How do you drink it?

[moby]

I'd be most interested to know how you prefer to drink your Bourbon, straight, with water, over ice, type of glass preferred to get the best aromatics etc. You'll have to excuse me as I'm a Brit that has only recently discovered the pleasure of Bourbon. When Scotch was my favorite indulgence I always took it with a little spring water, but currently I like my Bourbon over ice, I let cool right down and get a little melt water in it prior to sipping. mmmmmm

[TonyM]

I generally prefer mine like I do my Scotch, neat, or straight. I'll add a little bottled water to the Cask Strength ones to bring out a little more flavor.

But, as Jim Cryle from Glenlivet once told me, "It's not how you drink it, just that you drink and enjoy it."

Everybody is different.

Cheers,

Tony

[BourbonJoe]

I like mine neat, in a brandy snifter. The only time I add a splash of water is for the high proof stuff over about 110.

Joe

[Sweetmeats]

Neat in a brandy snifter typically but lately I've been enjoying it in a lowball glass as well. The lowball glass makes it harder for the kids to knock over when they run around the house.

[brian12069]

I like mine neat in a brandy snifter at room temperature. I never add water, I never add ice. Water and ice in my opinion ruin the taste of the bourbon. I really enjoy that thick ritch flavor you get from drinking it straight. Oh ya...that slight burn isn't bad either...

[Nevill]

In a shot glass, under the tongue, roll it from the tip to the back, down the hatch. Like a man.

[jspero]

It depends on my mood. Generally I like it on one cube of ice in a lowball glass. Recently I've aquired a liking for it neat in a bandy snifter (see the Glasswear Poll thread under Paraphernalia). I don't own anything over 101 proof (except that Spring '05 Stagg I got last week that isn't open yet), so I find there is no excessive burn drinking it neat.

[lakegz]

On the rare occasions i drink my spring stagg, ill take it neat. Id say for any bottling, ill drink it neat 95% of the time. but when i do go for ice, its always for the first tasting of the night.

at clubs here in japan, they only have crap Four Roses, IW Harper and Beam white so ill take it with ice thank you very much!

[clayton]

I drink all whisk(e)y neat, preferably in a brandy snifter. I prefer a simple snifter over any other glassware, even the Riedel bourbon glasses. No ice, ever. Occasionally a tiny bit of water with cask-strength Scotch, but I never add water to bourbon.

[Hedmans Brorsa]

Medium sized Cognac snifter (for optimal nosing experience).

Water only added if stronger than around 107 proof (only very small amounts) or if I, for instance, try three 101 proof whiskeys in a row.

Someone mentioned room temperature. The importance of this cannot be overstated. Patience is a virtue!

[Gillman]

Rocks glass (heavy-based tumbler with clear sides) almost always, a finger or less. No ice, ever, except sometimes at parties. Water, yes or no depending on proof but also the particular whiskey. Personally I never liked the Riedel-type glasses or copitas, they are too tall and can over-concentrate the vapors. Also, I don't like when a thin stream of whiskey travels down the side walls and gets too, um, attenuated. I like a proper sip from a short wide glass. (For the same reason, I don't like snifters). Glasses are a funny thing, except at functions like Gazebo (where it was great to find any kind of glass!) or parties where I don't have a choice, I'm at the point where I really need to use my favorite glass, otherwise it doesn't taste right.

Gary

[Chaz7]

I drink everything neat. Old Grand Dad 114 surprised me with no burn (but the toungue sure does tingle). So far, even the ones it was recommended to add a little H2O, I went back to neat. But, I just got a bottle of Stagg, and I did put a wee bit of water in it. When I experiment, the first sip is always neat (you can't take it out) I believe the Stagg will be the only one I will dilute, and then with a very light hand. But I'm still experimenting. But as far as scotch, I always put a drop of water to open it up, regardless of proof. And the glass, after some experimenting with "nosing" glasses, a simple rocks glass seems the best, especially after the bourbon sits for a while. I love it when I can smell the bourbon from 5 feet away!

[BobA]

Neat. Usually with a glass of water on the side, but I don't drink it close enough to the burboun to feel it dilutes. Play some with cocktails, but that's sort of a different category.

Bob

[ratcheer]

I suppose I like it all ways. Neat probably 40% of the time, on the rocks another 40%, and with water about 20%.

Certain bottlings are too good to mess up and I almost always have them neat, e.g., Blanton's, Elmer T. Lee, Rock Hill Farms, Old Grand Dad 114, Kentucky Spirit, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon.

Tim

[brian12069]

Certain bottlings are too good to mess up and I almost always have them neat, e.g., Blanton's, Elmer T. Lee, Rock Hill Farms, Old Grand Dad 114, Kentucky Spirit, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon.

Tim

I like the way you stated this..."mess up". Good quote...My thing is now I don't want to "mess up" any bourbon. Strong and straight...drink it like a man!

[kbuzbee]

During the summer evenings we sit outside for an hour or two each evening. During that time I'll have a 16 oz glass filled half water, half ice and a jigger of Wild Turkey. Great summer refresher. In the evening, I'll have 3-4 oz neat in a Schott Zwiesel Glass (the one in my avatar).

Ken

[doubleblank]

I overheard Ed (Pepcycle) say the funninest thing I ever heard regarding this topic once:

Q - "Should I add a little water or ice to this bourbon?"

A - "Heck no.....some Straightbourbon folks here might me commiting ego suicide if they drink it that way".

I drink it neat, a little water or an ice cube......depends on the situation and the bourbon.

Randy

[kbuzbee]

I think TonyM's quote from Glenlivit above says it all..

Ken

[OneCubeOnly]

With good stuff it's either straight or with one cube (would you expect anything else!?)

With lower-end stuff or high-end duds it's 50-50 bourbon & ginger ale.

[barturtle]

Mostly straight in a snifter, but on a hot summers evening on the porch, I use a pint glass filled with ice 2 shots and topped with water(usually just done with mid-to-lower end stuff). Course if anyone noticed, at the Gazebo, I was using some real nice acrylic tumblers that Maker's sent me.

[RedVette]

I take a large leaded crystal highball glass, fill it full of ice, and add as much Bourbon as I think I might wish to have for the immediate future, repeat as needed.

[ratcheer]

Well, what if you are having a not-so-great bourbon? Such as Old Grand Dad 86, regular Evan Williams, or regular Old Forester. To me, bourbons like that beg for a few ice cubes.

I usually drink Old Grand Dad 114 or even Booker's straight, but some things are just better on-the-rocks.

Tim

[Isoflex]

Higher end bourbons always neat, usually in a wide shot glass. Middle of the road sometimes shot but usually in a rocks glass with lots of ice (I drink it pretty fast so very little dilution occurs and I can refill without heading to the fridge for more ice). Low end with a mixer.

But it also depends on my mood. Sometimes a straight shot or two right down of the cheaper stuff reminds me of my mis-spent youth!!

[gr8erdane]

For the most part, I drink all bourbons straight up and the biggest change is the different glasses I use. Sometimes a Reidel Bourbon, sometimes an "O", occasionally a Glencairn, and more fleetingly in an ordinary old fashioned glass. As for water, I do occasionally add a drop or two when first opening a new bottle to unlock the secrets within and file the results in my ever shrinking longterm memory. High proofs don't usually phase me but I have had good results with Stagg and an exceedingly small cube of ice that I allow to completely dissolve while swishing the bourbon in the palm of my hand. The aromatics I get from bourbon vary with the type of glass as well but I don't find a great variance as I have a very average nose. The only time I order bourbon on the rocks is when I'm at my local Casino which boasts MM as it's top bourbon. For some reason that is the way I prefer MM. Maybe it's more that I can stretch a single drink further sipping while not inhibiting my ability to keep from blowing all my money too quickly there.

[BobA]

That's a good point, and now that I think of it, some of my experimentations with less expensive bourbons have left me deciding they were better on the rocks. Rebel Yell comes to mind as maybe the prime example of that.

And I don't know what it is about the OGD 114, but it never seems to suugest the need for a "proof cut," although Bookers or Stagg sometimes do. I realize they are higher proof, but it's not even a close thing with the 114, and I've had friends lap it up while cutting a 100 proof bourbon.

Bob