by FrankH on Tue Dec 15, 2009 4:24 pm
I think those recommendations are more applicable to fine (read "expensive" or "single malt") Scotch. Similar to how a $100 bottle of burgundy wine wouldn't be at it's best when made into sangria.
I drink mostly blends (usually Famous Grouse, probably the most popular blend in Scotland; most of my friends hate it) because I'm a cheap bastard; water and ice is fine for my purposes, I have 'em before dinner and sometimes with dinner. But I like and can appreciate a good single malt Scotch too. Neat or with a bit of pure water; no ice.
If you order a Scotch and water in the US, you normally get a blended bar Scotch with water and ice-- OK by me. (Usually too much water; I ask for a splash.) Now if I ordered a 25 year-old single malt, I'd expect it to arrive in the proper glass, neat, with a little water on the side. I'd check the color, swirl it around, note the legs and the nose, maybe add a bit of water and agitate, sip and hold it in my mouth, note the finish, etc., etc.-- because paying $75 for a shot will make you take some time to appreciate your Scotch. Me, anyway.
In Scotland you see plenty of people mixing Scotch (even single malts) with Coke (yikes) and other stuff. To each his own. But as for Chivas, a nice blend that IMHO certainly wouldn't be insulted by a little water, and in my case anyway I'd add an ice cube or two. Cheers!
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