I have just heard that ice can drastically reduce lots of flavours in yer single malts....so beware.Whereas water can sometimes bring out more subtle flavours of yer "wee" dram.DISCUSS!!
@Highlander Between the debate of ice VS water, from a scientific point of view, ice brings down the temperature of the whisky. The main few taste of whisky when associated to taste buds would include mainly sweet and bitterness. As these 2 are the main flavors of most whisky's, by adding ice to whisky it significantly reduces our tastebud's sensetivity to these flavors.
More specifically, Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 5 or TRPM5 in short is responsible for the induction of sweet, bitter and umami taste. by reducing the temperature of the whisky with ice, you are effectively reducing the sensitivity of the TRPM5 which in turn causes what you describe 'drastically reduce lots of flavours'. Furthermore, adding ice to your whisky slows down the molecules reducing the evaporation which inturn reduces the release of aromas (will be explained later).
On the other hand, by adding water, specifically room temperature water, you introduce more particles into your whisky. This causes more bombardment of the whisky and your water thereby releasing more flavors or it seems (as believed by many and sometimes used to simple explain the reason behind it). It is actually more complex than that.
Focusing on the specific compounds that gives rise to the AMROMA of whisky, we boil down to a few common aromas which includes, peatiness, smokiness, spicy, cirtus and vanilla (I know i've excluded a few other flavors like honey, oakiness etc so forgive me). These should not be confused with flavors as the human body can only detect a few flavors; salty, sweet, bitter, sour and umami. In order for us to fully enjoy food, drinks etc, our body recruits the help of our olfactory receptors (sense of smell). These aromas as mentioned are due to a compound Guaiacol. The % of ethanol contributes greatly to the how the guaiacol is mixed in the whisky. To put things simply, the guaiacol follows ethanol closely. At high % of ethanol, the guaiacol is found to be mixed homogeneously in the whisky and not easily evaporated, but as the concentration of ethanol decreases, the ethanol is then able to rise to the surface and evaporate. Hence, as you add water, you are bringing the alcohol concentration down allowing the ethanol and guaiacol to rise to the surface and be released more efficiently. Which is inturn, why you would feel that 'water can sometimes bring out more subtle flavors' its because these aromas are not easily release especially in high % ABV whisky's or whisky's in which these aromas are rather minute and requires water or time before their flavors gets released.
Water in some for works the same as allowing your whisky to breath. As the ethanol would slowly rise to the surface and evaporate, some of these aromas are released together as well.
So in conclusion, adding water not only helps to release the aromas, it also maintains the temperature of your whisky which allows the full flavors to be enjoyed while adding ice reduces the flavors, it adds a 'cooling' sensation to your mouth. Hence it really depends on your preference if you would like full flavors or would just like to enjoy a nice cold dram. As Charles MacLean once said, add ice for enjoyment, add water for full appreciation.
Hope this helps you understand better on Ice VS Water.
@thepeanut Very imformative...thanks!!I have recently been sipping my whisky like Horst does in his wonderful reviews,may add some room temp.water as an experiment,to see if subtle flavours are released.With Glenfarclas 15 for example at 46%...sipping straight is tongue tingling stuff
@Highlander I've yet to open my glenfarclas 15! I have with my a 12, 15 and 17YO Glenfarclas. I'm waiting for this coming Jan 2018 when I'm flying off ill catch myself a Glenfarclas 18 and maybe a second bottle of 15 so that I can open them up. Haha I have the obsession of collecting whisky's but only opening if I have a second bottle!
For me, I'll take a very very tiny sip if the whisky has a high ABV and let it sit and run around in my mouth. After which, like you, ill add alittle water to reduce the ABV and then sip on it normally. Bringing the whisky down to 35% ABV is the ideal ABV for enjoying most of the flavors and aromas.
@Highlander I got the Glenfarclas 17 @ SGD$137 aprox. £75 and my 15yo @ SGD$125 aprox £68 so the difference here in singapore isnt that much hence would get the 17yo. However those were 70cl bottles (700ml) I got my 12yo @ SGD$70 from DFS which amounts to roughly £40 or less. contemplating if I should get another 17yo to open as I only have 1 bottle and can't bear to open it hahaha
Well, I think ice has a very unique taste as there are many people who like to have an ice cube in their water, wine, etc. One can get safe, clean and good tasting ice from the sanitize ice machine. The ice machine is also referred to as an ice maker or ice generator which is largely used in the hotels, bars, and restaurants in order to satisfy the need of the customer. The ice machine is an amazing device by which one can easily produce sanitize ice. One can easily hire an ice machine installation Santa Barbara team if you are looking to install a new ice machine in your premises. Having an ice machine is like you can easily produce ice in a large quantity.
We use cookies and website technologies to customize information and improve your shopping experience all around whisky. We use technically necessary cookies to ensure the general functionality and features of our website. With your consent we also use cookies and iframes of third party providers to present our social media content to you and make use of functional tracking and analysis tools to identify errors and continually improve your user experience.
Details & Settings
Necessary cookies (always active)
Necessary cookies
The following cookies and technologies are required for the core functionalities of our website and online shops.
Necessary cookies (always active)
Name
Provider
Lifetime
Type
Name
_fe_typo_user
Provider
Whisky.com
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie is necessary for logging into the Whisky.com community and using the community functions.
Name
sid
Provider
Whisky.com
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie is necessary for the basic provision of the shop functions.
Name
sid_key
Provider
Whisky.com
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie is necessary for the basic provision of the shop functions.
Name
cookie_consent
Provider
Whisky.com
Lifetime
12 months
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie is necessary to save the settings in this Consent Manager.
Name
adventcalendar_clicked
Provider
Whisky.com
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie is necessary for the correct display of the open doors in the Whisky.com advent calendar.
Name
language
Provider
Whisky.com
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie is necessary for language control on our website.
Name
BannerImpressions
Provider
Whisky.com
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie is necessary to limit the banner ads on our website.
Name
datamints_http2push
Provider
Whisky.com
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTTP2
Description
This cookie is necessary to improve the loading speed of our website for a better user experience.
Name
datamints_http2push_shop
Provider
Whisky.com
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTTP2
Description
This cookie is necessary to improve the loading speed of our website for a better user experience.
Name
datamints_shopselector_hasdismissednote
Provider
Whisky.com
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTTP
Description
Necessary functionality to determine whether the shop selection has already been made if the geolocation of the IP address does not match the shop country.
Name
hasUserHash
Provider
Whisky.com
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTTP
Description
Necessary functionality to determine whether a shop user exists.
Name
Vanilla
Provider
Whisky.com
Lifetime
1 Month
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie is necessary to use the forum functions in the Whisky.com community.
Name
Vanilla-Volatile
Provider
Whisky.com
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie is necessary to use the forum functions in the Whisky.com community.
Name
Vanilla-Vv
Provider
Whisky.com
Lifetime
24 hours
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie is necessary to use the forum functions in the Whisky.com community.
Name
__vnf
Provider
Whisky.com
Lifetime
13 months
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie is necessary to use the forum functions in the Whisky.com community.
Name
preferred-country
Provider
Whisky.com
Lifetime
12 Monate
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie is necessary to save and restore the country setting in the language and country selection.
Name
preferred-language
Provider
Whisky.com
Lifetime
12 Monate
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie is necessary to save and restore the language setting in the language and country selection.
Functional cookies
The following cookies and technologies allow us to anonymously analyze consumer behaviour on our website to detect potential errors and continually improve the user experience.
Name
Provider
Lifetime
Type
Name
__utmz
Provider
Google, LLC
Lifetime
13 months
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie records whether a user is redirected to our website by a search engine (and if so, which search term was used), a specific link or if he was not redirected from a previously visited page (e.g. opening the website via a bookmark).
Name
__utma
Provider
Google, LLC
Lifetime
24 months
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie records the number of visits, timestamp of your first visit, the previous and current visit.
Name
_ga
Provider
Google, LLC
Lifetime
24 months
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie is used by Google for user differentiation.
Name
_ga_UA******
Provider
Google, LLC
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie is used by Google Analytics to limit the amount of data recorded on websites with high user traffic.
Name
_gid
Provider
Google, LLC
Lifetime
24 Months
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie is used by Google to track and store the visited page history.
Name
_gat
Provider
Google, LLC
Lifetime
10 minutes
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie is used by Google for tracking.
Name
__gads
Provider
Google, LLC
Lifetime
30 days
Type
HTTP
Description
The __gads cookie is associated with the DoubleClick for Publishers service from Google. It serves purposes such as measuring interactions with the ads on our domain and preventing the same ads from being shown to you too many times.
Name
_gat_commercetracker
Provider
Google, LLC
Lifetime
30 Tage
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie is used by Google Analytics to track and evaluate e-commerce applications.
Name
CONSENT
Provider
Google, LLC
Lifetime
max. 2 Jahre
Type
HTTP
Description
This cookie stores user consent information.
Name
NID
Provider
Google, LLC
Lifetime
6 Month
Type
HTTP
Description
When creating a Google account or logging in, NID cookie is stored on the computer in order to remain connected to your Google account when you visit its service again. While you are logged in and use plug-ins from other websites, such as Whisky.com, Google uses these cookies to improve your user experience.
Social Media cookies
The following cookies and technologies are required for displaying Social Media content of third party providers like YouTube, Instagram, etc.
Name
Provider
Lifetime
Type
Name
yt-remote-cast-installed
Provider
Youtube, LLC
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTML
Description
Stores user settings when accessing a Youtube video embedded on external websites.
Name
yt-remote-connected-devices
Provider
Youtube, LLC
Lifetime
Persistent
Type
HTML
Description
Stores user settings when accessing a Youtube video embedded on external websites.
Name
yt-remote-device-id
Provider
Youtube, LLC
Lifetime
Persistent
Type
HTML
Description
Stores user settings when accessing a Youtube video embedded on external websites.
Name
GPS
Provider
Youtube, LLC
Lifetime
1 Day
Type
HTTP
Description
Registers a unique ID on mobile devices to allow geographic GPS location based tracking.
Name
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE
Provider
Youtube, LLC
Lifetime
179 Days
Type
HTTP
Description
Attempts to calculate the user's network bandwidth on pages with embedded YouTube videos.
Name
YSC
Provider
Youtube, LLC
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTTP
Description
Registers a unique ID for storing statistics on YouTube videos watched by a user.
Name
yt-remote-fast-check-period
Provider
Youtube, LLC
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTML
Description
Stores user settings when accessing a Youtube video embedded on external websites.
Name
yt-remote-session-app
Provider
Youtube, LLC
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTML
Description
Stores user settings when accessing a Youtube video embedded on external websites.
Name
yt-remote-session-name
Provider
Youtube, LLC
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTML
Description
Stores user settings when accessing a Youtube video embedded on external websites.
Name
_fbp
Provider
Facebook/Meta
Lifetime
1 Month
Type
HTML
Description
Facebook Tracking via Facebook Pixel
Name
csfrtoken
Provider
Instagram, LLC
Lifetime
1 Month
Type
HTML
Description
Are set as soon as an Instagram plugin is embedded in our website. Enables the correct functionality of these Instagram plugins, such as embedded Instagram posts. Instagram cookie information: help.instagram.com/1896641480634370.
Name
ig_cb
Provider
Instagram, LLC
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTML
Description
Are set as soon as an Instagram plugin is embedded in our website. Enables the correct functionality of these Instagram plugins, such as embedded Instagram posts. Instagram cookie information: help.instagram.com/1896641480634370.
Name
ig_did
Provider
Instagram, LLC
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTML
Description
Are set as soon as an Instagram plugin is embedded in our website. Enables the correct functionality of these Instagram plugins, such as embedded Instagram posts. Instagram cookie information: help.instagram.com/1896641480634370.
Name
mid
Provider
Instagram, LLC
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTML
Description
Are set as soon as an Instagram plugin is embedded in our website. Enables the correct functionality of these Instagram plugins, such as embedded Instagram posts. Instagram cookie information: help.instagram.com/1896641480634370.
Name
rur
Provider
Instagram, LLC
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTML
Description
Are set as soon as an Instagram plugin is embedded in our website. Enables the correct functionality of these Instagram plugins, such as embedded Instagram posts. Instagram cookie information: help.instagram.com/1896641480634370.
Name
urlgen
Provider
Instagram, LLC
Lifetime
Session
Type
HTML
Description
Are set as soon as an Instagram plugin is embedded in our website. Enables the correct functionality of these Instagram plugins, such as embedded Instagram posts. Instagram cookie information: help.instagram.com/1896641480634370.
I have just heard that ice can drastically reduce lots of flavours in yer single malts....so beware.Whereas water can sometimes bring out more subtle flavours of yer "wee" dram.DISCUSS!!
@Highlander Between the debate of ice VS water, from a scientific point of view, ice brings down the temperature of the whisky. The main few taste of whisky when associated to taste buds would include mainly sweet and bitterness. As these 2 are the main flavors of most whisky's, by adding ice to whisky it significantly reduces our tastebud's sensetivity to these flavors.
More specifically, Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 5 or TRPM5 in short is responsible for the induction of sweet, bitter and umami taste. by reducing the temperature of the whisky with ice, you are effectively reducing the sensitivity of the TRPM5 which in turn causes what you describe 'drastically reduce lots of flavours'. Furthermore, adding ice to your whisky slows down the molecules reducing the evaporation which inturn reduces the release of aromas (will be explained later).
On the other hand, by adding water, specifically room temperature water, you introduce more particles into your whisky. This causes more bombardment of the whisky and your water thereby releasing more flavors or it seems (as believed by many and sometimes used to simple explain the reason behind it). It is actually more complex than that.
Focusing on the specific compounds that gives rise to the AMROMA of whisky, we boil down to a few common aromas which includes, peatiness, smokiness, spicy, cirtus and vanilla (I know i've excluded a few other flavors like honey, oakiness etc so forgive me). These should not be confused with flavors as the human body can only detect a few flavors; salty, sweet, bitter, sour and umami. In order for us to fully enjoy food, drinks etc, our body recruits the help of our olfactory receptors (sense of smell). These aromas as mentioned are due to a compound Guaiacol. The % of ethanol contributes greatly to the how the guaiacol is mixed in the whisky. To put things simply, the guaiacol follows ethanol closely. At high % of ethanol, the guaiacol is found to be mixed homogeneously in the whisky and not easily evaporated, but as the concentration of ethanol decreases, the ethanol is then able to rise to the surface and evaporate. Hence, as you add water, you are bringing the alcohol concentration down allowing the ethanol and guaiacol to rise to the surface and be released more efficiently. Which is inturn, why you would feel that 'water can sometimes bring out more subtle flavors' its because these aromas are not easily release especially in high % ABV whisky's or whisky's in which these aromas are rather minute and requires water or time before their flavors gets released.
Water in some for works the same as allowing your whisky to breath. As the ethanol would slowly rise to the surface and evaporate, some of these aromas are released together as well.
So in conclusion, adding water not only helps to release the aromas, it also maintains the temperature of your whisky which allows the full flavors to be enjoyed while adding ice reduces the flavors, it adds a 'cooling' sensation to your mouth. Hence it really depends on your preference if you would like full flavors or would just like to enjoy a nice cold dram. As Charles MacLean once said, add ice for enjoyment, add water for full appreciation.
Hope this helps you understand better on Ice VS Water.
@thepeanut Very imformative...thanks!!I have recently been sipping my whisky like Horst does in his wonderful reviews,may add some room temp.water as an experiment,to see if subtle flavours are released.With Glenfarclas 15 for example at 46%...sipping straight is tongue tingling stuff
@Highlander I've yet to open my glenfarclas 15! I have with my a 12, 15 and 17YO Glenfarclas. I'm waiting for this coming Jan 2018 when I'm flying off ill catch myself a Glenfarclas 18 and maybe a second bottle of 15 so that I can open them up. Haha I have the obsession of collecting whisky's but only opening if I have a second bottle!
For me, I'll take a very very tiny sip if the whisky has a high ABV and let it sit and run around in my mouth. After which, like you, ill add alittle water to reduce the ABV and then sip on it normally. Bringing the whisky down to 35% ABV is the ideal ABV for enjoying most of the flavors and aromas.
@thepeanut isnt Glenfarclas 17.... £105?15 is much better value!
@Highlander I got the Glenfarclas 17 @ SGD$137 aprox. £75 and my 15yo @ SGD$125 aprox £68 so the difference here in singapore isnt that much hence would get the 17yo. However those were 70cl bottles (700ml) I got my 12yo @ SGD$70 from DFS which amounts to roughly £40 or less. contemplating if I should get another 17yo to open as I only have 1 bottle and can't bear to open it hahaha
@thepeanut Here are some background information about whisky and water.
@Highlander
Well, I think ice has a very unique taste as there are many people who like to have an ice cube in their water, wine, etc. One can get safe, clean and good tasting ice from the sanitize ice machine. The ice machine is also referred to as an ice maker or ice generator which is largely used in the hotels, bars, and restaurants in order to satisfy the need of the customer. The ice machine is an amazing device by which one can easily produce sanitize ice. One can easily hire an ice machine installation Santa Barbara team if you are looking to install a new ice machine in your premises. Having an ice machine is like you can easily produce ice in a large quantity.