 3 guns today, and 2 spare mags for my primary) so I just have a handful in the cabinet currently, but I bet the bag had 100 or more and I have used 1 so far.... They will last me 10 lifetimes at this rate.

[fozzy71]

Eye opening post. On a lighter note, this must make watching westerns a lot less fun. On a more serious note, I hope you get the hell out of Detroit soon, if you have the opportunity!

That may actually end up happening sooner rather than later but I already derailed enough so won't go into it further.