Odd Question

[Pedro2112]

Hello, I'm new to the forums, but not new to Scotch Drinking. I've enjoyed single malt scotch every now and then from before it became mainstream. However, I've always had it on the rocks. As I've been reading more and more magazine article's and seeing more online forums, such as this one, I have the distinct feeling that I am "doing it wrong."

I know that everyone can enjoy their whisky they way they want to, but what is the "best" way to enjoy a good scotch. I've got some really good bottles (Laphroaig quarter cask, Balvenie Doublewood, The McCallan 12), and I want to taste them the way they are "supposed" to be tasted. What type of glass? Do I put some water in them? Distilled water or is tap ok? how much water? etc..

Any general tips from you experts would be much appreciated!

Pedro

[blenderm]

You're asking 2 different questions, 1/ how to enjoy Scotch and 2/ how to learn about it as there's NO best way. The answer to the first is, as you said enjoy it the way you want to.
The answer to the second is whether you want to do it as the blenders do or as people say they do it. If it the first then get a couple of tulip glasses, similar to Spanish copitas, or the Glencairn malt glasses, pour in some whisky smell and taste gently to appeciate the flavours then add roughly the same amount of water to bring it to a strength of 23 to 25% and do the same. You'll be amazed at the difference the water makes and how it makes the differemt flavours much easier to appreciate.

Before I'm inundated with comments I'd refer you to the work done by Dr Piggott at Strathclyde University in Glasgow on organoleptic appreciation and identification in the 90's and [as they are being called the noughties.]