Neat - It has happened

[mythrenegade]

I like my liqour on the rocks. I started drinking scotch about ten years ago, always on the rocks. In the last year or so I switched to Bourbon and stopped drinking scotch (for the most part). Always on the rocks.

I always tried new bourbons neat just to get everything that was there, but then went back to on the rocks.

A little while ago I bought a bottle of Eagle Rare 10 YO. Discovered I liked it neat. That's a first...

Today I poured some Knob Creek, neat. Hmmm, pretty good stuff. Then I tried some Elijah Craig neat. Liked that as well. Elmer T. Lee? Yup.

I guess I have reached the point where I like this stuff neat. There is definitely a lot more flavor to be had without the ice. I don't think I will stop drinking it on the rocks anytime soon, but I have definitely become a convert to straight bourbon neat.

Joel

[straightwhiskeyruffneck]

i usually like young bourbons on the rocks, older ones neat. maybe not "old" like pappy 23, but better aged whiskies. some bourbons....even well aged, dont taste good neat. sometimes those are good with ice, sometimes ice and water. for example i like old crow (say what you will!) on the rocks, its a smooth and citrusy bourbon. however, strait up its a rough, simple whiskey. just how i like maker's mark with a tiny splash of water, or neat.

but maker's on the rocks was flat with little flavor. even though its a very flavorful whiskey, the ice spoiled the taste. if it doesnt tast right, try serving it differently. works for me every time. i find that just about every whiskey has some kind of use (even if its for cooking) good whiskey-ing!...........is that a word?

[cowdery]

I almost always drink whiskey neat, but maybe that's because I'm so damn lazy. Bottle, glass, done.

Hey, it just dawned on me. Who needs a glass?

[robbyvirus]

I almost always drink whiskey neat, but maybe that's because I'm so damn lazy. Bottle, glass, done.

Hey, it just dawned on me. Who needs a glass?

LOL!

I used to always drink my bourbon neat (yes, in a glass) but I found it started getting hard on my stomach. I switched to drinking it on the rocks...problem solved!

[Virus_Of_Life]

I almost always drink whiskey neat, but maybe that's because I'm so damn lazy. Bottle, glass, done.

Hey, it just dawned on me. Who needs a glass?

I'll drink to that!!!! :drinking: EW black straight out of the bottle, yahoo!

I will hardly ever put ice in anything, but will farily often add a few drops, maybe about a teaspoon of cold water (to the bourbon in the glass). I just don't enjoy much on ice. I do have a tendancy of confusing waitresses and barkeeps though when I say no pollution or unpolluted - I just can't get used to saying 'neat' for some reason, mental block I guess.

[scopenut]

Prior to discovering the Riedel bourbon glass (on this list), I always drank bourbon on the rocks. Since that time, I've discovered the subtleties that good quality bourbon can offer when tasted neat. The nose plays a very important role for me now. Plus when tasted on the rocks, the drink changes identity as the ice melts. So for now, I'll stick with drinking it straight, which lets me enjoy and appreciate the differences between various brands.

In social settings, and not paying as much attention to the bourbon itself, I tend to drink it on the rocks.

Kevin

[Nebraska]

Not that I'm gonna put an age thing on this...but I'm gonna put an age this on this.

I know up until the time I was pre-35ish, I had no problem with shots/drinking things strait.

How ever entering my pre-codger years (as pointed out on another thread) I've developed a definite sipping and or iced down drinking modem. Now I'm gonna tell ya, my first try of anything is going to be a small sip room temp, straight, but there after I'm going to adjust. And you can definitely bet I'm going to have a Glass of ice water near by to sip on and most likely whatever I'm drinking will have a cube or two in it.

Is it an age/metabolism thing?

I know my attitude about things has mellowed, perhaps my drinking habits have wimped out as well...lol...

[T47]

I did not develop a taste for Bourbon until my early 40's. I enjoy almost all neat, just sipping. I am a pretty fast eater...drinker...I think if I mixed it I would still tend to down it too fast...just can't seem to help myself? But neat...I can slow down and make a glass last. I am not good at describing the flavors, but I very much enjoy trying to find them.

As I have described in some other threads, it seems life is pretty hectic, I have found that a nice pour of Bourbon, and my BBQ hobby are the only times I really get to slow down and relax...cooking over coals...drinking neat...2 things I just can't hurry through.

[ProofPositive]

I almost always drink whiskey neat, but maybe that's because I'm so damn lazy. Bottle, glass, done.

Hey, it just dawned on me. Who needs a glass?

I agree. Unless you leave the bottle on the counter or even worse - on the floor, it eliminates 1/2 of the evidence that can be used against you by the spouse in the future.

[ProofPositive]

I'll drink to that!!!! :drinking: EW black straight out of the bottle, yahoo!

I will hardly ever put ice in anything, but will farily often add a few drops, maybe about a teaspoon of cold water (to the bourbon in the glass). I just don't enjoy much on ice. I do have a tendancy of confusing waitresses and barkeeps though when I say no pollution or unpolluted - I just can't get used to saying 'neat' for some reason, mental block I guess.

My own preference is too enjoy my bourbons at a temperature of very cool to slightly cold - especially if enjoyed neat. I like to keep my regular pours in a cool room that stays around 55-65 degrees. If it gets too hot outside, I'll move them to the fridge in the worst part of summer.

Now, the second personal policy I adhere to is if under 100 proof, I go with a splash of cold water or neat. My experience is that even a single rock just downs the taste/proof too much for my tastes. If 100 proof or higher, I'll use 2-3 of rocks with a generous pour. A less generous pour requires only 1-2 ice cubes.

Well, just my 2 cents worth and personal policies of bourbon.

[wskybnt]

In social settings, and not paying as much attention to the bourbon itself, I tend to drink it on the rocks.

Kevin

Me too. That is about the only time I drink it on the rocks anymore. And it is usually WT101.

[elkdoggydog]

I tend to drink bourbon neat, but I love TN whiskies on the rocks.

I generally add a few drops of water to bourbon that's over 90 proof, just to open it up a little (after tasting it neat, of course). The bottle of EC12 in my cabinet right now doesn't require this, though, and I generally drink Baker's neat, when I can afford to have Baker's in the house. On occasion, especially with a rye-heavy bourbon like OGD 114, I'll drop one ice cube in, which has the same effect as cutting with some water, but also cools it off some, too.

[mrt]

I like bourbon neat, and I always try a bourbon neat at first, in order to get the taste exactly and to be able to compare it with others. However, in the hot summer days, I can also prefer on the rocks-even topping with tonic or coke. I can enjoy bourbon anyway...

[Ambernecter]

I almost always drink whiskey neat, but maybe that's because I'm so damn lazy. Bottle, glass, done.

Hey, it just dawned on me. Who needs a glass?

That is comic genius right there! Big belly laugh reaading that post, thanks Chuck!

[Geo]

Personally, I have not ever drank any Bourbon with ice. It is a SIN in my opinion! LOL

A little water with a some of the younger bourbons is ok sometimes, but to experience any bourbon, neat is best. Why dilute something so good.

It is like comparing this: Pouring water into a fine wine.

My opinion though.

[cowdery]

I believe it was Pappy Van Winkle who said that if you must drink your bourbon with water, then pour the water into the glass first, followed by the bourbon. That way, you will have made a poor thing better rather than a fine thing worse.

[Whiskey River]

Other than adding a few drops to open up a bourbon, or cutting one down to 100-110 proof, like Stagg, I always drink it neat. Because I don't think this is the best for the belly, I tend to drink a good amount room temperture water while enjoying a few pours.

[jburlowski]

Adding a spalsh of spring water can dramatically improve (or at least change) the taste of many bourbons. I've found if I try a "new" one and am not very enamored, resampling with a little water can sometimes change my opinion.

The uber-high proof bourbons like the Staggs are (IMHO) much improved with a LITTLE dilution. It brings out the fullness and the wonderful compexity of flavors.

The key is too experiment a little, even with pours that you are familiar with and have had many times.

[Frodo]

I can't bring myself to add ice to whisky. Water - yes, ice - no! Won't hold this against anyone who chooses to drink their whisky as they chose!