“You Can’t Add Water To Whisky”

One of the most controversial topics in the world of whisky, adding water to whisky is fiercely debated but honestly there is nothing wrong with adding water if that is your preference, in fact for cask strength offerings adding a little water is sometimes necessary to unlock the aromas and flavours.

Sometimes known as ‘releasing the serpent’ adding water to whisky results in an exothermic reaction raising the temperature by approximately 2°C/3.5°F unlocking the flavour-bearing congeners in the whisky. This results in legs appearing in the whisky, releases volatile aromas and makes our palate more receptive to salty and fruity tastes, rather than sweet and spicy.