If you want to start a heated debate amongst whisky purists, just sit them down together at a table and ask them whether they think whisky should be watered down at all. 

In truth, when it comes to whisky, I always say that there is no right or wrong way to drink it, as long as you’re enjoying it. Some people would recoil in horror at the thought of adding water to a fine single malt, whereas others won’t drink their Scotch any other way. 

The concept of adding water to whisky is certainly not new. It’s a practice that has been done for generations, and that will no doubt continue for generations to come. If for example, you find that a malt may have just a little too much bite to it, adding a few drops of water could take away that harshness and render it a great deal more palatable. The trick is knowing how to add water to your dram, and how. 

Here’s a quick look at the correct way to dilute your dram. 

Why Dilute Your Whisky?

First and foremost, when I talk about adding water to whisky, I’m talking about a few drops, I don’t mean watering it down like you’re making a glass of fruit flavoured cordial. 

When it comes to water and whisky, people add water to their drams for a whole host of different reasons. Some add water to help remove some of the harsh alcohol tones from stronger whiskies, especially cask strength ones. This helps to remove some of the burn and amplify the other flavours. 

By adding water, the alcohol burn is reduced, and the aromas, flavours, and other notes of the whisky are often amplified. Whether you add water to your dram or not is entirely down to you, but if you’re struggling to taste or smell anything other than alcohol, a few drops of water could certainly help. 

How to Dilute Your Dram with Water

So, now that we know why people may choose to dilute their whiskies, we’re now going to look at what you can do to dilute your dram. 

Try Neat First

It might sound obvious, but before you begin adding water to your chosen dram, make sure you try it neat. 

By trying it neat you get to see how it tastes in its natural form, and you can then use this as a rough guide to help you determine how much water to add. 

If for example, you try it neat and it blows your head off and makes your throat feel as if you’ve swallowed molten lava, this shows that you’ll likely need to water it down a fair bit. If, however, the burn is just a wee bit too much for you, you likely won’t need to add much water at all. 

Select the Right Kind of Water 

Contrary to popular belief, not all sources of water taste the same, which is why it’s so important to choose the right kind when diluting your dram. 

Ideally you want bottled mineral water, or failing that, filtered water will also work well. Try not to use tap water as it contains chemicals such as chlorine, which can alter the flavour profile of the whisky. You can use it in a pinch, but it will probably taste pretty vile. 

If possible, try to go with a water containing minerals which match, or closely resemble, those found from the water source used to produce your whisky. Soft water is better than hard water as it helps to mellow out the whisky and enhance its natural notes and aromas, without being overpowering. 

Try to Avoid Ice 

Unless you know for a fact that you enjoy ice in your whisky, try to avoid adding ice to your dram when looking to dilute it. 

The colder the temperature, the less body and character the whisky will have. Ice can also numb your palate, so you’ll struggle to taste it properly. Hot water would be disgusting, so we’ll say no more on that. 

Ideally, you want a room temperature water that is not too warm and not too cold. 

Add Small Drops at a Time 

Like I mentioned earlier, when adding water to whisky, you don’t just take your glass to the tap and fill it to the brim or dump a full bottle of water in there. You need to take your time.

When adding water to your dram, add it in very small increments, we’re talking one drop at a time. It may not sound like it, but just one or two drops of mineral water can completely transform a Scotch, so be sure not to add too much. As the saying goes, you can always add more, but you can’t take away. 

Investing in a water pipette or dropper is also recommended here, as you can literally add the water a drop at a time. Be sure to taste after each drop until you achieve the right balance. 

Taste As You Go 

Finally, after each drop of water you add to your whisky, give it a gentle swirl, let the whisky breathe, nose it, and give it a sip. 

Savour each aroma and flavour and see how the whisky changes and stop when you achieve the perfect balance. 

If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at what we have to offer. 

With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.