Whisky is best enjoyed however it works for you. Having said that, ice kills some of the flavour and nearly all of the nose. People often use ice to avoid some of the alcohol hit (fair enough if that takes the enjoyment away). Try room temperature water if you are an ice fan. A few drops will release a whole bunch of new flavours and aromas. If you put a wee dribble of water in, it will take the alcohol hit away and still taste and smell great. You can experiment with this to get the balance right for you.
My fav off the shelf: Ardbeg 10 year old. It is one of the most peaty of stock whiskys. Very smooth. If you are not used to peat, try it with a splash of water (try to use distilled or mineral, chlorine does not do your whisky any favours).
My special treats come from a membership my wife gave me for a birthday years ago. The really serious dudes at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (
www.smws.com.au) are the go. An international club in many countries (based in Scotland), they buy individual casks of whisky from distilleries. Every cask is unique. They do not pollute it by watering it down, colouring it (most commercial drams are coloured with caramel) or cold filtering. Unbelievable. their tasting nights are fun and a revelation.
Sláinte!
