Scientists Have Proven That Adding Water to Whiskey Improves Its Taste
I used to get involved in a debate almost every time I drank whiskey about whether to add water to the drink. A few fanatic friends have always claimed that the only way to drink whiskey is directly, and I spoiled it with a few drops of H2O. I would say most whiskeys were slightly better with a few ice cubes or a little water. The point is, you should love it however you prefer, but now there is real science backing up my claims about water.
To be honest, I’m far from the first person to claim that water enhances the taste of whiskey. Although it was once a taboo, connoisseurs recognized the fact that water can release some of the aroma of whiskey and improve its taste for a while. When I traveled to Scotland earlier this year, the distilleries actually provided tiny jugs of water for each tasting and recommended drinking a few bottles slightly watered down. We all know that whiskey tastes better; however, a group of Swedish scientists actually decided to find out why.
According to their research, the ethanol and guaiacol molecules in whiskey stick together, and they don’t actually mix evenly with water. Guayacol is a substance that gives the smell and taste something like Scotch whiskey.
The researchers found that when water was added to the whiskey, the guaiacol molecules ended up in the top of the glass rather than remaining evenly distributed throughout the whiskey. This means that you will smell and taste more when you take a sip.
The higher the concentration of ethanol in whiskey when bottled, the more benefit you will get from adding a few drops of water when it’s time to drink. Cask whiskeys (which tend to contain more alcohol than others), in particular, may benefit from a little dilution to increase the “taste propensity at the liquid-air interface,” according to research. Read: The taste you get when you drink.
Does this mean that you need to add water to every whiskey? Absolutely not.
I always advise when someone first tastes whiskey to pour in a small amount and drink it straight. Then try another tiny serving with a few drops of water and decide which option you like best. Let me highlight a few drops. Do not add more water than you have whiskey (or add, but I cannot support you in this endeavor).
I add a little water to most Scotch whiskeys, but when it comes to Japanese whiskeys, I prefer to drink it straight and not add anything or add to cocktails. In the end, it all depends on your personal preference.
That said, if you are sometimes a water fanatic like me, it’s a good thing we have some science to support us in our next bar battle.